Irl v NZ Team book

Ireland U20 v New Zealand 11 June 2016 Manchester City Academy Stadium, Manchester

IRELAND 33 NEW ZEALAND 24

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History Boys: The Irish Under-20 squad that defeated New Zealand 15 Jacob Stockdale Position: Fullback/Centre/Wing Age: 20 Club: Belfast Harlequins A member of this team last year’s team, this season he has played a few games for Ulster in the Pro12.

Tall, powerful, quick with a big left foot he can play right across the backline but has excelled at fullback in Ireland’s two matches.

11 Hugo Keenan Position: Wing Age: 19 Club: UCD Things haven’t always gone smoothly for him this season but there’s no doubting his ability as he showed with a brilliant attacking performance against New Zealand: quick with a great step, he’s blossomed.

14 Matthew Byrne Position: Wing Age: 19 Club: Terenure College He hasn’t always been the first choice on the right wing for the team this season but he’s shown glimpses of his quality in this tournament on growing into the demands imposed at this level.

10 Bill Johnston Position: Outhalf Age: 19 Club: Garryowen The Irish team will be saying novenas that the shoulder injury that he suffered is not a recurrence of the one that saw him have a reconstruction and thereby miss the Six Nations. He is a brilliant footballer and adds so much to the team.

13 Shane Daly Position: Centre Age: 19 Club: Cork Constitution Ireland coach Nigel Carolan regards him very highly as a prospect. There is a raw quality to his play but there’s no doubting that he has potential and a great attitude on the pitch to boot.

12 Conor O’Brien Position: Centre/Wing Age: 20 Club: Clontarf He was used on the wing and at centre during the Six Nations Championship but has made the number 12 jersey his to great effect. He’s a lovely balanced runner, with good feet and hands and resolute in defence.

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9 Stephen Kerins Position: Scrumhalf Age: 20 Club: Sligo He fought with John Poland for the jersey during the Six Nations before claiming it for his own. He is so fast across the ground to rucks and has a quicksilver service. His defence has improved.

1 Andrew Porter Position: Prop Age: 20 Club: UCD A member of last year’s team, he has been absolutely brilliant in the tournament so far. He is explosively quick, a powerful carrier and very good in the set scrum: potential senior star.

2 Adam McBurney Position: Hooker Age: 19 Club: Ballymena Another who can draw some experience from last year at this level. He is teak tough, abrasive, with and without the ball, and a key figure in this team.

One of the leaders and a player with a bright future.

3 Ben Betts Position: Prop Age: 19 Club: Young Munster The injury to Conor Kenny handed him a chance when coming on against Wales. He is very highly regarded in Munster circles and even in the brief cameos it’s easy to understand why.

4 Cillian Gallagher Position: Secondrow/Flanker Age: 18 Club: Sligo The 18-year-old was brilliant in the Six Nations Championship when playing blindside flanker and hasn’t missed a beat when handed a role in the secondrow for the tournament. A superb prospect.

5 James Ryan (capt) Position: Secondrow Age: 19 Club: Lansdowne Most of the superlatives have already been used for Ireland’s captain. He is a phenomenal athlete with a fine rugby brain and an inspirational leader.

6 Greg Jones Position: Flanker/Number eight Age: 20 Club: UCD He came in during the Six Nations and established himself as a first choice player. Athletic, mobile and a knack for putting in the odd thunderous tackle, the UCD student is an important part of a fine backrow.

7 David Aspil Position: Flanker Age: 19 Club: St Mary’s College The injury to Will Connors, a first choice in the Six Nations, has given the Mary’s openside his opportunity to come to the World Cup and he’s grasped it impressively.

8 Max Deegan Position: Number eight Age: 19 Club: Lansdowne A brilliant athlete and footballer he is another who seems destined to go on and achieve great things in the sport given a reasonable run. He started rugby as a centre but literally outgrew the role but the skills and pace remain.

