Ireland end miserable U20 Six Nations campaign with first loss to Italy
FIRST WIN: Italy's Anthony Italo Miranda and Billy Corrigan of Ireland in a line-out. Pic: ©INPHO/Laszlo Geczo.
Ireland completed their worst-ever U20 Six Nations campaign by shipping a first championship loss to Italy.
Neil Doak’s side coughed up 12 early points when playing with an extra man and never recovered that deficit despite second-half tries from Henry Walker and Tom Wood in Treviso.
It marked a historic first victory for the Azzurrini over Ireland in this championship at the 17th attempt, having fallen just one point shy last year.
Ireland erred from the kick-off, coughing up an offside penalty in front of the posts, which Pietro Celi slotted.
Italy handed the impetus straight back as hooker Nicolò Michele Corvasce was sin-binned for a high tackle on Wood.
Ireland not only failed to take advantage but coughed up a counter-attack try. From an Irish line-out in opposition territory, Italy stole the throw and turned on the gas for Alessandro Drago to reach the corner despite Gene O’Leary Kareem’s best efforts. Celi’s conversion missed but the 14 men returned to score again before Corvasce’s return.
Another error at the opposite end sent Ireland into retreat as Wood was left with no option but to carry the ball over his own goalline. From the five-metre scrum, replacement hooker Alessio Caiolo-Serra barged over to give Celi the easiest of conversions for a 15-0 lead inside 12 minutes.
Caiolo-Serra departed to applause moments later as Italy were restored to a full complement.
Ireland didn't threaten a response before the break as they racked up 10 handling errors, 11 turnovers conceded, and three lost line-outs by half-time.
They finally opened their account in the 47th minute. After an improved advancing maul, Wood kicked another penalty to the corner. Billy Corrigan claimed the line-out and Walker broke off to navigate across the line. Wood’s missed conversion left the deficit at 15-5.
Their prospects were further boosted when Anthony Italo Miranda was sin-binned for not releasing Clark Logan in the tackle.
It took them the full 10 minutes to capitalise. With two playmakers on the field, Ireland spread the ball over and back before Ciarán Mangan freed Wood to touch down. Sam Wisniewski’s conversion cut the gap to 15-12.
Michael Foy was next to cross the line after a close-range line-out. But as the video replay was called upon, the TMO instead drew attention to Conor Kennelly’s obstruction in the maul.
Knock-ons continued to hamper Ireland’s attacking efforts and it ended with another dropped ball inside the Italian 22.
Tries: A Drago, A Caiolo-Serra; Con: P Celi; Pen: P Celi.
Tries: H Walker, T Wood; Con: S Wisniewski.
G Pietramala (A Caiolo-Serra 4-13) (R Fasti 56); A Drago, F Zanandrea, E Todaro, M Faissal; P Celi (R Ioannucci 73), N Beni (M Bellotto 65); C Brasini (S Pelliccioli 47), NM Corvasce (A Caiolo-Serra 53), B Vallesi (N Bolognini 23); M Midena (E Opoku-Gyamfi 53), T Redondi; AI Miranda, N Casartelli, G Milano (capt) (CA Bianchi 62).
NM Corvasce (3), AI Miranda (52).
D Green (S Wisniewski 59); C Molony, C Mangan, E Smyth, G O’Leary Kareem (C Fahy 68); T Wood, C Logan (C O’Connor 77); B Bohan (P Moore 57), H Walker (M Yarr 53), A Mullan (T McAllister 53); M Ronan (C Kennelly 53), B Corrigan; D Walsh (B Power 40), M Foy, É McCarthy (capt).
K Furuse (Japan).
