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An U20 Six Nations XV - Grand Slam-winning Ireland dominate

Aaron Hinkley

Ireland wrapped up their first Grand Slam in the U20 Six Nations on Friday evening, beating Wales, 26-17, at Stadiwm Zip World.

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The young Irish side were the pick of the teams this year, showing composure and consistency throughout the tournament, with tight wins over England and France showing that they are not to be taken lightly in the summer at the World Rugby U20 Championship, either.

We’ve trawled through all 15 games of the tournament and put together our pick of the players.

  1. Jake Flannery, Ireland

A converted fly-half playing full-back, Ireland have followed in the footsteps of New Zealand, England and South Africa in recent years of making use of that kind of creative skill set in the 15 jersey. Flannery’s reading of the game, counter-attacking and kicking ability all shone through and it was a mark of how well he performed in those areas that he sees off the challenge of the impressive Josh Hodge of England.

Ireland U20 players celebrate with the trophy during the U20 Six Nations match between Wales and Ireland at Zip Word Stadium. (Photo by Jan Kruger/Getty Images)

  1. Vincent Pinto, France

Pinto was a consistent threat for France out wide and is already showing all the hallmarks of the traditionally clinical French wings, whose reading of the game and timing of their runs often have them among the more predatory finishers in world rugby. He is quick, too, as well as showing good footwork in tight spaces. He’s already begun to breakthrough for Pau in the Top 14 and Challenge Cup and the future looks bright.

  1. Matteo Moscardi, Italy

Italy’s promising outside centre was excellent in the win away against Scotland in Round 1, as well as making the most of what his pack delivered in the losses to Wales and Ireland. He is a balanced 13, with the speed to beat players on outside arcs, the footwork and power to cut back inside and run hard and straight, as well as a good passing game that can help him link up with the back three.

  1. Julien Delbouis, France

Delbouis was influential in France’s win over Wales at the beginning of the tournament, as well as being one of, if not the standout performer for his side in the losses to England and Ireland. He offered a direct-running threat for France, as well as a ball-handling skill set that allowed him to distribute and give his side width, as well as keep phases alive after line-breaks with composed offloads.

  1. Michael Mba, Italy

Not too dissimilar to Pinto, Mba took the opportunities well that came his way in the wider channels. He was ever-present for Italy during the championship and was as strong fielding kicks and positionally, as he was going forward with the ball in hand. If Italy can get him to track the ball in the midfield and come off his wing looking for work, they could do some damage at the U20 Championship in the summer.

  1. Harry Byrne, Ireland

Byrne has refined his game after making his U20s debut last season and was pivotal to Ireland in their victories over England and Scotland early in the tournament. Injury meant that Ben Healy stepped in for the decisive games against France and Wales, but Byrne was the standout man this year at 10. Marcus Smith and Louis Carbonel will have their minds set on revenge in the summer, but Byrne showed that he can definitely cut it amongst the pair, both of whom are regulars in senior club rugby already.

  1. Craig Casey, Ireland

The diminutive scrum-half packed a punch over the last seven weeks and the tempo he brought to Ireland allowed them to nullify, in part, the power games of both England and France. His distribution is very good, he’s not afraid to snipe and expose defensive holes around the fringe, and he gets to spend the next couple of years honing his box-kicking craft alongside one Conor Murray.

  1. Josh Wycherley, Ireland

Another important part of the Munster age-grade resurgence this season, the loosehead locked horns with and more than held his own against the powerful tightheads from England, France and Wales in particular. He was able to stay straight and still beat his opposite number in the scrum, whilst he also offered plenty of punch around the fringes as a ball-carrier.

  1. Dewi Lake, Wales

The hooker took up the captaincy after injury ruled out Tommy Reffell in the first game of the tournament and did not look back for the remaining four rounds. He delivered for Wales in the loose, with his carrying and work clearing out and providing quick ruck speed standing out. The Welsh lineout has been solid, too, and his throwing will only improve as he practices the craft even further.

  1. Marcus Street, England

Street only ended up playing two games at the tournament due to commitments with his club, Exeter Chiefs, but the destruction of the French scrum and the job he did on Jean-Baptiste Gros, who is a very promising loosehead, were just too emphatic to pass him up here. He is in his third year of U20 rugby now and will fancy his chances of fully making the leap the senior game next season, when Exeter will likely lose Harry Williams and Tomas Francis to the Rugby World Cup.

  1. Joel Kpoku, England

Arguably England’s player of the 2018 U20 season, Kpoku re-emphasised his ability during this year’s Six Nations. He was ever-present during the first four fixtures, before being recalled by Saracens for the Premiership Cup final and missing the game against Scotland. He was particularly influential in England’s powerful performance against France at Sandy Park.

