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AS IT HAPPENED

As it happened: Ireland v Scotland, U20 Rugby World Championships

Peter Malone’s side needed a win after losing their first game of the tournament.

Hello and welcome to this morning’s liveblog for Ireland v Scotland in the U20 Rugby World Championships in Georgia.

We’ll be guiding you through this morning’s actions with both teams desperately chasing a victory following opening losses to Italy and New Zealand respectively.

As always, please feel to get in touch via Facebook, Twitter or the comments section below.

The game gets under way in Kutaisi at 10am Irish time and is live on eir Sport 2

Here is a reminder of the Ireland team:

Ireland U20 (v Scotland)
15. Alan Tynan (Young Munster/ Munster)
14. Jack Kelly (Dublin University/ Leinster)
13. Gavin Mullin (UCD/ Leinster)
12. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/ Leinster)
11. Calvin Nash (Young Munster / Munster)
10. Conor Dean (St. Mary’s/ Leinster)
9. Jack Stafford (Shannon/ Munster)
1. Jordan Duggan (Naas/Leinster)*
2. Ronan Kelleher (UCD/ Leinster)
3. Charlie Connolly (Dublin University/Leinster)
4. Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster/ Munster)
5. Oisin Dowling (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
6. Sean Masterson (Corinthians/ Connacht)
7. Paul Boyle (Lansdowne/ Leinster) Captain
8. Caelan Doris (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Replacements:
16. Adam Moloney (Shannon/Munster)
17. Greg McGrath (Lansdowne/ Leinster)
18. Peter Cooper (Belfast Harlequins/ Ulster)
19. Jack Regan (UCD/ Leinster)
20. Gavin Coombes (Young Munster/ Munster)
21. Jonny Stewart (Queen’s University/ Ulster)
22. Angus Curtis (Queen’s University/ Ulster) *
23. Michael Silvester (Dublin University/Leinster)*

The teams are out on the pitch and we’re ready for the anthems. Firstly it’s Ireland’s Call…

A reminder of the Ireland XV, which shows six changes to the one that lost to Italy on Wednesday.

irelandu20

Kick off! We’re underway in Kutaisi.

You’d expect this to be another close encounter with just one point separating these two teams when they met in the Six Nations back in February. Ireland came out 20-19 victorious on that occasion but this is a difficult ball game today with both sides entering make-or-break territory in this tournament.

Breathless start to the game with Scotland throwing the ball around and looking to stretch Ireland at every opportunity. Eddie O’Sullivan on commentary compares their running style to Connacht but the Scots have made three errors so far and that has allowed Ireland to settle.

Ireland are penalised for being off their feet but the Scottish out-half looks to get too much on the kick and it sails the wrong side of the corner flag and goes dead. A let off for Ireland there.

It’s just after 1pm local time in Kutaisi but the sun is beating down on the AIA Arena with temperatures reaching 26 degrees already.

Scotland have made the brighter start but it has been scrappy from both sides in the opening exchanges with a lot of unforced errors leading to a disjointed contest so far.

Ireland being forced to dig deep here in defence and after Eastgate stabbed a kick through, Jack Kelly does brilliantly to get across and cover the danger before winning the penalty, allowing Dean to bring play towards halfway.

13 minutes gone in Georgia and we’re awaiting the game’s first score.

79% possession for Scotland in the opening 15 minutes but Ireland have a good attacking position here with a scrum inside the Scottish half. They go on the short side and eventually work it well down the left with quick hands.

Nash just about keeps it in play and Mullin looks to latch onto his grubber but the ball just wouldn’t sit up for the UCD centre with the line at his mercy. Much better from Ireland.

From the next play, Scotland overthrow it and Ireland filter through. It’s worked across to the right where Frawley puts the head down and looks to power his way through but he’s just held up by the wall of blue shirts. We’re going upstairs to have a look but the TMO rules that there’s no conclusive evidence that the ball was grounded.

Penalty! Ireland 3-0 Scotland (Dean)

But we’re going back for a penalty in front of the posts and Conor Dean has the simple task of slotting over to get Ireland up and running.

Ireland have enjoyed a good period of possession in the last 10 minutes as a powerful driving maul wins the penalty and Dean pings it into the corner to give his side a good attacking position deep in Scottish territory.

TRY! Ireland 10-0 Scotland (Stafford)

Great bit of thinking from the scrum-half as he taps and go after Scotland are caught offside and does brilliantly to get it down with plenty of blue shirts around him. Dean adds the extras.

After a slow enough start, Ireland have really hit their straps in the last 15 minutes or so and have established a commanding lead thanks to Dean’s penalty and that Stafford try after 22 minutes.

Scotland have been forced into a change with flanker Flockhart injured in that last passage of play and Dodd on in his place. 15 minutes until half-time.

Ireland head coach Peter Malone will be pleased with what he’s seen so far.

