The Ireland Under-20s finished fourth at the IRB Junior World Championship after a 45-23 defeat to New Zealand in the 3rd/4th place play-off at Eden Park. Mike Ruddock's young guns led 23-21 at half-time with Ross Byrne kicking three penalties and converting a penalty try and an opportunist effort from prop Oisin Heffernan. However the Baby Blacks dominated after the break and went on to score four more tries through James Tucker, Mitchell Drummond, Richard Mo'unga and Lachlan Boshier. It was a cruel ending for the Irish but Ruddock's side can still look back on the tournament with immense pride as fourth place is Ireland's best ever finish at a Junior World Championship.
England were crowned champions with a 21-20 win over South Africa in the final and South Africa's Handre Pollard has been named IRB Junior Player of the Year.