  1. Thomas Parolo, Italy

Another example of Italy’s vast improvements at this level in recent years, Parolo looks like a second row who is not far off being able to contribute regularly for Benetton or Zebre. He was a good lineout option and brought the mobility that is so prized in modern-day locks, whilst he also offered a physical element that should see him cope with the step up to senior rugby. He could be the long-term partner to Federico Ruzza in the Azzurri engine room.

  1. Jac Morgan, Wales

Morgan started the tournament at six before moving over to seven when captain Reffell suffered injury in the tournament opener against France. He doesn’t have the billing of Reffell or Taine Basham, but Morgan was crucial in Wales’ wins over England and Italy and has shown that the extraordinary production line of Welsh flankers has continued unabated this season. He carried, tackled and worked away at the contact area well throughout the tournament.

  1. Aaron Hinkley, England

After having had a solid season with England in 2018, Hinkley has ‘made the leap’ in 2019. He looked a more powerful carrier with the ball in his hand and his fetching work at the breakdown was pivotal for England. If opportunities come at Gloucester, Hinkley is showing the kind of potential that could throw his name into the mix with the Tom Currys, Ben Earls and Sam Underhills of English rugby.

  1. John Hodnett, Ireland

In an age of giants at the number eight position, it’s refreshing to see a smaller player making hay with good carrying technique, a strong reading of the game and a formidable leg drive. Ireland will welcome Azur Allison back from injury in the summer which could prompt a move for Hodnett to six, but he was crucial to Ireland during this Six Nations with his ability to get them over the gain-line and able to up the tempo.

Watch: The Rugby Pod give their thoughts on the proposed Nations Championship

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J
JW 41 minutes ago
'The Wallabies only have themselves to blame': How the Lions sunk Australia in Melbourne

it made referee Andre Piardi and his officiating crew the topic of the rugby debate, rather than its natural mediators.

I’ve not seen any talk about the refs, just debate on what the ruling should be. RP is a fairly closed off work, which I guess I’m thankful for.

It was also an unwelcome repetition of the last British & Irish Lions tour in 2021, where Australian Nic Berry was pilloried by Springboks head coach ‘Rassie’ Erasmus after refereeing decisions in the first Test did not flow in South Africa’s favour.

It’s not really like that. It’s much more similar to 2017s reversal of the series deciding penalty, when Steven Hansen said they’d be taking matters behind doors, directly to World Rugby.

Two months before the Rugby World Cup in France began, UEFA head of referees Roberto Rosetti had led a PowerPoint presentation with one single message: “We need referees.”

Yeah WR really need to up their game, theyve done nothing about it since they made the head sacrosanct, and I suppose ‘force’ being so much more important to the equation, and yet still so open to judgement.

The Wallabies had established a very healthy 23-5 lead after half an hour, and that should have been enough for them to coast home

This is a poor attitude and looked like what was their problem (although drastic or obvious a failing, or attitude, by aussie, i think it was there).


I said in your first article that if Len feels out of position Joseph should just come into 12. Very simple solution and solves the problem of him not getting his hands on the ball all that much.


Worst selection for me was Ben Donaldson, having him on the bench in the weekend cost them the game (most amongst many factors). Everyone hard done by not having a decider this weekend.

18 Go to comments
J
Jfp123 50 minutes ago
New Zealanders may not understand, but in France Test rugby is the 'B movie'

I don’t think Dupont and Ntamack would have toured, if fit. Stade Toulousain seems not to be quite so hard on players as UBB, but if AD and RN had been fit they’d have played more minutes and would still have needed a rest and recovery period.


Of course I like to see France win, but I don’t want to see players wrecked by overwork.


I don’t get frustrated. I love seeing the top stars, but I also enjoy seeing the up and coming stars of the future who stand in for them, and I don’t want to see any player broken by overwork. It’s often possible to predict roughly which players will play in which games, if someone is bothered. For example, if you want to be sure of seeing all the top Stade Toulousain stars, go to their Champions cup matches, but actually, their team is pretty stellar in every match as they’ve got such an amazing squad.


The Top14, plus Champions Cup plus internationals, is a very heavy workload, and there are knock out stages of both the Top14 and Champions Cup, just before the summer test window, and these matches can be of international standard - eg, 2023 Champions Cup final Toulouse v Leinster (ie more or less Ireland). There is a limit to what players can do. Super Rugby players don’t have such a heavy workload, so playing stars in every match is not such a problem.


The knock out stages and relegation are part of what makes the Top14 so brilliant. Practically every team has something at stake all season, whether it’s making the top 2 to go straight to the semis, the top 6 to get into the finals, or avoiding the bottom 2 to avoid relegation. Organise the Top14 like football, and Stade Toulousain would have been crowned champions way before the end of the season and there would have been a lot of dead games without much at stake.

145 Go to comments
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