Ireland U20s 12-22 Wales U20s
Nigel Carolan's Ireland U20s will have to be satisfied with a seventh-placed play-off against Scotland after his side succumbed to a rampant Wales by 22-12 at the Stadio Luigi Zaffanella in Viadana.
Unanswered tries from Dafydd Howells, Seb Davies and Joshua Adams inside the first 20 minutes gave Wales an unassailable lead, although Ciaran Gaffney and Charlie Rock crossed for Ireland after the interval.
The Irish side now meet Scotland on Saturday at the same venue in a battle to finished either seventh or eighth – their fifth game in 18 days.
Reigning champions England and four-time winners New Zealand will contest the final.
New Zealand secured their place by demolishing France 45-7 in Calvisano, before England out-muscled South Africa, 28-20, to ensure their third final appearance in as many years.
From the early stages it was clear that Ireland were suffering from the hangover of defeat to the mighty Baby Blacks last week and after three minutes the game already began to slip from their grasp.
Ospreys back Howells made the most of some generous play by the Irish defence to cross in the corner, but a missed conversion from Jarrod Evans meant Wales only led 5-0.
That lead was soon doubled though when lock Davies crossed of Wales' second after Harrison Keddie sent him on his way after nine minutes.
This time Evans was on the mark for the extras as Ireland fell behind by double digits.
Ireland had their chances too though: Gaffney was held just short after five minutes, before Joey Carbery missed with a 14th-minute penalty that would have settled Carolan's side.
And Wales inflicted the ultimate punishment on Ireland a minute later when Joshua Adams crossed for his side's third try, Evans was on target with the extras to make it 19-0.
Three tries up inside the first quarter, it appeared as if Wales were in the mood to inflict a massive defeat on Ireland, but the loss of flanker Tom Phillips to the sin bin in the 20th minute halted their gallop somewhat.
Nevertheless, it was the Welsh side that stretched their lead after Phillips' return, Evans landed his first penalty of the game, which gave Wales a 22-0 lead at the break.
Gaffney came as close as any Irish player to scoring in the first half, and it only took the young Connacht full-back three minutes of the second to get Ireland on the board.
A good break from Sammy Arnold made the room for Gaffney who crossed in the right corner, while Carbery added the conversion to get Ireland back into the game at 22-7.
To their credit Ireland continued to battle on in search of the try that would set up a grandstand last quarter, and their cause was aided in the 58th minute when Ollie Griffiths was sin-binned – Wales' second yellow card of the game.
Rock's try arrived 12 minutes from the end for Ireland, but Carbery was unsuccessful with the conversion which left ten points between the sides and from there Ireland's challenge fizzled out.
Scorers
Wales: D Howells, S Davies, J Adams tries; J Evans 2 cons, pen
Ireland: C Gaffney, C Rock tries; J Carbery con
Wales: D Howells; EW Benham, G Smith, O Watkin, J Adams; J Evans, T Williams; L Garrett, L Belcher, D Lewis; S Davies, A Beard; T Phillips, O Griffiths, H Eddie.
Replacements: J Thomas for Smith (39), D Jones for J Evans (44), K Bale for Garrett (54), R Elias for Eddie (64), T Myhill for Belcher (72), J Jones for Lewis (78),
Ireland: C Gaffney; S Fitzgerald, G Ringrose, S Arnold, J Stockdale; J Carbery, C Rock; A Porter, S McNulty, O Heffernan; D O’Connor, A Thompson; J Murphy, C Oliver, N Timoney.
Replacements: C O'Donnell for Heffernan (half-time), A McBurney for McNulty (43), L Dow for Oliver (53), R Moloney for Timoney (53), F Cleary for Arnold (72), Owens for Ringrose (72), L O'Connor for Porter (78), T Quinlan for Carbery (78).
Referee: Will Houston (Australia).
