A flurry of tries in a matter of minutes by Ireland Under 18 Schools propelled them to a 42-19 victory against Wales U18 at Castle Avenue, Clontarf FC on Sunday.
Wales scored tries through Ryley Fussell, Tiaan Hall and Alfie Luger with Will Ford and Madoc Evans adding a conversion each. The home side led 28-12 at the break thanks to a remarkable purple patch which saw the hosts score 28 unanswered points in nine minutes following Fussell’s opening try.
Wales clawed their way back into the contest just before halftime when Tiaan Hall touched down but an early interception try and breakaway put further distance between the two sides after the break in the uncapped fixture as Wales were given a lesson in clinical finishing.
The match was a final chance for head coach Richie Pugh to run the rule over his squad before naming his Six Nations festival squad which will take on Scotland (April 3), France (April 7) and Spain (April 11) in Vichy, France next month.
“It was a bit of a strange old game where we were in total control in the opening minutes – we were in the lead and really took on the lessons learned against Italy the week before, but then in quick succession we conceded 28 points in the space of nine minutes,” said Pugh.
“Ireland pounced on every opportunity they could and run away with it. We managed to get another try before half-time. Even in the second half we came out firing and we were in control, dominated territory and possession and then they scored two tries in two minutes, one through an interception which could easily have been a try to us but they intercepted and ended up going half the field.
“Then they scored from another breakaway try from their own 22 so they were real clinical and sharp. we were organised and we learned from Italy but at the end of the day we were too soft in that nine minutes to concede four tries and it wasn’t to be.”
Despite the defeat, Pugh said they will take it on the chin and move forward as the Six Nations festival rapidly approaches.
“It’s always tough off the back of losses as you want the boys to experience wins in the red jersey,” said Pugh.
“What it did show was the boys can take on board messages and implement them in a game, it’s just they need to understand that they just can’t do it for half a game. They have got to do it for the whole game and how we manage to regain control when the opposition is going through a purple patch.
“Losing is frustrating but I’ve always said this journey for them is about experiencing that pressure of international rugby – it is a step up and it is a different level to what they have been playing and how we expose them to that is always going to be beneficial.”
Pugh will now burn the midnight oil as he prepares to confirm his squad for the festival.
“There are some real tight calls that we are going to have to make and there are going to be some disappointed boys but there is also going to be some over the moon,” he said.
“They have earned their caps and earned their jerseys and that is a credit to the depth we are trying to build but ultimately, we have to strike the right balance,” he said.
“It will be an approach based on the games we’ve got where we have three tough games. Scotland first who are a quality outfit and who we trained with in the summer; France who are pretty dangerous at this level and a feisty and energetic Spanish team so it is going to be a great experience for whoever plays and gets picked for Vichy.”