16 Vincent O’Brien Position: Hooker Age: 20 Club: Cork Constitution He didn’t play during the Six Nations but made his debut when coming on against Wales in the opening match of the tournament.

17 James Bollard

Position: Prop Age: 20 Club: Dublin University He made his first start for Ireland in the last math of the Six Nations against Scotland. He is unlucky in that he’s behind one of Ireland’s outstanding players in Porter.

18 Vahktang Abdaladze Position: Prop Age: 20 Club: Clontarf Another who didn’t play any part in the Six Nations but did feature prominently for Clontarf in their run to the Ulster Bank Division 1A title. He has a very strong all round game.

19 Sean O’Connor Position: Secondrow/Backrow Age: 19 Club: Cashel The Scottish game in the Six Nations was his first start, when named in the secondrow alongside Ryan.

He’s featured regularly from the bench.

Rob, and the youngest member of the squad, he won’t be 19 until December. One superb cameo from the bench in the Six Nations suggests he’s another fine prospect.

22 Johnny McPhillips Position: Outhalf/Fullback Age: 19 Club: QUB He was first choice outhalf in the Six Nations in the absence of the injured Johnston. He played most of his rugby at school at fullback.

23 Jimmy O’Brien Position: Outhalf/Centre Age: 19 Club: UCD He picked up an injury in the Six Nations but recovered in time to be named in the World Cup squad.

He’s a super runner and distributor.

Management

20 Kelvin Brown Position: Flanker Age: 20 Club: Shannon He’s been largely used as an impact replacement. He is a very strong carrier and a powerful tackler who loves the physicality of the contact.

Nigel Carolan - Head Coach

21 Niall Saunders Position: Scrumhalf Age: 18 School: Epsom College The son of former Ireland captain and scrumhalf

Will Duggan - Team Doctor

Hendrik Kruger - Team Manager Peter Malone - Assistant Coach Nicholas Lalor - Physiotherapist

Martin Kennedy - Strength & Conditioning Sam O’Byrne - Media and Communications

The 23 on Ireland duty in the famous 33-24 victory over New Zealand in the Under-20 World Championship

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11:42AM · 11 JUN 16 The Irish Team bus arrives, and so it begins...

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1:10PM · 11 JUN 16 Good afternoon, fans of up-and-coming Irish rugby talent.

We’re in for minute-by-minute coverage of Ireland’s tall order against the Baby Blacks. Is this their moment in the winner’s enclosure against NZ?

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1:26PM · 11 JUN 16 The teams are out enjoying the anthems in the familiar Manchester rain. That probably won’t suit either team, given the handling skills Nigel Carolan’s men showed off last time out, but it may be a leveller of sorts.

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1:29PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 There’s the Haka. Ireland stand firm 20 metres away and meet the challenge.

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Here comes kick-off.

1:31PM · 11 JUN 16 0 mins: Bill Johnston gets us under way in the rain… James Ryan gets to the short restart, but knocks on as he attempts to slap it backwards.

1:32PM · 11 JUN 16 NZ go wide off a firm first scrum, but they overplay it a little on the first set and Daly gets a boot to a loose ball.

He can’t quite chase it down all the way to the try-line though and Perofeta clears his lines.

Flag 1:34PM · 11 JUN 16 It was Jordie Barrett who covered back and regathered the loose ball, but NZ gave up a penalty as Ireland looked to count and Johnston…

PENALTY! Ireland 3 New Zealand 0 (Johnston ’4) From 40 metres the Munster man drills a beauty.

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1:36PM · 11 JUN 16 6 mins: Just as you lure yourself into thinking Ireland are enjoying the rain, the Baby Blacks absolutely pour themselves in and through a ruck to force a turnover and Perfofeta kicks a superb spiral down into the corner.

1:36PM · 11 JUN 16 Ireland’s line-out is solid and Johnston clears his lines from well behind the goal. Kiwi line-out from 22 now.

