New Zealand humble Ireland and end U-20 World Championship semi-final hopes
Ireland were unable to build on a glorious start in Calvisano and were blown away by a New Zealand side operating on a different level in this World Rugby U-20 Championship final pool game in northern Italy.
It seemed for a time the Junior All Blacks would surpass their record 69-3 win over Ireland in this tournament in 2017, but after hitting 50 points in just 48 minutes, the scores dried up for a period with the issue long decided in a game which Ireland had to win to advance to the semi-finals.
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The Irish Sun
19-07-2025
- The Irish Sun
What TV channel is Ireland Under-20s vs Spain on? FREE Stream, kick-off time and team for World Cup clash
IRELAND face Spain in an 11th place play-off in the Rugby Under-20s World Cup. Scotland on Monday meant Neil Doak's side dropped into a play-off against other semi-final losers Spain . 2 Ireland came third in their group having beaten Georgia but lost to New Zealand and Italy 2 Oisin Minogue opened the scoring against New Zealand with a try which former St Munchin's teammate Tom Wood converted In the 80th minute Jake Shearer powered through the Irish defence from the back of a ruck to give Scotland the narrow 22-21 win. Tries from Henry Walker, Luke McLaughlin and Paidi Farrell - all converted by Daniel Green - were not enough as Ireland came agonisingly close to the ninth place play-off. A narrow loss to Here is everything you need to know before watching the Read more on Irish sport WHAT TIME IS KICK-OFF? The wooden spoon decider kicks-off at 2:30pm on Saturday in Stadio San Michele Calvisano. WHERE CAN I STREAM IT? Ireland's World Cup clash with Spain can be streamed live on The live stream is free to access as long as you create an account on the website. WHAT'S THE TEAM? Ireland boss Doak has named nine changes from the side that lost to Scotland on Monday. Most read in Rugby Union Donnacha McGuire makes his Under-20s debut in the second-row having been involved with the Under-19s this year. There are also two first Under-20 Championship starts for Alex Mullan (tighthead prop) and David Walsh (second-row). Inside Scotland and Lions hero's stunning house that boasts giant basement room with bar for FIFTY people to party Ireland Backs : Daniel Green (Queens University/Ulster), Charlie Molony (UCD RFC/Leinster), Jonny Scott (Banbridge RFC/Ulster), Eoghan Smyth (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster), Will Wootton (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) Ireland Forwards : Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster), Henry Walker (Queens University/Ulster), Tom McAllister (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), David Walsh (Terenure RFC/Leinster), Donnacha Maguire (UCD RFC/Leinster Rugby), Michael Foy (UCC RFC/Munster), Eanna McCarthy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Oisin Minogue (Shannon RFC/Munster) Substitutes : Luke McLaughlin (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Paddy Moore (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Jack Ryan (UL Bohemians RFC/Munster), Billy Corrigan (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Bobby Power (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Chris O'Connor (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Gene O'Leary Kareem (UCC RFC/Munster), Paidi Farrell (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
Irish Examiner
10-07-2025
- Irish Examiner
Ireland U20s in wooden spoon battle, but relegation trapdoor may shut
The scale of Ireland's 69-22 hammering by New Zealand on Wednesday evening has meant Neil Doak's side now go into the lower tier to see who finishes bottom of the World Rugby U20 Championship in Italy. But even if Ireland finish bottom — they play Scotland with the loser facing either Georgia or Spain — they are unlikely to be relegated as World Rugby proposes increasing this tournament from 12 to 16 teams in 2026. Ireland have played in every one of the 15 tournaments since this grade started in 2008, twice finishing runners-up, but they have been in this position before and came close to being relegated to the U20 World Trophy in 2018 with a management team headed by Noel McNamara and which also included current interim senior Ireland coach Paul O'Connell. Back then they were pushed all the way before seeing off Japan 39-33 in the relegation final in Beziers with a side which included current Irish captain Caelan Doris and other future internationals such as Dan Sheehan, Harry Byrne, and a duo, Tommy O'Brien and Jack Aungier, who made their senior bows in Georgia last weekend. That 2018 team finished mid-table with 12 points in that season's Six Nations with wins over Scotland and Italy, while the current crop were bottom this year with just six points and one win over Scotland, a 33-15 victory in Edinburgh. The scale of the loss to New Zealand saw Ireland finish below Wales and Italy on points difference and drop to the third tier of play-off games. They will now face Scotland in Verona on Monday (5pm Irish time) where a win will see them bid for ninth place the following Saturday and a loss will see them in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon of a tournament where they were semi-finalists last year and runners-up the previous season. Captain Éanna McCarthy, who has done extremely well to front up after the losses, said they can take a lot of positives from Wednesday's loss, not least the way they took the game initially to the Junior All Blacks and built a 12-0 lead. 'There are a lot of learnings from that but we can take energy from the first 20 minutes,' said the Connacht academy player from Cork. 'There are not many teams that can do that to an All Blacks side. We can take the learnings and the positives out of it as well."
