Ireland 37 Argentina 7
Ireland produced a stunning display to advance to their first ever World Rugby U-20 Championship final after blowing Argentina away.
It was a fantastic performance from Nigel Carolan’s men who bossed matters from start to finish and are now just 80 minutes away from lifting their first title at the AJ Bell Stadium on Saturday evening.
They will face England after the hosts defeated South Africa 39-17 in the second semi-final at Manchester City Academy Stadium.
Ireland raced into a 21-0 lead after 29 minutes and while Argentina briefly hit back before the break, the Irish were never in trouble and ran out convincing winners.
Jacob Stockdale continued his fine run of form as he touched down twice in the first-half, Max Deegan also crossed the line and Shane Daly rounded the Irish scoring off with the final play of the game.
It was a terrible evening for Argentina, who had replacement loosehead Santiago Pulella sent-off for a headbutt, and despite a yellow card for Vincent O’Brien Ireland advanced.
They held a comfortable 21-7 lead at half-time, but it could have been even better had Juan Cruz Mallia not poached a try for Argentina with only moments remaining at the end of the half.
Ireland dominated the first-half and were lethal with their finishing when they got within touching distance of the Argentine line.
Carolan had made 11 changes to his side for the game, having rested so many front-liners for the Georgia game, and after their wins over Wales and New Zealand it was clear Ireland were full of confidence from the off.
Out-half Johnny McPhillips was one of those retained from that victory over Georgia and he provided the cross-field kick that caused problems for Argentine full-back Bautista Delguy in the eighth minute.
Matthew Byrne rushed up behind him to challenge for possession and when the ball fell to Daly he sent Stockdale over for his first try. McPhillips converted the extras from a tight angle and Ireland had their dream start.
Ireland were let off when Domingo Miotti missed an easy penalty, and in the 23rd minute Deegan ran from his own 22 to out-pace Miotti and touchdown Ireland’s second try after an intercept.
McPhillips was again on target with the conversion, and Ireland added a third try 11 minutes before half-time.
It was another sensational effort, this time a training ground move, James Ryan caught the line-out and off second phase Stockdale danced his way through the defence to touch down under the posts.
McPhillips slotted the conversion and although Argentina got points on the board before half-time, Ireland still led 21-7 at the break.
Argentina needed to build on their sole try after half-time but Ireland got the first score from a McPhillips penalty in the 53rd minute. He followed that up with two more and Ireland led 30-7 with just 15 minutes remaining.
English referee Craig Maxwell-Keys gave Pulella a straight red when he headbutted Sean O’Connor at a maul in the 72nd minute and Argentina knew the game was up.
Even O’Brien’s yellow card couldn’t dampen the occasion for Ireland, and Daly intercepted a stray pass to increase the margin late on.
When you reach the U20 World Championship Finals....#FutureIsGreen pic.twitter.com/rPJjruiVtM
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 20, 2016
Scorers –
Ireland: J Stockdale 2, M Deegan, S Daly tries; J McPhillips 3, B Connon cons; McPhillips 3 pens.
Argentina: J Cruz Mallia try; D Miotti con.
Ireland: J Stockdale; M Byrne, S Daly, C O'Brien, H Keenan; J McPhillips, S Kerins; A Porter, A McBurney, B Betts; S O'Connor, J Ryan; G Jones, D Aspil, M Deegan.
Replacements: J O'Brien for C O’Brien (60), V O'Brien for McBurney (65), B Connon (Newcastle Falcons) for McPhillips (72), A Coyle (Naas) for Betts (72), N Saunders (Harlequins) for Kerins (72), J Bollard (Dublin University) for Porter (72), E Mintern (Cork Constitution) for Ryan (72), K Brown (Shannon) for Jones (72).
Argentina: B Delguy; T Malanos, J Cruz Mallia, S Mare, J Dominguez; D Miotti, P Baronio; R Ricco, G Baldunciel, S Medrano; F Molina, I Calas; M Kremer, M Romanini, V Boronat.
Replacements: C Roura for Calas (46), L Bazan Velez for Baronio (46), M Osadczuk for Mare (51), B Stavile Bravin for Boronat (53), G Del Pazo for Medrano (54), S Pulella for Ricco (60), M Elias for Miotti (60), R Pretz for Baldunciel (65), Ricco for Romanini (76).
Referee: Craig Maxwell-Keys (England).
