Ireland: 22-16 Georgia
Ireland completed a remarkable 25-phase attack in the penultimate play of the game to keep their World Rugby U-20 Championship semi-final chances alive, scoring a dramatic winning try in the 83rd minute at South Africa’s Danie Craven Stadium.
Georgia appeared to be on their way to a shock victory when they led 16-15 as the clock ticked past 80 minutes, but Willie Faloon’s side did not panic and worked the ball from their own half before replacement winger Finn Treacy got over in the left corner after the cover was sucked infield dealing with the constant barrages from a desperate Irish side.
Despite leading 12-6 in the first half with the breeze, Ireland struggled to break down Georgia’s resolute defense. Former Pres Bray teammate Jack Murphy added the touchline conversion to seal the win.
Similar to their overwhelming victory over Italy in the first game, Ireland took the lead with a penalty down the left after Sean Edogbo won it inside his own half. Ireland executed the lineout, and when rookie Ruben Moloney was stopped short in a multi-phase move, the seasoned Hugh Gavin cut a brilliant line to score, with Connacht academy teammate Sean Naughton adding the extras to make it 7-0 after six minutes.
Moloney went over four minutes later after cutting a great line in midfield, but the score was nullified when tighthead Andrew Sparrow was flagged for obstruction on the edge of the ruck.
The new guidelines, which require the players to test new smart mouthguards, resulted in Georgian tighthead Davit Mtchedlidze being called ashore for an HIA before returning after 12 minutes.
Ireland scored their second try at the conclusion of the first quarter, when Gavin set up Stephen Smyth with a brilliant out-of-the-back pass, and the hooker stepped inside to score an unconverted try near the right corner.
Ireland improved their lineout in the lead-up to the break, but the Georgians also changed their scrum and earned a few of penalties, and as they eventually constructed phases, out-half Luka Tsirekidze, who has been capped at senior level, nailed two solid penalties to trim the deficit to 12-6 at the break.
Georgian laid down a marker on the restart by winning a penalty on an Irish scrum, and after going to touch down the right, a series of surges, with centres Giorgi Khaindrava and Luka Kobauri making the most ground, ended with skipper and number eight Nika Lomidze cutting through for a converted try, putting them 13-12 ahead after 46 minutes.
Three minutes later, they tried for the kill with a kickable penalty on the 22, but were penalised for obstruction after taking the five-metre lineout, much to Ireland’s relief.
Ireland, who had recruited Munster’s Brian Gleeson at number eight in an attempt to halt the flow, replied, and Naughton put them back up with a penalty inside the 22 before being replaced by Jack Murphy.
However, Georgia took the initiative and poured forward, necessitating desperate defence from Evan O’Connell, Edogbo, and Smyth.
Georgia had a few chances to win it, but Tsirekidze missed two penalties from 30 meters in the closing ten minutes.
Those missed opportunities kept Ireland in the game, and they took use of them to score a thrilling victory.
Ireland: O’Connor; Colbert, Berman, Gavin, Moloney; Naughton, Coffey; Boyd, Smyth, Sparrow; McKillop, O’Connell; Edogbo, Flynn, and L. Murphy.
Bell replaced Boyd at halftime, Gleeson replaced L Murphy (46), Mullan replaced Sparrow (51), J Murphy replaced Naughton (57), Spicer replaced McKillop (64), Treacy replaced Moloney (65), and M Yarr replaced Flynn (78).
Georgia: Metreveli, Khorbaladze, Kobauri, Khaindrava, Keshelava; Tsirekidze, Jigauri; Ungiadze; Khakhubia, Mchedlidze; Lagvilava, Tsulukidze; Suluashvili, Dvali, Lomidze.
Replacements: Kuntelia for Mchedlidze (11-23 minutes HIA), Kotorashvili for Ungiadze (57), Kheladze for Khakhubia (62), Tskhadadze for Tsulukidze (62), Ganiashvili for Lomidze (72), Kachlavashvili for Jigauri (62), and Burtikashvili for Keshelava (75).
Referee: Reuben Keane (Australia).
