Paidi Farrell on double as Ireland survive heat to score bonus-point win against Georgians
Ireland endured 33 degrees Celsius heat at the start in Calvisano to get their U-20 World Rugby Championship off to a winning start against a Georgian side with a strong pack.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
6 hours ago
- RTÉ News
Winger Paidi Farrell's brace of helps Ireland to opening victory over Georgia at World Rugby Under-20 Championships
Old Wesley clubman Paidi Farrell scored two tries as the Ireland got off to a winning start at the World Rugby U-20 Championship courtesy of a 35-28 win over Georgia. Farrell scored a try in each half with Henry Walker, Mahon Ronan and Charlie Molony also scoring a try each in a five try bonus point win. Tom Wood, son of former Munster, Ireland and Lions captain Keith Wood, also kicked ten points from the tee. Ireland came into this game off the back of a poor Six Nations where they won just once out of five games, but have gotten off to a perfect start in a tough pool that also features tournament hosts Italy and last year's finalists New Zealand. Despite the 6pm kick-off time in Calvisano, there were water breaks needed as the temperature hit 34 degrees. That energy sapping feeling translated onto the pitch, more so in the first half, as Ireland pulled clear in the third quarter to avoid any late drama. Neil Doak's men scored from their first possession as Farrell, who did not feature in the Six Nations, got Ireland's opening try of the championship. Munster academy duo Michael Foy and Eoghan Smyth linked up in midfield to take Ireland within striking distance of the line. Tom Wood's cross field kick found it's way to Farrell and Ireland were off the mark. The Ballina-Killaloe product Wood would extend Ireland's lead to eight a few minutes later following an impressive scrum penalty won by the Irish front-row, although this was one area the Georgian's would dominate across the game. Georgia crossed for the first of their scores right on the quarter hour through lock Gagi Margvelashvili. The Racing 92 man powered over from close range as Ireland failed to deal with the Georgian power through contact. The sides would trade tries from here, with Ireland scoring next. Tom Wood's magnificent 50/22 meant Ireland had a close to the Georgian line, and after a powerful rolling maul from all eight Irish forwards, Ulster hooker Henry Walker dotted down for his third try of the year. Georgia responded through scrum-half Giorgi Spanderashvili, who scored two quick finish tries, but the middle period of the game was dominated by Ireland. Wood landed a penalty before half-time to give Ireland a four point lead at the break, before they went up a gear. Paidi Farrell started the second half like he did the first with a run-in try in the right corner, combining with Eoghan Smyth again. Spanderashvili reduced the Margin before tries from the impressive second-row Mahon Ronan and fellow Leinster man Charlie Moloney gave Ireland a 14 point cushion heading into the final quarter. Ronan was busy throughout the contest and powered over from close range for Ireland's all important fourth try, ad bonus point score, having made an initial barnstorming carry a few phases prior. Molony's score on the hour mark put Ireland out of sight. The UCD outside back glided past the Georgian defensive line to dot down, not needing the support line of Luke Murphy in the two v one. Georgia scored late on through Shota Kheladze to give them two bonus points, but the boys in green were never tested in the closing stages. Ireland are back in action on Friday night as they face Italy in Viadana, hoping to go one better than the Six Nations clash between the two sides back in March. Ireland u-20 scorers: Tries: Paidi Farrell (2), Henry Walker, Mahon Ronan, Charlie Molony Cons: Tom Wood (2) Pens: Tom Wood (2) Georgia u-20 scorers: Tries: Giorgi Spanderashvili (2), Gagui Margvelashvili, Shota Kheladze Cons: Luka Takaishvili (4) Ireland u-20: Charlie Molony, Paidi Farrell, Ciarán Mangan, Eoghan Smyth, Derry Moloney, Tom Wood, Clark Logan; Billy Bohan, Henry Walker, Alex Mullan, Mahon Ronan, Billy Corrigan, Michael Foy, Éanna McCarthy (capt), Luke Murphy Replacements: Tom McAllister (for McCarthy, 34-44) (for Mullan, 49), Mikey Yarr (for Walker, 45-48 & 59), Alex Usanov (for Bohan, 45), Bobby Power (for McCarthy, 55), Conor Kennelly (for Corrigan, 55), Will Wooton (for Logan, 56'), Daniel Green (for Paidi Farrell, 63), Sam Wisniewski (for Smyth, 65). Georgia u-20: Luka Takaishvili, Luka Keshelava, Data Akhvlediani, Nugzari Kevkhishvili, Tarieli Burtikashvili, Gigi Sirbiladze, Giorgi Spanderashvili; Bachuki Baratashvili, Mikheil Khakhubia, Mate Gurtskaia, Temur Tsulukidze, Gagui Margvelashvili, Luka Narsia, Andro Dvali, Mikheili Shioshvili. Replacements: Archil Nozadze (for Narsia, 34-44) (for Baratashvili, 56), Davit Baramia (for Tsulukidze, 46), Shota Kheladze (for Khakhubia, 51), Giorgi Meskhidze (for Gurtskaia, 51), Nikolozi Chkhortolia (for Margvelashvili, 56), Nika Abesadze (for Narsia, 62), Temuri Dzodzuashvili (for Spanderashvili, 64), Sandro Meskhidze (for Akhvlediani, 68).
