Four converted first-half scores without reply set Ireland on their way to a 47-14 victory over Scotland, as Irish Rugby celebrated a Men's senior and Under-20 Triple Crown double for the third time in five seasons. The Ireland U20 success had double involvement from Corinthians and Connacht, with winger Daniel Ryan (pictured) and No 8 Diarmuid O'Connell both ever-present in the campaign.
The Virgin Media Park in Cork crowd lapped up another incisive attacking performance from Andrew Browne's youngsters on Sunday, who had PwC player-of-the-match Tom Wood pulling the strings at half-back, alongside Christopher Barrett, who made it five tries for the 2026 Championship. Despite Scotland's bright start, a clever lineout move had Duinn Maguire powering over for a seven-minute opener. Wood's inviting skip pass put Derry Moloney racing in from the same right corner, midway through the first half. Ireland were at their free-flowing best for Rob Carney's 29th-minute effort, before busy flanker Ben Blaney raced away down the blindside to bag the bonus point, making it 28-0 at half-time. The scores dried up until slick passing from the Irish backs released replacement Johnny O'Sullivan to cross in the 67th minute. Scotland rallied with back-to-back seven-pointers from Jamie McAughtrie and Henry Widdowson. However, O'Sullivan supplied the assist for Barrett, who had moved to the wing, to maintain his brilliant try-scoring form, and a late surge from the home pack ended with prop Foley gleefully grounding the ball for try number seven.
IRELAND U-20: Noah Byrne (Dublin University FC/Leinster); Derry Moloney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Rob Carney (Cashel RFC/Munster), James O'Leary (UCC RFC/Munster), Daniel Ryan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Tom Wood (Garryowen FC/Munster), Christopher Barrett (UCC RFC/Munster); Max Doyle (UCD RFC/Leinster), Duinn Maguire (UCD RFC/Leinster), Sami Bishti (UCD RFC/Leinster) (capt), Joe Finn (Garryowen FC/Munster), Donnacha McGuire (UCD RFC/Leinster), Josh Neill (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Ben Blaney (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), Diarmaid O'Connell (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht).
Replacements used: Johnny O'Sullivan (Dublin University FC/Leinster) for Byrne (46 mins), Dylan McNeice (UCD RFC/Leinster) for McGuire, Lee Fitzpatrick (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) for Maguire (both 49), Billy Hayes (Garryowen FC/Munster) for Blaney (53), Christian Foley (Young Munster RFC/Munster) for Doyle, Luke Murtagh (Galwegians RFC/Connacht) for Bishti (both 61), Charlie O'Shea (UCC RFC/Munster) for Carney (63), James O'Dwyer (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) for Neill (71).
SCOTLAND U-20: Henry Widdowson (Edinburgh Rugby); Nairn Moncrieff (Edinburgh Rugby), Campbell Waugh (Glasgow Hawks), Harry Clark (Watsonian FC), Rory McHaffie (Edinburgh Rugby); Jake Dalziel (Merchiston Castle School/Melrose RFC), Adam McKenzie (Watsonian FC); Oliver McKenna (Glasgow Warriors), Joe Roberts (Glasgow Warriors) (capt), Jamie Stewart (Edinburgh Rugby), Alfie Blackett (Cardiff Metropolitan University), Dan Halkon (Glasgow Warriors), Archie Appleby (Northampton Saints), Jack Utterson (Edinburgh Rugby), Rory Purvis (Glasgow Warriors).
Replacements used: Henry Armstrong (Stirling County RFC) for Moncrieff (26 mins), Harvey Preston (Glasgow Hawks) for Utterson, Christian Lindsay (Edinburgh Rugby) for Blackett (both half-time), Jackson Rennie (Glasgow Warriors) for Stewart, Jamie McAughtrie (Ayr RFC) for Purvis, Will Pearce (Cardiff Metropolitan University/Bristol Bears) for McKenna (all 55), Hamish MacArthur (Edinburgh Rugby) for McKenzie (57), Fin Ronnie (Watsonian FC) for Halkon (58).
Referee: David Vosalevu (FRU)
