Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of the Ireland U20s second pool game at the U20 World Championship in South Africa, with Richie Murphy’s side taking on the Junior Wallabies.

Ireland are looking for their first win at the tournament after opening their campaign with a 34-34 draw against England on Saturday, while Australia come into the game on the back of a 46-37 defeat of Fiji.

Kick-off in Paarl is at 10am Irish time.

Here’s a reminder of how Ireland lineup today. Murphy has made four changes from the England game, with James Nicholson, Ronan Foxe, Charlie Irvine and Brian Gleeson all coming into the starting 15. 

The Ireland U20s Match Day Squad to face Australia this Thursday! 💪#FutureIsGreen | @PwCIreland

— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) June 27, 2023

Kick-off

2mins: Ireland 0 Australia 0

Ireland find themselves under pressure as Australia go in search of an early score, and after moving the ball wide they get over in the corner, but the play is called back and restarts with an Australia scrum. The pitch looking very heavy underfoot in Paarl, with some players losing their footing already.

Penalty (Prendergast) – Ireland 3 Australia 0 

Wow. Australia are hammering at Ireland but Andrew Osborne makes a good read to intercept a Wallabies pass and break down the pitch. He doesn’t have the legs to go all the way but Ireland work their way back infield, eventually winning a penalty, which Sam Prendergast slots. 

𝐏𝐄𝐍𝐀𝐋𝐓𝐘 🟢

Sam Prendergast kicks the opening points of the game.

🇦🇺 0-3 ☘️ #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/nrDCT0YAv4

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 29, 2023

15mins: Ireland 3 Australia 0

Ireland have under a lot of pressure here but a brilliant kick from Prendergast pins Australia back to the edge of their own 22. Ireland build on that by disrupting the lineout before Charlie Irvine wins a penalty. Richie Murphy’s side starting to grow into this game now.

20mins: Ireland 3 Australia 0

Ireland put their best piece of attacking play together through a lovely series of passes, with Prendergast heavily involved, but it ends with James Nicholson being forced into touch. The Ireland winger looks in a bit of discomfort as Australia win the resulting lineout and clear their lines.

TRY – Ireland 3 Australia 7 (McDonald)

25mins: Ireland 3 Australia 7

Australia strike for the opening try of the game. The Wallabies turn the ball over and go the length of the field, with some nice feet by centre David Vaihu before Henry McDonald finishes the move, with Jack Bowen adding the conversion. It’s a really well worked score, and it’s been coming.

Penalty: Ireland 3 Australia 10 (Bowen)

27mins: Ireland 3 Australia 10

Australia stretch their lead to seven points, Bowen clipping over a penalty after Brian Gleeson is pinged for not rolling away.

𝐓𝐑𝐘 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐀𝐔𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐀𝐋𝐈𝐀!

A wonderful move from the Wallabies finished by Henry O'Donnell.

🇦🇺 7-3 ☘️ #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/R89V9782hA

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 29, 2023

TRY – Ireland (Nicholson) 8 Australia 10

33mins: Ireland 8 Australia 10

What a response from Ireland. A huge carry from Paddy McCarthy brings Ireland right up the tryline, but he’s held up. Ireland then quickly spin the ball out to the wing where Nicholson is on hand to collect Prendergast’s pass and score. Prendergast is off-target with the conversion.

𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐓 𝐅𝐑𝐎𝐌 𝐈𝐑𝐄𝐋𝐀𝐍𝐃! 🟢

What a carry by Paddy McCarthy! 💥

James Nicholson gets it down in the corner!

🇦🇺 10-8 ☘️ #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/xZSnCFSm1a

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 29, 2023

Penalty – Ireland 11 (Prendergast) Australia 10

Half-time

A great end to the half for Ireland as Prendergast kicks Ireland into the lead with the last action of the first period. Ireland have struggled at times and their discipline has been an issue, but Richie Murphy’s side have done really well to keep in the game and turn a seven-point deficit into a one-point lead. Big second half ahead in Paarl!

40mins: Ireland 11 Australia 10

The second half has just kicked off. Australia now without tighthead Massimo de Lutiis, who came off injured at the end of the first half. He’ll be a big loss for the Wallabies.

The rain has picked up in Paarl and the pitch looking very heavy now. 

48mins: Ireland 11 Australia 10

Conditions really impacting the game now. Another poor mistake from Ireland as Prendergast kicks the ball dead on the full, and after a couple of scrums Australia break, only for winger Tim Ryan to spill the ball forward when he had a clear run at the tryline. 

TRY – Ireland (Gleeson) 18 Australia 10

55mins – Ireland 18 Australia 10

Ireland have their second try, Brian Gleeson powering over from close range after good work by captain Gus McCarthy. That’s a huge score after Australia butchered a chance at the other end. Prendergast kicks the extras and Ireland lead by eight in Paarl. 

𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐍 𝐆𝐋𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐎𝐍! 🟢

A massive try from the @Munsterrugby man!

Prendergast adds the extras!

🇦🇺 10-18 ☘️ #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/rYf4Uwk00A

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 29, 2023

TRY: Ireland 23 (McCarthy) Australia 10  

64mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10

That’s super stuff from Ireland. It starts with a big win at the scrum after a huge shove from the Ireland frontrow, and then Prendergast executes a brilliant kick to the corner. From the lineout, McCarthy gets over for Ireland’s third try of the morning, with Prendergast off target with the conversion.

Ireland now have a little over 15 minutes to chase the bonus point score.

𝐆𝐔𝐒 𝐌𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐘! 🟢

A huge moment from the Ireland captain who gets his first try at this level!

🇦🇺 10-23 ☘️ #WorldRugbyU20s pic.twitter.com/gOgsdK2Bii

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) June 29, 2023

75mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10

Ireland finishing on top here, they’ve let a few chances slip but Richie Murphy’s team are playing all the rugby in the Australia 22. They’ve five minutes left to get the bonus point score, but there’s a lot of tired bodies out there now.

77mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10

So close! Another big carry from Brian Gleeson but Paddy McCarthy is held up over the line.

Yellow card: Rory Telfer

A TMO check for a high tackle by Rory Telfer, who goes in hard and high Australia’s Darby Lancaster. Decision is a yellow card.

78mins: Ireland 23 Australia 10

Another stoppage, Ruadhán Quinn on the end of a heavy head-on-head collision with Ned Slack-Smith. Decision is no foul play, so play will restart with an Ireland scrum as Quinn departs for a HIA.

TRY: Ireland 30 (Mangan) Australia 10

FULLTIME: Ireland 30 Australia 10

And there it is. Ireland get the bonus point score right at the death, courtesy of Diarmuid Mangan, with Jack Oliver adding the extras.

In horrible conditions, Ireland did really well to turn that game around after a tricky start thanks to a huge shift from the forwards, with Brian Gleeson outstanding.

That bonus point could be crucial as Ireland look to make the semi-finals, with Richie Murphy’s side back out next Tuesday for their final pool game against Fiji. A brilliant morning’s work from the Grand Slam winners.

Thanks for joining our live coverage, we’ll have a full report and reaction on The 42 shorty.