Ireland U20 v England U20, Virgin Media Park, Corke
England secured a hard-fought 19-3 victory over Ireland in tough conditions, with No. 8 James earning Player of the Match honours for his defensive work and powerful carries. The game was a gritty battle, with England overcoming an early red card for Kpoku and a yellow for Burrow to maintain their defensive solidity. Ireland struggled to capitalise on their numerical advantage, missing a key penalty and failing to break through England’s well-organised defence.
A penalty try in the 69th minute proved crucial, extending England’s lead and effectively sealing the win. Coen’s accurate kicking kept the scoreboard ticking, while England’s disciplined defence thwarted Ireland’s late attempts to mount a comeback. Despite a determined effort from the hosts, handling errors and a lack of cutting edge in attack left them frustrated, as England claimed a well-earned victory on Irish soil.
Ireland (3) 3
Tries: Cons: Pens: Wisniewski 1
England (9) 19
Tries: Penalty try 1 Cons: Pens: Coen 4
Player of the Match: Kane James (England)
Reaction:
Kane James, speaking in the player of the match interview praised his team's efforts: "It was a real tough game in tough conditions. The boys really dug deep in there to graft out that win. We faced some real adversity, with three cards, but we stuck in it."
When asked how his team responded after going down to 13 men, managing to head into half-time with a six-point advantage, James added: "To go down to 13 men was tough, but it shows the brotherhood of this team to stick through and fight through, so credit to the boys for that performance."
"We will take the good stuff from this game and take it into France. It will be a tough encounter at home but I'm sure the fans will be behind us."
TEAMS
Ireland U20: Usanov, Walker, Mullan, Ronan, Corrigan, Foy, Power, McCarthy, Logal, Wisniewski, Mangan, Smyth, Fahy, Moloney, Molony
Replacements: Magee, Bohan, McAllister, Walsh, Minogue, Doyle, O'Leary Kareem, Green
England U20: McEachran, Tuipulotu, Sela, Sodeke, Burrow, Kpoku, Pollock, James, McParland, Coen, Griffin, Allison, Hall, Bracken, Kinder
Replacements: Gulley, Scola, Raymont, Ainsworth-Cave, Timmins, Friday, Bellamy, Lilley