Peter Malone Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

TRY! Ireland 10-7 Scotland (McCann)

That is a superb counter-attacking try from Scotland as they open up Ireland and clinically finish through Ross McCann. It all starts from deep and Graham bursts through, showing his explosive pace, and although he was tackled by Kelly he managed to pop it off for the supporting McCann to run it under the posts. Eastgate adds the conversion.

The complexion of this game has changed again with Scotland now very much back in the ascendancy as they continue to ask questions of the Ireland defence. Malone’s side are penalised for taking the man out in the air but Scotland turn down the three points and kick for the corner. Three minutes until the break.

Scotland hammering away at the Irish line as we approach half time and again we’re going back for a penalty. The referee warns captain Paul Boyle that another infringement will force him to produce a yellow card.

TRY! Ireland 10-12 Scotland (Fenwick)

And the pressure tells as the driving maul causes Ireland all sorts of problems and Scotland have all the momentum and Fenwick has the straightforward task of falling over the line to give his side the lead for the first time. The conversion strikes the post.

Half time! Ireland 10-12 Scotland 

A disappointing finish to the half for Ireland as they concede two tries to squander their 10-0 lead and now they’re up against it heading into a make-or-break 40 minutes or rugby.

The teams are back out and we’re underway again.

Good start to the second half for Ireland as they look for an early score but Scotland scramble well and close the door. Coombes, who came on for Masterson at half time, intercepts in midfield and releases Mullin, who in turn offloads for Kelly but he’s forced into touch.

Ireland living on the edge as Scotland’s blistering attacking style very nearly causes serious damage again but they final pass just doesn’t go to hand and Ireland are let off the hook.

The Scots eventually win a penalty and Eastgate is calling for the tee as he looks to extend his side’s lead.

Penalty! Ireland 10-15 Scotland (Eastgate)

The Scotland out-half strikes it sweetly and Scotland’s lead is extended to five points.

Ireland’s turn to exert some pressure and it all comes from a powerful run from Kelleher, who bursts through the initial tackles and injects some momentum into the attack.

It’s pretty one-dimensional from Malone’s side as they pick and drive and inch their way towards the line before Scotland are pinged for being offside. It looks like Dean is going to take the points here.

Penalty! Ireland 13-15 Scotland (Dean)

No mistake from the out-half and his second penalty of the day brings Ireland within two points of Scotland. 52 minutes gone.

TRY! Ireland 13-22 Scotland (Graham)

Once again, Scotland cut through far too easily as Kinghorn collects the kick and shows power and pace to make 40 yards for his team before it’s recycled wide where Graham has all the space in the world to run it in. Superb rugby from the Scots.

That was another great score from Scotland but Ireland are inviting it upon themselves as they continue to kick the ball away and give the Scots the attacking platform to launch those counter-attacks.

Malone is making a couple of changes now with his side two scores behind as Curtis replaces Dean at out-half and Silverster coming on for Munster’s Calvin Nash.

TRY! Ireland 20-22 Scotland (Kelly)

Great response from Ireland as Kelly picks a great line and runs onto an inviting pass from Curtis to finish well. Tynan takes over the kicking duties and nails the conversion.

20 minutes to go at the AIA Arena with just two points between the sides.

TRY! Ireland 20-27 Scotland (Eastgate)

Scotland are playing some brilliant rugby as captain Hunter-Hill picks a superb line and they show great hands to keep it alive. Ireland scramble well and Curtis and Frawley make covering tackles but Scotland have numbers wide and Eastgate goes over.

Scotland have shown great ambition from the outset and their entertaining brand of rugby has been rewarded so far with the scoreboard reflecting that. Ireland, on the other hand, have been very one-dimensional and have been punished for kicking the ball away on too many occasions.

Moloney, McGrath and Regan are all on for Kelleher, Duggan and Dowling as we enter the final 15 minutes.

Penalty! Ireland 23-27 Scotland (Tynan)

Ireland reduce the deficit thanks to Tynan’s penalty but a questionable call there to go for the points with Malone’s side needing a bonus-point win.

TRY! Ireland 23-32 Scotland (Nairn)

That should be game over now as Scotland move the ball with precision and Ireland have no answers as they’re left short on this near side and horribly exposed. That decision to go for three points a minute earlier looks even more suspect now as Nairn walks it over.

Ireland look for a route back into the game but Scotland show their defensive mettle to force the turnover and Eastgate can clear his line. Eight minutes remaining.

TRY! Ireland 28-32 Scotland (Kelly)

Ireland are back in the game all of a sudden! Kelly’s second try has brought his side to within a score again as we enter the final four minutes.

Last chance saloon now for Ireland.

Ireland win the scrum and then a free but Doris looks to tap and go but makes a mess of it and knocks on. That’s an inexcusable error at this stage of the game and that should be that.

Full time! Ireland 28-32 Scotland 

Another disappointing result for Ireland as they lose their second game of the tournament. Peter Malone’s side will have to pick themselves up now for the final game of Pool B against New Zealand next Thursday.

Thanks for joining us and until next time, goodbye!

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