England U20 Men draw with Ireland in Championship opener
Jacob Cusick came off the bench to score twice and earn Mark Mapletoft's England U20 Men a hard-fought 34-34 draw against 2023 Under-20 Six Nations champions Ireland in their opening game of the World Rugby Under 20 Championship.
Tries from Sam Prendergast and Diarmuid Mangan put Ireland 10-3 up, but Asher Opoku-Fordjour's sensational solo score got England level before James McNabney powered over from close range to restore Ireland's lead.
After the break, Mangan's yellow card created space for Cusick to cross the whitewash just three minutes after the referee awarded a penalty try to England for repeated ill-discipline five meters out.
Ireland got back in the game through Ruadhán Quinn, while tries for Henry McErlean and Hugh Cooney scored to seemingly win the clash for Ireland, but Cusick crossed again to earn his side an impressive 34-34 draw in their opening game of the tournament.
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Connor Slevin kicked his side into a 3-0 lead in the third minute, however Richie Murphy's Grand Slam winners were soon on the ascendency, scoring the first try of the game in the 11th minute through Prendergast.
A barrage of carries on England's whitewash created space out wide for the fly-half to sneak through the tightest of gaps and touch down to put his side 5-3 ahead.
It was then England's turn to direct their big ball carriers towards the try line, this time Ireland were able to win a penalty at the breakdown and maintain their slender two point advantage.
That almost proved costly moments later as Ireland were back on the front foot. After some quick hands from Prendergast and No.8 McNabney, Andrew Osborne thought he had scored Ireland's second, only for the replay to show the winger was in touch.
However, the 2023 Under-20 Six Nations Grand Slam winners did take a seven-point lead when the industrious Mangan carried over the whitewash from five metres out.
Just as the game seemed to be slipping through England's fingers, Opoku-Fordjour created something out of nothing. He barged through the sizeable frame of Mangan before putting McErlean on his back to touch down under the posts to help level the scores at 10-10, the boot of Slevin making it honours even once more.
England then enjoyed a long spell of possession inside Ireland's half, but a botched lineout allowed Gus McCarthy to steam through the England defensive line before offloading to Mangan.
The flanker looked certain to score, but Finn Carnduff made a world-class steal at the breakdown inside his own 22 to regain possession and keep the scores level. However, Ireland were ahead at the break after McNabney used his remarkable strength to barge through the England defence from close range.
England were a different side after the break, spending five minutes camped in Ireland's 22.
A strong breeze was making it difficult for Ireland to clear their lines, and Joe Jenkins almost capitalised after carrying the ball over the try line, only for the referee to judge it had been held up.
Mangan was shown a yellow card eight minutes into the second half after a cynical piece of play on his own try line as England continued to build momentum.
Ireland were punished for repeated ill-discipline when the referee awarded England a penalty try just moments later to give them a narrow 17-15 lead.
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Then, Cusick crossed in the corner after an outstanding break from Joseph Woodward to give his side a 24-15 advantage.
Ireland looked as if they could be heading for their first defeat since June 2022 until Fintan Gunne produced an outrageous kick from the back of a ruck to feed talismanic flanker Quinn, who crossed in the corner.
With 20 minutes remaining, England were reduced to 14 after Greg Fisilau was shown a yellow card. McErlean capitalised on the additional space almost immediately, hitting a hard line through a gap and touching down under the posts to put Ireland back in the lead.
Cooney crossed for Ireland's second try in four minutes after an incredible offload from centre partner John Devine put him through a tight gap.
At ten points behind with 14 minutes to play, that could have been hit for Mapletoft's side, but a second Slevin penalty reduced the deficit to seven before Cusick crossed for his second to level the scores and set up a dramatic finish.
England's cause was given a boost after try-scorer Cooney was shown a red card with five minutes to play. But it was not to be, England settling for an excellent draw against one of the tournament favourites.
England U20 Men
15. Sam Harris, 14. Tobias Elliott, 13. Rekeiti Ma'asi-White, 12. Joseph Woodward, 11. Joe Jenkins, 10. Connor Slevin, 9. Charlie Bracken, 1. Asher Opoku-Fordjour, 2. Finn Theobald-Thomas, 3. Afolabi Fasogbon, 4. Harvey Cuckson, 5. Lewis Chessum (c), 6. Finn Carnduff, 7. Greg Fisilau, 8. Chandler Cunningham-South
Replacements: 16. Nathan Jibulu, 17. Archie McArthur, 18. James Halliwell, 19. Nathan Michelow, 20. Tristan Woodman, 21. Nye Thomas, 22. Louie Johnson, 23. Jacob Cusick