Ireland U20 23-30 England U20
A try with the last play of the game secured a dramatic 30-23 victory for England U20s over their Irish counterparts England in the World Cup fifth-place play-off semi-final in Rosario.
A stirring Irish comeback fell just short as Tom Willis crashed over at the death, with the TMO confirming there was indeed a grounding of the ball amid a pile of bodies and, fittingly, man of the maych Josh Hodge had the final act of the game to slot over the conversion.
The boys in green will now have to dust themselves down when they take on New Zealand in their final outing in Saturday’s seventh/eighth place play-off.
Noel McNamara’s men trailed 23-9 entering the final quarter, but tries from Jonathan Wren and replacement Brian Deeney, and more accurate place-kicking from outhalf Ben Healy drew the sides level with eight minutes remaining.
However it was England who had the final say and will now take on Wales this weekend for the right to be crowned fifth in the world.
Injury-ravaged Ireland, who got the better of England in the Six Nations and the opening game of the tournament two weeks ago, were forced into eight personnel changes as the gruelling competition has taken its toll on the depth of the squad.
On a boggy pitch that cut up badly, Ireland had a man advantage by the sixth minute as Ted Hill was sin-binned for a dangerous tackle on Irish captain Charlie Ryan. Shortly after, they forced a close-range penalty that Munster outhalf Healy dispatched for a 3-0 lead.
The Irish were predictably dominating possession but the 14 men equalised through a fine long-range penalty from winger Hodge.
A second penalty from Healy edged Ireland back in front on the 20-minute mark before England's discipline let them down again when Kai Owen hit Michael Milne late and high.
Another yellow card but Healy missed the kick at goal, his first of the tournament, and Ireland subsequently failed to press home their man advantage.
Hodge sent over another good kick before finishing his side's first good passing move of the match to touch down. The Newcastle youngster converted his own try to make it 6-13 at the whistle.
Healy reduced the deficit to four points shortly after the break, but that was as close as it got for McNamara's side. Hodge bisected the posts in the 47th minute when the Irish defence was penalised for failing to roll away at a ruck.
Sam Maunder crossed for England and two minutes later Ireland found themselves at a numerical disadvantage when hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Hodge.
Winger Wren breathed life back into the contest when he took Healy's pass out wide and slipped in between two English defenders in the corner and Healy duly dispatched the difficult conversion with aplomb.
Remarkably, they crossed the line again two minutes later. Replacement lock Deeny blocked down scrum-half Maunder's box kick at the back of the scrum and he couldn't be caught before the line, with the unerring Healy making it level with eight minutes left on the clock.
Further English ill-discipline saw Rusiate Tuima sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Deeny, but they held their nerve in the closing minutes to maintain possession and eventually get over the line.
Ireland U20: Jake Flannery (Munster); Aaron O'Sullivan (Leinster), Liam Turner (Leinster, captain), David Ryan (Leinster), Jonathan Wren (Munster); Ben Healy (Munster), Craig Casey (Munster); Michael Milne (Leinster), Dylan Tierney-Martin (Connacht), Charlie Ward (Leinster), Charlie Ryan (Leinster) , Thomas Ahern (Munster), Ryan Baird (Leinster), Ronan Watters (Leinster), Azur Allison (Ulster).
Replacements: Declan Adamson (Leinster), Thomas Clarkson (Leinster), Josh Wycherley (Munster), John McKee (Leinster), Brian Deeny (Leinster), Niall Murray (Connacht), Luke Clohessy (Munster), Colm Reilly (Connacht), Rob Russell (Leinster), Cormac Foley (Leinster), Angus Kernohan (Ulster), Max O'Reilly (Leinster).
England U20: Tom de Glanville (Bath); Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton Saints), Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints) (capt), Cameron Redpath (Sale Sharks), Josh Hodge (Newcastle Falcons); Manu Vunipola (Saracens), Sam Maunder (Exeter Chiefs); Kai Owen (Worcester Warriors), Will Capon (Bristol Bears), Joe Heyes (Leicester Tigers), Joel Kpoku (Saracens), Alex Coles (Northampton Saints), Richard Capstick (Exeter Chiefs), Aaron Hinkley (Gloucester), Ted Hill (Worcester Warriors).
Replacements: Nic Dolly (Sale Sharks), Olly Adkins (Gloucester), James Kenny (Exeter Chiefs), Tom Willis (Wasps), Rusiate Tuima (Exeter Chiefs), Ollie Fox (Yorkshire Carnegie), Connor Doherty (Sale Sharks), Tom Seabrook (Gloucester), Luke James (Sale Sharks), Ollie Hassell-Collins (London Irish).
Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
