England 26-42 Ireland
Ireland got their World Rugby Under-20 World Championships campaign off to a winning start with a bonus-point 42-26 victory over an ill-disciplined England in Santa Fe, Argentina.
Noel McNamara’s side outscored their neighbours by six tries to three against an English side who played the final quarter with 14 men and had two sent to the sin-bin either side of the interval.
A Manu Vunipola penalty and converted Ollie Sleighthome gave the pre-match favourites an early advantage at the Club de Rugby Atheneo Immaculada, before out-half Jake Flannery crossed for Ireland in the 11th minute before adding the extras himself.
A Stewart Moore try saw Ireland take a 14-13 lead at the break, with England temporarily reduced to 14 when Aaron Hinkley was hit with a yellow card.
England, who have reached the last six U20 Championship finals, began the second half in similar fashion to the first with a penalty and a try before out-half Vunipola was sent to the sin-bin in the 49th minute.
The following 10 minutes saw three tries, with flanker David McCann crossing twice for the men in green sandwiched in between Tom Seabrook’s effort for England.
Worse was to follow for England when Alfie Barbeary was dismissed for lifting up and dropping Ireland's John Hodnett recklessly to the ground.
Interview: @IrishRugby's captain Charlie Ryan says "he's really proud of everyone, they put in a huge shift" as his side beat England 42-26 at the #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/PVPteqZGd5
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 4, 2019
After that there was no way back for the losers, with replacement Bean Healy immediately profiting from the numerical advantage to dive over down the short side of the scrum.
In a high-tempo finale, Healy impressed with some relieving kicks while another replacement, Sean French, made a try-saving tackle on Joel Kpoku before Hodnett put a gloss on the scoreline with six minutes remaining by piling over after more headway from the pack.
Next up for Ireland is Australia on Saturday at 2.30pm Irish time.
U20s Highlights: @IrishRugby get their #WorldRugbyU20s Championship started with a win after epic encounter with England pic.twitter.com/hjl0QsqNWt
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) June 4, 2019
Ireland: Iwan Hughes, Angus Kernohan, Liam Turner, Stewart Moore, Jonathan Wren, Jake Flannery, Craig Casey, Josh Wycherley, Dylan Tierney-Martin, Tom Clarkson, Charlie Ryan, Ryan Baird, David McCann, John Hodnett, Azur Allison.
Replacements: Ronan Watters for Allison (24), Ben Healy for Hughes (49), Michael Milne for Wycherley (67), Declan Adamson for Tierney-Martin (73), Ciarán Booth for McCann (73), Niall Murray for Baird (73), Charlie Ward for Clarkson (78)
England: Tom de Glanville; Ollie Sleightholme, Fraser Dingwall (captain), Cameron Redpath, Tom Seabrook; Manu Vunipola, Ollie Fox; Olly Adkins, Nic Dolly, Joe Heyes, Joel Kpoku, Alex Coles, Ted Hill, Aaron Hinkley, Tom Willis.
Replacements: Josh Hodge for Vunipola (16-24 mins, temp sub), Arron Reed for Seabrook (51), Alfie Petch for Heyes, Rusiate Tuima for Willis, Hodge for de Glanville, Alfie Barbeary for Dolly (all 61), James Kenny for Coles, Dolly for Sleightholme, Kai Owen for Adkins (all 66).
Referee: Damon Murphy (Australia)
