I didn’t give this group of youngsters much chance at the beginning of the tournament. I’m not a big fan of these one sided provincial selections in age grade teams and, to be honest, they didn’t show much fight in the RBS U20 Six Nations tournament.
However, the team, featuring Ulster’s Frankie Taggart, battled remarkably effectively through their group and a losing bonus point to France coupled with bonus point wins against Wales and Fiji has put them at the top table, for the first time in this competition, as we go into the semi-final stages, where they face familiar opposition in England U20’s.
Ireland’s record isn’t great against their opponents having lost to the same side 33 – 9 in a pretty one-sided match in Franklin Gardens back in February, but at this stage of this intense competition it all comes down to the depth of the squad, fitness and the desire to win.
This time last year they had battled their . . .
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