6N U20: Ireland, Italy, France Win

On the cold opening night of the first round of the Under-20 Six Nations in 2019, Ireland beat England, Italy beat Scotland and France beat Wales.

Both of the matches were close enough to keep spectators more interested in the rugby than the cold.

Ireland vs England

Ireland avenged last year’s hiding at the hands of the English by scoring four tries to three down in Cork and winning this thriller 35-27.

England led 24-20 at half time, and they were still leading, 27-25, with 17 minutes to play. Then a Harry Byrne penalty gave Ireland a 28-27 lead till, with just two minutes left, Cormac Foley scored a try, which Byrne converted for a famous victory.

Scorers

For Ireland:
Tries: Tierney-Martin 2, Penny, Foley
Cons: Byrne 3
Pens: Byrne 3

For England:
Tries: Murley, Willis, Hodge
Cons: Smith 3
Pens: Smith, Hardwick

Teams

Ireland: 15 Jake Flannery, 14 Conor Phillips, 13 Liam Turner, 12 David Hawkshaw, 11 Jonathan Wren, 10 Harry Byrne, 9 Craig Casey, 8 John Hodnett, 7 Scott Penny, 6 Martin Moloney, 5 Niall Murray, 4 Charlie Ryan, 3 Thomas Clarkson, 2 Dylan Tierney-Martin,1 Josh Wycherley
Replacements: 16 John McKee, 17 Michael Milne, 18 Ryan Lomas, 19 Brian Deeny, 20 David McCann, 21 Cormac Foley, 22 Sean French, 23 Rob Russell

England: 15 Josh Hodge, 14 Ollie Sleightholme, 13 Fraser Dingwall (captain), 12 Tom Hardwick, 11 Cadan Murley, 10 Marcus Smith, 9 Sam Maunder, 8 Tom Willis, 7 Aaron Hinkley, 6 Ted Hill, 5 Alex Coles, 4 Joel Kpoku, 3 Marcus Street, 2 Nic Dolly, 1 Olly Adkins,
Replacements: 16 Ben Atkins, 17 Bevan Rodd, 18 Joe Heyes, 19 James Scott, 20 Rusiate Tuima, 21 Ollie Fox, 22 Cameron Redpath, 23 Ollie Lawrence

Referee: Ludovic Cayre (France)
Assistant referees: Vincent Blasco Baqué, Nicolas Datas (France)
Television match official: Denis Grenouillet (France)
Timekeeper: Harry Booker (Ireland)
Citing commissioner: Stefano Marrama (Italy)

Scotland vs Italy

Italy led 11-3 at half-time and ended winning 32-22 – 14 points in the first half, 40 in the second, which suggests that the players anti-freeze remedy was running with the ball. At one stage in the second half, Scotland led 17-11. But then Italy scored three converted tries.

Scorers

For Italy:
Tries: Nocera, Taddia, Mori, Trulla
Cons: Garbisi 3
Pens: Garbisi 2

For Scotland:
Tries: Boyle, Jupp, McLean
Cons: Thompson 2
Pen: Thompson

Teams

Scotland: 15 Ollie Smith, 14 Rory McMichael, 13 Cameron Anderson, 12 Robbie McCallum, 11 Jack Blain, 10 Ross Thompson, 9 Roan Frostwick, 8 Jack Mann, 7 Connor Boyle (captain), 6 Kwagga van Niekerk, 5 Charlie Jupp, 4 Ewan Johnson, 3 Murphy Walker, 2 Finlay Scott, 1 Sam Grahamslaw
Replacements: 16 Euan Ashman, 17 Andrew Nimmo, 18 Euan McLaren, 19 Cameron Henderson, 20 Ross Bundy, 21 Kyle McGhie (Musselburgh), 22 Nathan Chamberlain, 23 Rufus McLean

Italy: 15 Jacopo Trulla, 14 Edoardo Mastandrea, 13 Matteo Moscardi, 12 Damiano Mazza, 11 Michael Mba, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Alessandro Fusco, 8 Antoine Koffi, 7 Davide Ruggeri (captain), 6 Mirco Finotto, 5 Thomas Parolo, 4 Nicolae Cristian Stoian, 3 Matteo Nocera, 2 Niccolò Taddia, 1 Matteo Drudi
Replacements: 16 Luca Franceschetto, 17 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 18 Filippo Alongi (I Titani), 19 Marco Butturini, 20 Angelo Maurizi, 21 Gianmarco Piva, 22 Giacomo Da Re, 23 Federico Mori

Referee: Adam Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Gareth John (Wales), Wayne Davies (Wales)

France vs Wales

Wales were strong in the first half, trailing only 17-10 but France were the only scorers in the second half which ended with powerful France leading 32-10.

Scorers

France:
Tries: Zegueur, Lebel, Geraci, Pinto
Cons: Carbonel 3
Pens: Carbonel 2

Wales:
Try: Roberts
Con: Evans
Pen: Evans

Teams

France: 15 Alexandre De Nardi, 14 Vincent Pinto, 13 Arthur Vincent (captain), 12 Julien Delbouis, 11 Matthis Lebel, 10 Louis Carbonel, 9 Quintin Delord, 8 Jordan Joseph, 7 Sacha Zegueur, 6 Mathieu Hirigoyen, 5 Killian Geraci, 4 Thomas Lavault, 3 Giorgi Beria, 2 Rayne Barka, 1 Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16 Mathis Sarragallet 17 Eli Eglaine 18 Alex Burin 19 Florent Vanverberghe, 20 Maxence Lemardelet 21 Kévin Viallard 22 Mathieu Smaïli 23 Yoram Moefana

Wales: 15 Ioan Davies, 14 Tomi Lewis, 13 Tom Hoppe, 12 Aneurin Owen, 11 Deon Smith, 10 Cai Evans, 9 Harri Morgan, 8 Taine Basham, 7 Tommy Reffell (captain), 6 Jac Morgan, 5 Jac Price, 4 Teddy Williams, 3 Ben Warren, 2 Dewi Lake, 1 Rhys Davies
Replacements: 16 Will Griffiths, 17 Kemsley Mathias, 18 Nick English, 19 Ed Scragg, 20 Ellis Thomas, 21 Jamie Hill, 22 Sam Costelow, 23 Joe Roberts

Referee: Ben Blain (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Ian Kenny (Scotland), Ross Mabon (Scotland)