Ireland U20s enter play-offs after crushing New Zealand defeat
Ireland's Under-20 side will now enter the play-off stream at the World Cup in Italy following a bruising 69-22 loss to New Zealand to wrap up their pool stage.
Having lost to hosts Italy in their second game in Pool C, Neil Doak's side were always facing an uphill task to make it through to the semi-finals of the tournament – and so it proved in Calvisano.
The opening minutes suggested a shock could be on the cards at the Stadio San Michele as Ireland raced into a 12-0 lead - Oisín Minogue with a fantastic bit of skill to chip the ball over Will Cole to finish before Daniel Green dotted down, Tom Wood with a conversion from the first of those two tries.
Wood would add a penalty 20 minutes in to respond to Mosese Bason's opening try for the Kiwis, but New Zealand would take over from there to lead 31-15 at the break with Xavier Treacy, Cooper Roberts, Cole and Dylan Pledger all going over.
The New Zealand tries would continue to flow on the restart, Pledger, Shaun Kempton and Maloni Kunawave all eventually finishing with a brace, with Ireland striking late through Billy Bohan, Sam Wisniewski with the successful conversion.
Bohan would be sent off minutes later for an illegal clearout.
Ireland now go into to a ninth place play-off with Scotland on Monday while New Zealand have a semi-final with France to look forward to with Argentina and South Africa meeting in the other semi-final.
New Zealand: R Simpson; F Vaenuku, C Roberts (J Cameron 54), J Wiseman, M Kunawave; W Cole (S Solomon 60-71), D Pledger (J Tamati 50); S Uamaki Pole (I Time 52), M Letiu (S Kempton 45), R Faleafa (D Johnston 52); X Treacy, J Sa (A Vakasiuola 46); F McLeod, C Woodley, M Bason (M Fale 45).
Ireland: D Green (G O'Leary Kareem 61); C Molony, C Mangan, J Scott, D Moloney; T Wood (S Wisniewski 45), W Wootton (C Logan 56); A Usanov (B Bohan 49), H Walker, A Mullan (T McAllister 49); C Kennelly, B Corrigan (D Walsh 48); E McCarthy, O Minogue (L McLaughlin 61), L Murphy (B Power 52).
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