Munster players propel Ireland to dramatic victory over Georgia at U20 World Championship

IRELAND U20s recorded a dramatic 22-16 group victory over Georgia U20s at the World Rugby U-20 Championship in Stellenbosch, South Africa on Thursday afternoon.

Finn Treacy's 83rd-minute try, following an impressive 24 phases of play, helped Ireland U20s secure a nail-biting victory and avoid a shock defeat against their gritty opponents.

Georgia U20s looked on course to record their second ever victory over Ireland at this level until Treacy struck for their third try of the game at the death.

Six Munster players were named in the Ireland U20 23-man squad for the game, including team captain Evan O'Connell, Ben O’Connor, Sean Edogbo, Luke Murphy, Brian Gleeson and Emmet Calvey.

Ireland U20s had scored an emphatic 55-15 bonus point victory over Italy U20s in their previous Pool B fixture on Saturday last.

The Irish side now switch their focus to a crucial meeting with Australia U20s at Athlone Sports Stadium on Tuesday next, July 9 at 1pm Irish time.

Following Thursday's hard fought win over Georgia, Ireland U20 captain and Limerick native Evan O'Connell said: "Over the moon (when the last try was scored), more relieved than anything. It was a hugely tough game.

"The Georgians were excellent for the whole game, defensively and in attack. We know we're going to need to be a lot better than that next week.

"There were some serious shots going in from them, they're a really physical team. There's no easy games in this tournament, so we'll take every game as they come and look forward to next week."

Less than six minutes were on the clock at Danie Craven Stadium when inside-centre Hugh Gavin ran a brilliant line to pierce the Georgian defence from close range.

Fly-half Sean Naughton added the conversion and four minutes later it looked as though Ruben Moloney had marked his debut with a fine try. However, TMO Damon Murphy spotted an obstruction from Irish prop Andrew Sparrow depriving the winger of his moment.

Georgia were proving stubborn defenders, as they had been against Australia on day one, but Ireland got their second try of the match at the beginning of the second quarter when a sublime offload from Gavin released hooker Stephen Smyth in the right corner.

Naughton missed the touchline conversion and from then on Georgia began to grow into the match.

The Junior Lelos were able to build some possession inside Irish territory at the end of the half, earning two penalties in the final six minutes. Fly-half Luka Tsirekidze kicked both through the uprights to halve his side’s deficit at the break.

Georgia carried that momentum into the second half and with the wind now at their backs, the Junior Lelos took the lead within five minutes.

Captain Nika Lomidze it was who went over from close range following a period of pressure that started with Georgia winning a scrum penalty.

Tsirekidze added the conversion and then traded penalties with his opposite number Naughton as the Junior Lelos went into the final 18 minutes with a narrow 16-15 lead.

Georgian number 10 Tsirekidze had two very presentable opportunities to extend that advantage in the closing stages but his accuracy deserted him at a crucial time.

And Ireland capitalised breaking Georgian hearts through replacement Treacy's last gasp try.

IRELAND U-20: Ben O'Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Davy Colbert (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Sam Berman (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Ruben Moloney (UCD RFC/Leinster); Sean Naughton (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Oliver Coffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster); Jacob Boyd (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Andrew Sparrow UCD RFC/Leinster), James McKillop (Queen's University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Evan O'Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) (capt), Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster), Max Flynn (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Luke Murphy (Shannon RFC/Munster). Replacements used: Patreece Bell (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) for Boyd (half-time), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster) for L Murphy (46 mins), Alex Mullan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) for Sparrow (50), Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Leinster) for Naughton (56), Alan Spicer (UCD RFC/Leinster) for McKillop, Finn Treacy (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) for Moloney (both 64), Mikey Yarr (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) for Flynn (77). Not used: Tadhg Brophy (Naas RFC/Leinster).