2023 World Rugby U20 Championship Pool B
Ireland 47 Fiji 27
IRELAND managed to temporarily put aside the recent tragedies that have battered them to battle their way past Fiji yesterday and secure qualification for the semi-finals of the World Rugby U20 Championship.
Ireland, who knew victory would see them successfully emerge from Pool B, ran onto the pitch at the Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch sporting black armbands before observing a minute’s silence in memory of three people close to the squad who had passed away in the space of just a couple of days.
The young squad was rocked by Monday’s news that a paragliding accident had taken the life of former Scotland international scrumhalf and Munster elite player development officer Greig Oliver, father of Ireland U20 scrumhalf Jack, while the deaths of St Michael’s College duo Andrew O’Donnell and Max Wall while on holiday on Greece also hit the panel hard. The later pair were known to several members of the Irish squad, being themselves former students at St Michael’s.
Given the circumstances, there had been speculation that yesterday’s game would not go ahead, but the Irish squad made the call to play and they showed character to hold off a spirited Fiji and secure the bonus-point win that secured their place in Sunday's semi-finals, finishing top of Pool B after England could only draw with Australia, 22-22.
Aside from a brief period early in the second-half, Ireland were the better side throughout yesterday’s game, leading 26-12 at half time after a pair of tries for Brian Gleeson and one each for Danny Sheahan and George Hadden.
And although Fiji got back within four points in the second-half, two Gus McCarthy tries, either side of a stunning effort from Andrew Osborne, saw the U20 Six Nations champions ease their way to victory.
Osborne ran a great line off Sam Prendergast’s inside shoulder, and after drawing in the defence, he popped back inside to his fellow Kildare man who pierced his way through the centre of the pitch to score under the posts, with Prendergast again converting to make it 40-22.
Gus McCarthy added his second try of the game late on, as Ireland looked to improve their points difference, but Fiji had the final say with a try of their own through Manieta Navonovono, despite ending the game with 14 players following a Sireli Masiwini yellow card.
Speaking after yesterday’s game, head coach Richie Murphy said: "I am extremely proud of the group. Last night, we weren't quite sure what was going to happen and whether we were going to play the game or not.
"I thought the guys came together really well today and really fronted up in what was the most incredible circumstance that I've ever experienced in 20 years of coaching.
"I have never experienced anything like this. So I'm really proud of the boys, we are in a semi-final so we have got a lot to look forward to."
In what was an emotional day all round, Fiji captain Moti Murray presented a jersey to Diarmuid Mangan, Ireland's stand-in skipper, as a mark of respect at the end of the game.
