We all love the Six Nations here at Beat, but what about its more agile and unpredictable younger brother?
Just like Electric Ireland, we want you to support Irish rugby’s future stars by going to see them in action in the Under 20’s Six Nations.
To mark their historic encounter with England on March 17th, we thought a look back at Ireland’s greatest U-20’s home victories was in order.
And what a trip down memory lane it proved to be…
2009:
Ireland 19, England 18 (Dubarry Park, Athlone)
The team sheet read like a who’s who of today’s Six Nations team, with Sexton, Kearney, O’Mahony and Murry all featuring on the night.
Despite outscoring their opponents three tries to one, a resilient English team kept the score count ticking with a combination of penalties and drop kicks.
However, the magic moment came courtesy of Ian Madigan, who showed nerves of steel and skill to boot as he kicked a 45-metre drop goal in injury time to pip his team past the finish post in the depths of injury time.
2012:
Ireland 11, Wales 6 (Dubarry Park, Athlone)
Inclement weather played its part in ensuring that this fixture would be as low scoring as they come. Still, it was all the better for it.
Wales edged ahead 6-5 as the clock ticked past the 66-minute mark, but with a tail wind by their side, Ireland went on the offensive with a series of runs against the form of play.
Near misses by Paddy Jackson only served to ramp up the tension, before a brief cameo by substitute Luke McGrath culminated in a drop goal from outside the 22.
Breathtaking stuff.
Ireland 16, England 15 (Dubarry Park, Athlone)
Another classic from the Ireland/England camp. A never give up attitude propelled the Irish fifteen to super-human feats as they battled against a strong English field.
Down 9-3 at the half-way point, Ireland fought doggedly, with Gavin Thornbury spearheading a solid attacked with an inch-perfect penalty.
Spirits were lifted, and Ireland, who were now down to just thirteen men, completed a historic comeback over their greatest rivals with a stunning conversion.
2013:
Ireland 22, France 5 (Dubarry Park, Athlone)
While some games go into the history books for their pulse racing tension, Ireland’s U20 fixture with France warrants its entry for a sublime show of skill, strength and tactics.
Five wonderfully struck penalties in the opening half-hour gave the hosts an unassailable lead, frustrating the French into a literally of errors.
The second half saw the U-20s play efficiently, making light work of the line-out and penalties -which saw a 100% record at the foot of No. 8 Murphy.
The end result? Ireland had been victorious twice in U-20 Six Nations action against Les Bleuets in less than thirteen months.
2017
Ireland 27, France 22 (Donnybrook, Dublin)
Perhaps it was their finest victory.
Hanging in, sometimes by millimeters, through sheer grit and determination, Ireland edged past a resilient French side in front of a passionate 4,653 Donnybrook crowd.
Like the greatest shows, this bout played out in dramatic fashion.
Despite going into the second half with a healthy 21-10 advantage, France dominated play right up to the 72nd minute – clawing the game back to a two-point deficit.
Still, the character of the Irish team shone through in the closing stages with a Ntamack conversion providing the icing on the cake on what was enthralling Irish display
Electric Ireland proudly sponsors the Ireland Under 20’s Six Nations home games.