Flag 1:37PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 3 New Zealand 7 (Barrett ’7) So simple, but so effective. NZ make hard yards off the line-out and once within 10 metres, Sam Nock sends a laser of a pass to Barrett on a storming run that breaks a tackle on his way to the line.

He adds the conversion for good measure.

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1:40PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 10 mins: Ireland threaten an instant riposte as Hugo Keenan picks up a dropped restart take.

That man Nock is alive to the danger though and drags the wing down inside the Black 22.

James Ryan passes up the kick at goal and we’re packing down again.

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1:44PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 13 mins: Brilliant hunting from openside Mitchell Jacobsen, foraging round the back of a messy Irish scrum and stealing the pill to give New Zealand an out from a dangerous situation.

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1:41PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 HUGE SCRUM! Ireland get a big confidence boost and force a penalty five metres out from the try-line.

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1:51PM · 11 JUN 16 Jordie Barrett just nudges the long-range penalty right of the posts. Ireland must hold out now with 14 men against the best team at exploiting a oneman advantage.

1:46PM · 11 JUN 16 Errors aplenty are making this game exciting. New Zealand cough up ball off the back of a set-piece on their 22 metre line now and Ireland mount the attack in the red zone.

Jacobsen pinged for killing the ball in front of his posts.

This time we will aim for the easy three.

Flag 1:46PM · 11 JUN 16 PENALTY! Ireland 6 New Zealand 7 (Johnston ’16)

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1:49PM · 11 JUN 16 17 mins: Referee consults his TMO and comes back with a decision to sin-bin Adam McBurney after his arm stopped a three on two overlap.

YELLOW CARD: Adam McBurney

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1:53PM · 11 JUN 16 Aspil called ashore as Vincent O’Brien comes in to make up the front row numbers for scrummaging.

1:55PM · 11 JUN 16 Ireland’s defensive shape doing well enough to force NZ to probe wide channels and eventually grubber. Kerins sweeps effectively and clears for a line-out.

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1:56PM · 11 JUN 16 23 mins: Ah, that’s great to see. Ireland win a loose ball and Johnston’s first instinct is to pass wide, where Daly beats his man.

Johnston eventually does kick clear, but on his own terms 20 metres from the line.

Flag 1:57PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 6 New Zealand 12 (Stephenson ’24)

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2:00PM · 11 JUN 16 That’s what they’re capable of. Stockdale chips and chases, but the bounce in midfield just evades him. In a flash, the black jerseys are celebrating as they move wide in fractured play where Barrett offloads and Stephenson chips over the second last defender and regathers before jinking past Matt Byrne.

Barrett adds the conversion Ireland 6 New Zealand 14

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2:00PM · 11 JUN 16 Centre Conor O’Brien is off for a blood or possibly HIA. Jimmy O’Brien slots in in his place.

Flag 2:01PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 13 New Zealand 14 (Jones ’27) The big back row gets the ball to ground after a terrifically controlled rolling maul. Johnston adds a brilliant conversion to put his side right in touch before the sin-bin period ends.

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2:03PM · 11 JUN 16 30 mins: Ooof! Terrific kick from Jacob Stockdale sends the pill booming from inside his 22 to within 10 metres of the NZ try-line.

2:06PM · 11 JUN 16 32 mins: The Baby Blacks are feeling the pressure.

Ireland haven’t quite been able to return anything to the house yet, but handling errors and loose passes are keeping the green jerseys in the right part of the field.

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2:08PM · 11 JUN 16 33 mins: Penalty from the right wing is directed towards the corner by James Ryan, Johnston makes damn sure he hits touch and Ireland will line out from the 22.

Conor O’Brien is patched up and back in.

Flag 2:08PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 18 New Zealand 14 (McBurney ’34)

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WHAT A TRY! The set-piece proves ferocious again and McBurney slingshots around the rolling maul, building up a head of steam on the blind side and boshing his way through while dotting the ball down in the corner.