Irish Independent
09-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Irish U-20s must produce something special to down Junior All Blacks and reach last four of World Championships
An 18-16 loss to hosts Italy after they defeated Georgia 35-28 in the opening game means nothing less than a win will do for Ireland, and even then they may need a bonus point to oust a Junior All Blacks side who are three match points ahead of them going into this final pool game. Ireland finished seventh and eighth on the two previous occasions that this 12-team tournament was held in northern Italy and another mid-table position looks on the cards unless they can beat a strong New Zealand side. McCarthy said they were disappointed not to beat the Italians but they have had to shrug off the loss and focus all their attention on a New Zealand side who beat Italy 14-5 and Georgia 38-19. 'We'll have to face up against them and take it to them,' said the Cork native who is in the Connacht academy. 'We didn't get to play the rugby we wanted to against Italy but the effort couldn't be faulted.' New Zealand ended Ireland's hopes in the final pool game the last time Italy hosted the tournament in 2015, with Nigel Carolan's side defeating Scotland to finish seventh with a squad that included Andrew Porter, Garry Ringrose, Joey Carbery and Jacob Stockdale. There were also two current Lions in the squad which finished eighth when Italy staged the tournament for the first time in 2011 with Tadhg Furlong and Finlay Bealham on board alongside Iain Henderson, Andrew Conway, Paddy Jackson, Craig Gilroy, Kieran Marmion, Jordi Murphy and JJ Hanrahan. Current head coach Neil Doak, whose side finished bottom of the Six Nations this year, has made four changes for this clash, two at the back and two up front. Ulster academy player Daniel Green, now with Queen's University having been identified through the IQ (Irish-qualified) programme when he was with Sale Sharks, comes in at full-back with Charlie Molony moving to the wing to the exclusion of Paidi Farrell, who scored two tries against Georgia. Jonny Scott, another Ulster academy player, replaces Cork Con's Midleton native Eoghan Smyth. Two recent additions to the Munster academy come in up front with lock Conor Kennelly from Highfield RFC replacing Mahon Ronan, while Shannon's Oisin Minogue, who came through the ranks at Ballina Killaloe RFC, takes over from Billy Power after coming on and scoring the late try against Italy. The flanker is a son of former Irish international Rosie Foley and nephew of the late Anthony Foley. Verdict: New Zealand U-20 Ireland: D Green; C Molony, C Mangan, J Scott, D Moloney; T Wood, W Wootton; A Usanov, H Walker, A Mullan; C Kennelly, B Corrigan; E McCarthy, O Minogue, L Murphy. Reps: L McLaughlin, B Bohan, T McAllister, D Walsh, B Power, C Logan, S Wisniewski, G O'Leary Kareem. New Zealand: R Simpson; F Vaenuku, C Roberts, J Wiseman, M Kunawave; W Cole, D Pledger; S Uamaki Pole, M Letiu, R Faleafa; X Treacy, J Sa; F McLeod, C Woodley, M Bason. Reps: S Kempton, I Time, D Johnston, A Vakasiuola, M Fale, J Tamati, J Cameron, S Solomon.
