The drama and excitement from the opening weekend of the Guinness Six Nations rippled through the Under-20s Championship and produced some stunning first round encounters.
England’s trip to Ireland delivered fireworks in the form of late try-scoring heroics while France got their title defence off to the perfect start as they secured victory over Wales.
And Italy powered to a bonus-point win of their own against Scotland to take an equal share of the lead after the first round of fixtures.
Here’s all the action you might have missed:
Ireland 35-27 England
Ireland waited until the very last minute to squash England’s hopes of taking something from the game in front of more than 5,000 supporters in Cork.
It was a breathtaking opening round clash, with scores from Cadan Murley, Tom Willis, and Josh Hodge giving England the lead at the break.
Hooker Dylan Tierney-Martin scored a try either side of half-time to keep the scores close and the boot of Harry Byrne gave the hosts a one-point advantage with 20 minutes left.
Right at the death England were held up on the line and were forced all the way back to their own five-metre line, it was then that Ireland eventually took their moment.
Replacement Cormac Foley crossed with seconds left on the clock and Byrne concluded the game with a successful conversion, securing a first Irish scalp of the Championship in dramatic style.
France 32-10 Wales
Vincent Pinto secured a bonus point for reigning champions France with the final play as they kicked off the defence of their crown with a hard-fought win over Wales in Vannes.
Wales drew first blood after a set-piece move saw Joe Roberts – introduced off the bench inside five minutes – show and go to burst clear and dot down, Cai Evans adding the extras.
Before the half-hour mark however, France hit back and it was the ever-present Sacha Zegueur who barged over after a lineout peel at the front with Killian Geraci feeding him.
Two further tries from Matthis Lebel and Geraci put France in the ascendancy before Zegueur then saw red for a dangerous tackle – but Les Bleus went from one end to the other in the final minute for Pinto to add the bonus points.
Scotland 22-32 Italy
Italy also left it late before sealing an impressive opening round victory in Netherdale as Jacopo Trulla’s try in the final minutes ended Scotland’s hopes of a comeback.
The visitors were in front at the break after Matteo Nocera finished off a simple try before Scotland turned the game on its head through Connor Boyle and Charlie Jupp tries.
The Scots’ defence was then tested over a long stretch of phases and eventually broke through, with Federico Mori the man to cross just after the hour mark.
Replacement Rufus McLean cut the deficit for Scotland when he crossed with less than ten minutes to go, but Jacopo’s 79th-minute score complete a hard-fought win for the Italians.
