Sam Berman bags hat-trick as Ireland get World Rugby U-20 Championship campaign off to flyer

It is the first time in eight years that Ireland have started this tournament with a win in their opening game and hopes will now increase that they can go one better than when they finished runners-up to France in the final in South Africa last year.

But skipper Evan O’Connell said that while they were more clinical than the Six Nations, they still have room for improvement as they prepare top face Georgia next Thursday and Australia five days later.

“One of the basics we wanted was when we get those entries into the 22 that we convert those points and we are happy with that. Italy really put it up to us and I don’t think the scoreline really reflects that game. We are pretty happy with our display but obviously some improvements again needed for next week,” said O’Connell after the win at the DHL Stadium.

Ireland had the bonus point in the bag by the 27th minute and added a fifth try before the break to go in leading 31-10 at the break after a lively opening half.

Ireland were forced into a late change with flanker Max Flynn, poised for his debut, withdrawn and Bryn Ward, son of former Ulster player and Irish international Andy, taking his place in the starting line-up.

By the end of the opening quarter two nephews of former Munster and Irish internationals had crossed for tries with Danny Sheahan, nephew of Frankie, and skipper O’Connell, Paul’s nephew, supplying good finishes for an Irish side which enjoyed 64% possession into the opening half.

Several new laws are being tested in this tournament — 30 seconds for conversions and penalties puts serious pressure on the kickers — and after 22 minutes Italy lock Mattia Midena was withdrawn after the smart mouthguards being used by all the players prompted his temporary withdrawal.

Ireland, who beat Italy with a late try from Sean Edogbo in the Six Nations in Cork, used the set-piece extremely well and four of their opening half tries came from penalties to the corner.

Edogbo won possession in three of those lineouts, with the opening try coming after two minutes after they were forced through a couple of phases before Berman and Hugo McLaughlin combined to send hooker Sheahan over in the left corner.

Italy hit back and opened a 10-5 lead after ten minutes after making the most of some sloppy defending, with left winger Lorenzo Elettri scoring after they worked a lineout from the right corner to score on the opposite side.

Martino Pucciariello, son of former Munster prop Freddie, converted and added a penalty but Ireland controlled the remainder of the opening half.

O’Connell pounced after Ireland had been bundled into touch from their penalty inside the 22, and when Italy made a mess of their lineout, the captain picked and drove over.

They were confident with ball in hand and a good move which included a neat out-the-back pass from centre Finn Treacy put No.8 Luke Murphy away and he raced over after 13 minutes with Jack Murphy this time converting to lead 12-10.

Berman, on his way to Ulster after a good campaign in the AIL with Terenure College, was back with the U-20s for the first time since last summer’s tournament in South Africa and he showed his class and experience with two tries before the break.

He secured the bonus point after 27 minutes following another lineout take from Edogbo and pushed Ireland further clear when he looped around and squeezed between two defenders to score and leave 21 points between them at the interval.

Italy pulled back a try shortly after the restart from flanker Luca Bellucci after Edogbo was binned for a high tackle — it remained yellow after a bunker review — but Ireland hit back and Berman completed his hat-trick after another good bout of pressure.

Both sides emptied their bench after that but the scores kept coming for Ireland, even after loosehead Jacob Boyd picked up a yellow card, with Finn Treacy crossing before replacement centre Hugh Gavin was instrumental as another one off the bench Sean Naughton, who had come on for Jack Murphy just after the break, crossed for their eighth try to complete the rout.

Scorers:

Ireland: Tries: S Berman (3), D Sheahan, L Murphy, E O’Connell, F Treacy, S Naughton. Cons: J Murphy (3), Naughton (3). Pen: Naughton.

Italy: Tries: L Elettri, L Bellucci. Con: M Pucciariello. Pen: Pucciariello.

Teams:

Ireland: B O’Connor; D Colbert, F Treacy, S Berman (H Gavin 53), H McLaughlin; J Murphy (S Naughton 41), O Coffey (J O’Riordan 55); J Boyd (E Calvey 68), D Sheahan (S Smyth 62), P Bell (A Sparrow 56); A Spicer, E O’Connell (B Corrigan 61); S Edogbo, B Ward (J McKillop 53), L Murphy

Italy: M Belloni; M Scalabrin, F Zanandrea, N Bozzo (P de Villers 55), L Elettri; M Pucciariello (S Brisighella 45), M Jimenez (L Casilio 53); S Pelliccioli (F Gentile 68), N Gasperini (V Siciliano 53), D Ascari (F Pisani 49); M Midena (T Redondi 22-34), G Milano; C Zucconi (Redondi 68), L Bellucci (N Casartelli 57), J Botturi.

Referee: Sabu Abulashvili (Georgia)