And from that difficult angle Johnston finds the target yet again. Ireland lead by six!

Ireland 20 New Zealand 14

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2:12PM · 11 JUN 16 Oh no. Bill Johnston is down. He looks in a bad way before walking off with his shoulder – the same injury which kept him out of the Six Nations – hanging limp.

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2:15PM · 11 JUN 16 Big effort needed from Ireland to make sure they hold this advantage through the break. Matt Byrne and Greg Jones get big hits in while Johnny McPhillips settles into the rhythm of the contest.

2:16PM · 11 JUN 16 HALF-TIME: Ireland 20 New Zealand 14 What a 40 minutes from Nigel Carolan’s boys.

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2:27PM · 11 JUN 16 Here we go then, the second half is off and running.

2:29PM · 11 JUN 16 Ireland still putting the southern hemisphere boys under the pump. Hugo Keenan gets a big, big hit in on Jordan Trainor.

NZ change their first-five, Va’a in for Perofeta.

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2:31PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 44 mins: And there’s another big boost in momentum, another scrum penalty.

The line-out that follows on the 22 is promising, but NZ kill the initial burst and Jacobsen draws a series of whoops from his team-mates as he forces a vital penalty on his 22 metre line.

The black jerseys look to move it quickly, tapping the penalty and haring after a loose ball.

Flag

2:34PM · 11 JUN 16 Ireland aren’t being cowed by the efforts to step up the tempo. A penalty comes as Kerins makes a decent show of ripping the ball out of a ruck with hands all over it.

McPhillips’ kick is a beaut, but he’ll go back to aim for the posts.

PENALTY! Ireland 23 New Zealand 14 (McPhillips ’47)

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2:35PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 YES! Max Deegan goes up and gets a terrific line-out steal around the green 22 metre line.

The rain coming down heavier now and the 9-point lead is extremely valuable.

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2:38PM · 11 JUN 16 51 mins: So close for NZ. The attack is being held at arm’s length by Ireland, but a clever kick from Va’a comes within an inch, or a bounce of the hands of Shaun Stevenson. Exit strategy coming from Ireland…

Oh but it fails. The line-out works, but the maul is stuffed by the Baby Black pack. They’ll scrum down from eight metres on the right wing.

Flag 2:39PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 23 New Zealand 19 (Tuitama ’52)

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2:40PM · 11 JUN 16 Some excellent inside running lines create space out wide and Stockdale has to rush out of the line to close down the space, but he’s a fraction late and Tuitama steps around Ryan to run in behind the try-line.

Barrett misses the conversion though. Four-point game!

2:43PM · 11 JUN 16 Well now, the TMO is looking at a similar incident that led to McBurney’s binning in the first 40. Tuitama knocks on during a passing sequence…

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2:44PM · 11 JUN 16 55 mins: ‘Completely different’ says the referee.

The first one was harsh, and to call that completely different is a serious exaggeration.

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2:46PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 57 mins: Jordie Barrett putting in a masterclass with and without the ball. His brilliantly timed pass led to the Tuitama try and there he is smashing green jerseys backwards in the hope of finding the pivotal next score in this enthralling game.

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2:51PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 Jesus. Just as I’m praising Jordie Barrett he comes very close to single-handedly pushing his team into the lead. Like big heavy GAA midfielder, he finds a gap and rumbles through the wet grass as far as the final third. He unleashes an easy, languid swing at the ball in his hands and it comes down behind the try-line.

Fortunately for Ireland, there are enough green jerseys scrambling back to thwart his catch and the lead is maintained.

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2:52PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 62 mins: Everything is difficult now with fatigue setting in, especially escaping Ireland’s half. Until a turnover! NZ spill and Kerins unleashes an almighty hoof that puts the ball beyond halfway.

Carolan will begin emptying the bench now.

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2:58PM · 11 JUN 16 67 mins: The Wolfpups can mount an attack from inside 10 metres here and they’ll do just that without any sense of hurry.

