Ireland Under-20 28 France Under-20 34 Defeat in Cardiff meant that Ireland finished third in the Six Nations Championship but there was so much to admire in the manner of their performance against a French side that physically dwarfed Richie Murphy's line-up. That they came within touching distance of the win speaks volumes for their character; battered and bruised they remained defiant to the end.
Alex Kendellen was once again a colossus, Sam Illo, Harry Sheridan, Alexis Soroka, Nathan Doak, Cathal Forde, Shane Jennings and Jamie Osborne others who inspired those around them, a challenge willingly taken up by their teammates.
Trailing 3-0 but with a man advantage Ireland produced some classy back play on 11 minutes, Shane Jennings came off the blindside wing to make a definitive midfield break and linked with Jamie Osborne.
The pack took over inside the French 22 with some muscular carries before Osborne’s second involvement was to power through a couple of French defenders for the try. Nathan Doak added the conversion.
Unfortunately Ireland were guilty of two self-inflicted wounds in quick succession conceding 14 points in four minutes.
When scrumhalf Conor McKee misplaced his pass 15 metres from the French line, the ball was snapped up by Louis Bielle Biarrey who raced 60 metres and despite a brilliant cover tackle by Doak, outhalf Thibault Debaes crossed for a try unopposed seconds later. Nolann Le Garrec added the conversion.
Ireland’s disciplinary lapses have been a regular issue throughout the tournament and conceding three penalties in quick succession gave France access to their 22; the upshot was a try for flanker Pierre Bochaton, with Le Garrec adding a brilliant touchline conversion.
However this group of young Irish players have shown great character and resilience in adversity and by the half hour that were level at 17-17. Doak kicked a penalty and then added a conversion to Kendellen’s try, the origins of which were once down to Jennings’s attacking spark.
The right wing gathered a nicely weighted chip, raced deep into French territory and following a series of ‘one-out’ surges from the pack, Kendellen squeezed over. The concession of another silly penalty, this time for blocking a French chaser, was a precursor to France’s third try from impressive prop Paul Mallez.
Doak’s injury-time penalty mitigated some of the damage as Ireland trailed 24-20 at the interval and when the outhalf thumped over another penalty six minutes after the restart, there was just a single point between the teams with Ireland trailing 24-23.
The physical wear and tear began to take its toll on an Ireland squad deprived of a number of first-choice options. The French were able to replace their frontrow and at crucial times the fresh power had a big effect on that set piece.
France utilised a clever kicking game to maintain pressure, allied to the vision and technical brilliance of their outstanding scrumhalf Le Garrec. It was his quick thinking and cross-kick that led to a try for Bielle Biarrey, which Le Garrec converted and then tagged on a penalty to push the French out to a 34-23 lead.
But how appropriate that this young Irish team should end the match hammering away at the French line and how apposite that their inspirational captain Kendellen should barge his way over for his second try of the match; the spirit of the group evident to the final second and the Irish captain’s words a fitting epitaph. “Credit to our lads we fought right to the end.” That they did in every game, irrespective of the outcome.
SCORING SEQUENCE – 9 mins: Le Garrec pen, 0-3; 11: Osborne try, Doak con, 7-3; 19: Debaes try, Le Garrec con, 7-10; 23: Bochaton try, Le Garrec con, 7-17; 25: Doak pen, 10-17; 29: Kendellen try, Doak con, 17-17; 35: Mallez try, Le Garrec con, 17-24; 40(+1): Doak pen, 20-24. Half-time: 20-24. 48: Doak pen, 23-24; 65: Bielle Biarrey try, Le Garrec con, 23-31; 69: Le Garrec pen, 23-34; 80: Kendellen try, 28-34.
IRELAND: J Osborne (Leinster); B Moxham (Ulster), J Postlethwaite (Ulster), C Forde (Connacht), S Jennings (Connacht); N Doak (Ulster), C McKee (Ulster); T Lasisi (Leinster), R Loughnane (Leinster), S Illo (Leinster); M Morrissey (Leinster), H Sheridan (Ulster); A Soroka (Leinster), O McCormack (Connacht), A Kendellen (Munster, capt).
Replacements: G Saunderson (Ulster) for Lasisi (27 mins); R Crothers (Ulster) for McCormack, D Byrne (Connacht) for Morrissey (both 49); B Carson (Ulster) for McKee (56); E de Buitléar (Connacht) for Loughnane (66); C Cosgrave (Leinster) for Jennings (67); F O'Donoghue (Munster) for Sheridan (75).
FRANCE: A Tchaptchet; L Bielle Biarrey, E Gailleton, L Barre, N Epee; T Debaes, N Le Garrec (capt); T Bordenave, V Montgaillard, P Mallez; T Ployet, A Warion; P Bochaton, M Haddad, K Tixeront.
Replacements: M Garcia for Tchaptchet (HIA, 27 mins); M Le Corvec for Tixeront (h-t); D Bibi Biziwu for Bordenave (46); M Baudonne for Haddad (53); B Boudou for Montgaillard, H Kiteau for Mallez (both 61); T Idjellidaine for Le Garrec (70); T Ntamack for Warion (75).
Yellow card: K Tixeront (2 mins).
Referee: Sam Grove-White (Scotland).
