Four Ireland players - Brian O'Driscoll, Jonathan Sexton, Paul O'Connell and Jamie Heaslip - have been included in the British & Irish Lions team for Saturday's first Test against Australia in Brisbane.
The Ireland Under-20s were runners-up in a tough pool and despite losing to hosts France last night, Mike Ruddock's charges could still finish the IRB Junior World Championship on a high by beating Australia in Sunday's 7th-8th place play-off.
The waiting is almost over as the British & Irish Lions prepare to get the Test series against Australia underway in Brisbane on Saturday. The Lions team for the first Test will be announced in the early hours of Thursday morning (3am Irish time/12pm local time).
A single point separated the sides as a hard-fought 5th-8th place play-off finished in France's favour at Stade Henri Desgrange on Tuesday night. Check out some photos from Ireland's fourth IRB Junior World Championsip match.