FIRA-AER U19 RUGBY WORLD CUP

The Ireland Under 19s were comprehensively beaten, 43-8, by tournament favourites New Zealand in Villejuif on Sunday evening. The Irish conceded six tries and had two players sin-binned as the Kiwis controllled the game from start to finish. They were ten points up after just eight minutes their opening try from from number 8 Liam Messam.On the two ocasions when Ireland were reduced to 14 players Messam’s back row colleague Steven Setephano scored tries.

Mark Melbournedid manage a late consolation try for the Irish to add to an earlier Gareth Steenson penalty.

Afterwards a disappointed team manager Michael Cunningham said, “We’re disappointed, but we were beaten by a much better team on the day. We have no complaints.”

Ireland now play Scotland at Creteil on Wednesday evening in a battle for fifth position.

IRELAND: T Horner; M Hewitt, K Geraghty, G Stafford, R McCarron; G Steenson,
S Auld; G Maxwell, R Quinn, R Loughrey; L Stevenson, M Melbourne; B McNamee, A Kavanagh (Capt), O Hennessy