Ireland fall to Italian defeat at U-20s World Championships
Ireland fell to a narrow defeat to hosts Italy at the World Rugby U-20 Championships in Viadana today.
In stifling conditions, Ireland nearly came away with a draw when replacement flanker Oisín Minogue crossed the tryline in the 82nd minute, but out-half Sam Wisniewski was unable to land his conversion from the right with the final act of an ill-disciplined game.
The defeat, following the 35-28 opening-round victory over Georgia, means Ireland must beat New Zealand in their third and final game of Pool C next Wednesday and hope other results go their way to be in with a chance of a semi-final.
Italy, who also got the better of Ireland in this year's U20 Six Nations campaign, took the lead in the 12th minute through Italian No 8 Nelson Casartelli.
Temperatures reached 33 degrees at Stadio Luigi Zaffanella where Ireland out-half Tom Wood and Italian full-back Edoardo Todaro traded penalties to ensure Italy led 8-3 at the break.
Piero Gritti's try just short of the hour mark appeared to send the hosts well on their way, but the visitors responded four minutes later when replacement hooker Mikey Yarr touched down in the corner with the Italians temporarily down to 14 after the sin-binning of Casartelli for a high tackle on full-back Charlie Molony.
Irish lock Billy Corrigan soon followed to the sin-bin with Italy adding another penalty to make it 18-11 with nine minutes remaining.
Ireland fought to the end and got over with the clock in the red, but Minogue's miss ensured a home win.
Italy: E Todaro; A Drago (R Ioannucci 62), F Zanandea, R Casarin, J Ducros (G Pietramala 68); R Fasti, N Beni (M Bellotto 74); S Pelliccioli (S Mistrulli 54), N Corvasce (A Caiolo-Serra 54), N Bolognini (L Trevisan 53); M Midena (E Opoku Gyamfi 53), P Gritti; G Milano, C Bianchi (A Miranda 57), N Casartelli.
Ireland: C Molony; P Farrell, C Mangan, E Smyth, D Moloney; T Wood (S Wisniewski 60), W Wootton (C Logan 64); A Usanov (B Bohan 53), H Walker (M Yarr 53-78), A Mullan (T McAllister 53) M Ronan (C Kennelly 48), B Corrigan; E McCarthy, B Power (O Minogue 62), L Murphy.
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