Wales 25-26 Ireland
Jacob Stockdale scored twice as Ireland shocked reigning Grand Slam champions Wales, to begin their World Rugby U-20 Championships with a blistering start at the Manchester City Academy Stadium.
Wales had beaten Ireland 35-24 at Donnybrook in the opening game of this year’s U-20 Six Nations and were overwhelming favourites to kick-off Pool A with a win.
But instead Nigel Carolan’s men kept their heads even when they trailed 17-0 in the first-quarter and they fought back to grab a crucial win ahead of their clash with holders New Zealand next time out in the pool of death.
Ireland looked a beaten side when Wales had touched down their third try and led 17-0 with just 21 minutes played. But Ireland ground it out, and with two tries and a drop-goal and conversion they were back on track trailing 17-15 at the break.
It could have been a much different story at half-time had Welsh out-half Daniel Jones not spurned three kicks at goal in the opening 19 minutes – Jones had scored 20 points in Wales’ Six Nations victory over Ireland in February.
But he missed a very kickable penalty opportunity in the third minute. He was given another chance from the tee when Shaun Evans crossed for Wales’ first try.
Tom Phillips claimed the line-out and off the second phase Evans drove over, but Jones couldn’t find the target from the conversion.
That was in the 12th minute and just five minutes later the Irish defence was blitzed again, when Jones spotted Keelan Giles in acres of space on the left wing, and the Welsh speedster touched down from the cross-field kick.
Jones missed the conversion, but he slotted at the fourth time of asking in the 21stminute after Reuben Morgan-Williams scored Wales’ third try.
But then Ireland got a foothold, Bill Johnston’s drop-goal was a timely boost in the 25th minute, and then Shane Daly went close.
Daly was then taken out by Jones, when Jacob Stockdale showed great composure to clear his lines and Ireland crossed for their first try when Adam McBurney barrelled over in the 37th minute.
Johnston missed the conversion but Ireland struck again before the break when Daly created the space for Stockdale to score in the corner and Johnston made no mistake.
Wales needed to score first in the second-half and Jones settled them with an early penalty, but Ireland seemed to be full of confidence and with Johnston oozing confidence he struck two penalties in a row.
The second came in the 52nd minute as Ireland took the lead for the first time in the match at 21-20. Ireland began to throw the ball around with Conor O’Brien and Daly impressing in midfield.
Stockdale was on the end of a wonderful O’Brien pass to score in the left corner in the 68th minute. And even though Johnston missed the conversion and Giles scored his second try, Ireland held on, with Jarrod Evans missing a conversion that would have sealed it for Wales.
Ireland: A McBurney, J Stockdale (2); pens, B Johnston (2); con, B Johnston; drop-goal, B Johnston.
Wales: tries, S Evans, K Giles (2), R Morgan-Williams; pen, D Jones; con, D Jones.
Ireland: J Stockdale; M Byrne, S Daly, C O’Brien, H Keenan; B Johnston, S Kerins; A Porter, A McBurney, C Kenny; C Gallagher, J Ryan; G Jones, D Aspil, M Deegan.
Replacements: B Betts for Kenny (6), K Brown for Aspil (70), J O’Brien for C O’Brien (77), V O’Brien for McBurney (77).
Wales: R Williams; T Williams, J Thomas, H Millard, K Giles; D Jones, R Morgan-Williams; C Domachowski, D Hughes, D Lewis; S Lewis-Hughes, A Beard; T Phillips, S Evans, H Keddie.
Replacements: J Macleod for Evans (30), Evans for Macleod (40), L Belcher for Hughes (44), L Brown for Lewis (65), J Evans for Jones (65), Macleod for Evans (65), D Smith for for Morgan-Williams (65),R Fawcett for Domachowski (72).
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand).
