Carolan’s kids lose out to greater experience
SO MUCH for the fairytale finish. Nigel Carolan suggested after this lop-sided 24-point trouncing there were no regrets, that Ireland’s second-half riposte, where the scoreboard just read 21-24 for that period, illustrated exactly how his kids could compete once they put width on the ball. However, the reality was this final was done and dusted just two minutes after the interval, bruising England running in the fourth of six tries to lead 28-0 and leave no-one in any doubt that it would be Harry Mallinder who would be lifting the trophy. Ireland had achieved great things in similar adversity just 17 weeks earlier against the same country, bouncing back from a 14-point deficit to grab the Six Nations win that ignited their seven-match winning run which took them all the way to their first-ever world u-20 final. In the opening half. England’s greater power painfully turned the screw and their ability to play instinctive heads-up rugby due to their more tried and tested club background was epitomised in the inventive, freerunning tries registered either side of the demolition of the Irish scrum for their second. ‘It makes a difference because you have that experience of big games,’ said new English boss Martin Haag. ‘But it’s still a challenge for us to make sure these guys are at a level they need to be in order to improve.’ At least there is an appetite in England for as early as possible exposure compared to the waitand-see bottleneck which exists in Ireland. ‘Some English boys get exposed to a higher level a little bit earlier and the fact they have Premiership experience, of course it stands to them when you play at this (under-20) level,’ accepted Carolan. ‘The transition isn’t as big and that was certainly telling. ‘Just to try and break the physical dominance, it was just a step too far. But I know these guys will be bigger and stronger for it. They will learn over the next couple of years... but our players in Ireland, when it gets to this level, we are just a little bit behind. That is a fact.’ One bad result shouldn’t define Ireland’s tournament, though. Max Deegan, who tweeted Jamie Heaslip in 2014 telling him to keep the Test team No8 jersey warm for him, was given World Rugby’s player of the World Cup award for his string of fine performances. Also, the achievement in becoming the first Ireland male side to beat New Zealand was reinforced when the Baby Blacks scored eight tries to destroy an Australian team that had Harry Nucifora, nephew of IRFU chief David, as sub.