NOEL MCNAMARA PRAISED his team’s valiant efforts against Australia as 14-man Ireland battled on following the first-half dismissal of Ryan Baird, but ultimately defeat leaves their U20 World Championship hopes hanging by a thread.
Ireland showed huge character and spirit in the face of adversity in their second Pool B outing on Saturday, but having played an hour of the contest a man down, ran out of steam as Australia ran in three tries during a clinical four-minute spell.
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Ireland U20s suffered their first defeat of the year on Saturday. Source: Pablo Gasparini/INPHO
After the opening day win over England, the Grand Slam winners’ hopes of progressing through to the last four have taken a major hit ahead of Wednesday’s final pool outing against Italy in Santa Fe [KO 2.30pm, eir Sport].
“I think we have to be proud of the efforts of the boys, against a really quality opposition like Australia and under the circumstances that unfolded,” McNamara said.
“To perform the way they performed, the quality of effort was absolutely first-class and the character on display was absolutely first-class.”
Ireland rebounded from Baird’s first-half red card for a recklessly high tackle on Australia out-half Will Harrison to take a 17-10 lead into the second period, but the game ran away from them between the 63rd and 67th minute, when the Junior Wallabies scores three unanswered tries to book their place in the knockout stages.
It left McNamara’s side with nothing to show for their efforts, the lack of a losing bonus point crucial in their efforts to secure a place in the semi-final stage as the best runner-up.
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