ITALY U20 27-44 IRELAND U20
Out-half Sam Prendergast starred once again as Ireland made it three wins from three in the Under-20 Six Nations.
Richie Murphy's side out-scored Italy five tries to four and Prendergast kicked eight out of eight attempts at goal for 19 points in a fast-paced and entertaining game.
"It was a really good performance, I think we were very good in the first half," Prendergast said.
"In the second half we knew it would be very tough but we had to win the game four or five times there, they kept coming back at us. We're delighted with the win."
Number 8 Brian Gleeson opened the scoring in the fourth minute but Italy quickly responded with hooker Giovanni Quattrini barging over.
Fintan Gunn has pounced for a second Irish U20s try against Italy
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 24, 2023
#rterugby #u20sixnations #ITAvIRE
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Fintan Gunn pushed the visitors further ahead, the scrum-half taking advantage of a naïve Italy defence to race over the line. James McNabney crashed over for Ireland’s third and a late Prendergast penalty put his side 27-8 ahead at the break.
Jacobo Botturi hit back for the hosts but Hugh Cooney soon cancelled that out before Italy scored the try of the night.
Italy U20s have scored a brilliant third try but Ireland remain 12 points clear as the match enters the final quarter#rterugby #u20sixnations #ITAvIRE
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 24, 2023
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Filippo Bozzoni stepped inside his man and raced 30 metres, drawing in the covering Prendergast before releasing full-back Francois Carlo Mey for a run-in.
The Ireland out-half kept the scoreboard ticking over with another penalty but Italy did manage to secure their own bonus point when Nicholas Gasperini scored off a lineout maul.
Replacement Rory Telfer finished off the try-scoring with a well-taken effort in the corner.
Rory Telfer scored the fifth try to put the icing on the cake for the Ireland U20s in Italy#rterugby #u20sixnations #ITAvIRE
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) February 24, 2023
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Meanwhile, England maintained their 100% record with a 37-21 bonus-point victory in Wales, while France ran out 54-12 winners over Scotland.
Italy: Francois Carlo Mey; Alessandro Gesi, Dewi Passarella, Nicola Bozzo, Matthias Douglas; Giovanni Sante, Sebastiano Battara; Destiny Aminu, Giovanni Quattrini, Marcos Francesco Gallorini; Alex Mattioli, Pietro Turrisi; Carlos Berlese, David Odiase, Jacopo Botturi.
Replacements: Nicholas Gasperin, Samuele Taddei, Alex Artuso, Enrico Pontarini, Filippo Lavorenti, Filippo Bozzoni, Simone Brisighella, Valerio Siciliano.
Ireland: Henry McErlean; James Nicholson, Hugh Cooney, John Devine, Hugh Gavin; Sam Prendergast, Fintan Gunne; George Hadden, Gus McCarthy (capt), Paddy McCarthy; Diarmuid Mangan, Conor O'Tighearnaigh; James McNabney, Ruadhán Quinn, Brian Gleeson.
Replacements: Danny Sheahan, George Morris, Fiachna Barrett, Evan O'Connell, Jacob Sheahan, Oscar Cawley, Harry West, Rory Telfer.