3:01PM · 11 JUN 16 Ireland take on a big scrum and why the EFF not. They’ve been dominant at set-piece.

NZ force a reset, but Ireland sense blood here, they can seal the game with a big shove.

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3:00PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 67 mins: Safe hands, big carries the order of the day, but after solid trucks hit up, McPhillips hits a fine pass wide. NZ scramble to send the attack back in.

Kelvin Brown makes a break for the line!

Ah no. He’s been pinned on his back after crossing the line.

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3:03PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 28 New Zealand 19 (Deegan ’71)

3:04PM · 11 JUN 16 Unbelievable. The scrum does the work again, but Deegan isn’t waiting around for the referee to offer a route to victory, he grabs it himself, storming down the blind side of the scrum and sliding home!

McPhillips’ conversion is an absolute textbook touchline effort. Stunning!

IRELAND 30 NEW ZEALAND 19

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3:06PM · 11 JUN 16 TRY! Ireland 30 New Zealand 24 (Tuitama ’74) Just when you think they’re out. They pull themselves back in. Tuitama’s get a second try after the replacement scrum-half ghosts through the D. Barrett can’t make the conversion.

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3:10PM · 11 JUN 16 76 mins: The clock is ticking tantalizingly down as Ireland scrum on the 22 metre line… and they force ANOTHER set-piece penalty.

Amazing. McPhillips will bang this central penalty to reopen the nine-point lead.

Flag 3:10PM · 11 JUN 16 PENALTY! Ireland 33 New Zealand 24 (McPhillips ’77)

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3:12PM · 11 JUN 16 Absolutely enormous effort from one to 15 and on to 23. McPhilliips bangs it clear and Ireland are going to end this game on the front foot.

Flag 3:13PM · 11 JUN 16 30 seconds to go and NZ win the turnover, but deep in their 22 with handling that has let them down all day, it’s game over. gpfoto 64

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Ireland will win a famous and utterly deserved victory!

FULL-TIME! IRELAND 33 NEW ZEALAND 24

3:20PM ¡ 11 JUN 16 Wow. Just wow. We have to pick ourselves off the floor here. That was one of the all-time great displays from an Ireland team. The first time they’ve beaten New Zealand at this level and they did it in a dramatic, drenched setting in Manchester, but they did so in serious style.

One team dealt with conditions out there, one team managed to handle the ball consistently well and play despite the rain. And one team is now on their way to top spot in the pool.

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An Irish men's team have finally taken the biggest scalp of all after Ireland U20 beat the New Zealand 33-24 in a dramatic pool encounter at the Junior World Cup.

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Nigel Carolan's men came into today's clash buoyed by a brilliant opening win over Grand Slam champions Wales and the three-try victory over New Zealand U20 all but guarantees Ireland's place in the semi-final.

Jordi Barrett - brother of All Black Beauden - gave New Zealand an early lead with a try, before Shaun Stevenson added another five-pointer after collecting his own kick.

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Facing an eight-point deficit, things didn't look good for Ireland but amazingly they hit back with two tries from rolling mauls to hold a 20-14 lead at the break.

Greg Jones and Adam McBurney were the scorers.

Johnny McPhillips extended Ireland's lead to nine early in the second half and although the Baby Blacks reduced the deficit with an unconverted try from Malo Tuitama, Carolan's men replied through back row Max Deegan, who burrowed over in the corner following a dominant push from the scrum.

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That gave Ireland an 11-point lead following McPhillips' brilliant touchline conversion but Tuitama responded with another unconverted try in the corner to reduce the cushion to six.

Frantic defence followed as heroic Irish tacklers continuously repelled the men in black, before the scrum earned a clinching penalty, which McPhillips converted.

There was time for the Baby Blacks to launch one more attack, but Ireland held firm to record a famous victory.

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The drought is over! Ireland U20 upset New Zealand to claim historic scalp

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