Irish Independent
7 hours ago
- Irish Independent
Paidi Farrell on double as Ireland survive heat to score bonus-point win against Georgians
Ireland endured 33 degrees Celsius heat at the start in Calvisano to get their U-20 World Rugby Championship off to a winning start against a Georgian side with a strong pack.
Irish Examiner
7 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Ireland U20s overcome Georgia to kickstart World Cup campaign
World U20 Championship: Ireland 35 Georgia 28 Ireland got their U-20 World Rugby Championship campaign off to an encouraging start with a bonus point win over a strong Georgian side in Calvisano. Skipper Éanna McCarthy said the key thing was to get the win by a side which finished bottom of the Six Nations earlier this season. 'We knew Georgia was going to be a massive physical battle but we stood up and made a good performance out of it and finished key moments,' said the Cork native who is in the Connacht academy. Head coach Neil Doak will know there is plenty of room for improvement but after winning just one game in the Six Nations the win was all that mattered in stifling heat in northern Italy. They will hope to build on this when they take on the hosts Italy in Viadana next Friday and there were plenty of signs they can achieve a second win there and head into a winner-takes-all final pool showdown with New Zealand. Ireland led 18-14 at the break, having got off to the perfect start when Tullamore RFC product Paidi Farrell crowned his U-20 debut with a try in just over 70 seconds when the winger, who now plays with Old Wesley, scored in the right corner after a pressure blitz from the Irish from the start. When several surges were repelled, out-half Tom Wood went wide with Derry Moloney putting the other winger in for the opening score. Wood, a third generation Irish international following in the footsteps of dad Keith and grandfather Gordon, was off target with the conversion but stretched the lead with a ninth minute penalty and kept the Georgians penned back with some top class kicking from the hand. But the Georgians eventually got on top in the scrum and got back in contention when lock Gagui Margvelashvili was out through by his No.8 Mikheili Shioshvili to score a try converted by full-back Luka Takaishvili to make it 8-7 after 16 minutes. A superb 50:22 down the left by Wood ended with hooker Henry Walker scoring off a good lineout drive, with Wood adding the extras from the wing to make it 15-7. Ireland's wooden spoon finish in the Six Nations had a lot to do with slack defending and Georgia made them pay on the half hour when scrum-half Giorgi Spanderashvili escaped the clutches of five tackles to score from a tapped penalty outside the 22, with Takaishvili cutting the gap to 15-14 with the conversion. Ireland, who had 13 missed tackles to Georgia's three by the break, got their defence sorted and Wood extended the lead with a penalty before Irish tighthead Alex Mullan and Georgian loosehead Bachuki Baratashvili were binned by French referee Jeremy Rozier after repeated reset scrums. Ireland had a chance to extend the lead before the break but amid confusion among the officials over timekeeping, Wood's rushed effort missed the target and they had to settle for 18-14 at the break. Farrell started the second half the same as the first, scoring in the right corner after another good period of sustained pressure, but they were again caught napping at the other end as scrum-half Spanderashvili again tapped and scored from close range to cut the gap to 23-21. But Ireland refused to be rattled and Boyne RFC product Mahon Ronan displayed great strength for the lock to score beside the posts, with Wood's conversion making it 30-21 as Ireland secured the bonus point. Impressive full-back Charlie Molony made the game safe when he stepped inside down the left to score a fine try and make the game safe at 35-21 in the final quarter against a Georgian side who had ten of the side which stretched them all the way in last year's tournament in South Africa. The Georgians deservedly secured a couple of bonus points when replacement hooker Shoya Kheladzescored off a lineout and Takaishvili converted Scorers: Ireland: Tries: P Farrell (2), H Walker, M Ronan, C Molony. Cons: T Wood (2). Pens: Wood (2). Georgia: Tries: G Spanderashvili (2), G Margvelashvili, S Kheladze. Cons: L Takaishvili (4). IRELAND: C Molony; P Farrell (D Green 64), C Mangan, E Smyth (S Wisniewski 65), D Moloney; T Wood, C Logan (W Wootton 56); B Bohan (A Usanov 49)), H Walker (M Yarr 45-50, 60), A Mullan (T McAllister 52); M Ronan, B Corrigan (C Kennelly 56); M Foy, E McCarthy (McAllister 35-45, B Power 56), L Murphy. GEORGIA: L Takaishvili; L Keshelava, D Akhvlediani (S Meskhidze 69), N Kevkhishvili, T Burtikashvili; G Sirbiladze, G Spanderashvili (T Dzodquashvili 64); B Baratashvili (A Nozadze 56), M Khakhubia (S Kheladze 52), M Gurtskaia (G Meskhidze 52); T Tsulukidze (D Baramia 46), G Margvelashvili (N Chkhortolia 56); L Narsia (Nozadze 35-45, N Abesadze 62), A Dvali, M Shioshvili. Referee: Jeremy Rozier (France)
