Ireland keep on right track thanks to Prendergast

IRELAND maintained their perfect Musgrave Park record and their Grand Slam ambitions with a late Sam Prendergast penalty.

France scored five tries to Ireland’s three but 18 points from the boot of Prendergast saw the defending champions home.

Ireland have never lost an U20 Six Nations match in Cork and this victory takes their Leeside winning streak to eight in a row.

“We had to dig very deep for the win. Our defence was creaking at the end but we’re proud of how we finished,” said Ireland captain Gus McCarthy. “We believe in ourselves – we can go all the way.”

After turning down an early attempt at goal for a tap-and-go effort which Ireland knocked on, Prendergast kicked Ireland ahead with an 11th-minute penalty.

The next penalty, a minute later, went to the corner instead and while the maul came up short, two phases later Paddy McCarthy burrowed under the defenders and over the line.

Ireland stopped an initial maul illegally and though they defended the second better, France worked infield for Hugo Auradou to drive under the posts. France fly-half Tom Raffy added the conversion for 10-7.

Another Prendergast penalty doubled Ireland’s lead but the home side collapsed a maul with George Hadden sent to the sin bin before Connacht winger Hugh Gavin scored. France came again and Theo Attissogbe found a route to the corner. It was a double whammy as the TMO highlighted a high tackle in the build-up which saw Diarmuid Mangan join Hadden in the bin.

France made the most of their two-man advantage; another penalty, another maul, and Lenni Nouchi broke away to find the corner.

Brian Gleeson reached out to score an Ireland try but France weren’t behind for long.

They forced Ireland onto the retreat and Hugo Reus sent Enzo Benmegal into the corner. But France lost their discipline conceding a pair of kickable penalties. Prendergast missed the first, from distance, but the second split the posts.

It was a nervy finish as Ireland gave away possession and a penalty but France overthrew the lineout.

France captain Emilien Gailleton said: “It’s really disappointing as we lost by two points last year as well. It’s frustrating but our discipline wasn’t good enough. You can’t win when your discipline is like that.”