Nathan Doak’s spectacular score was the highlight of a five–try victory for Ireland, who stayed top of the Six Nations Under-20s table with a 40-12 triumph over Wales in Cardiff.
Scrum-half Doak started and finished a 50-metre score early in the second half after Cathal Forde and Chris Cosgrave had crossed before the break.
Daniel Okeke and Alex Kendellen then also went over for Ireland as they wrapped up a bonus-point triumph, while captain Alex Mann and Carrick McDonough did at least trouble the scorers for Wales with a couple of well-taken tries.
With ten points from the first two rounds, Ireland currently sit top of the table and now face what could prove to be a Grand Slam decider against fellow 100%-ers England in Round 3.
IRELAND SHOW THEIR CLASS
Ireland looked to assert their dominance from the off, demonstrating the expansive, running rugby that they showcased in the Round 1 victory over Scotland.
Centres Forde and Shane Jennings neatly linked up down the blindside to gain territory and continual pressure eventually told on 13 minutes as, off the back of a five-metre scrum, Doak popped to Forde on the crash ball and he barrelled over under the posts.
7-0 then became 14-0 midway through the first half, as more quick ball carved open the Wales defence with Cosgrave latching on to Jamie Osborne’s perfectly-timed pass and burning through a gap to scoot over.
When Doak added a 28th-minute penalty to extend the advantage to 17 points, Wales were struggling to get a foothold and Ireland skipper Kendellen’s brilliant turnover in his own 22 when the Welsh looked set to score five minutes before half-time only deepened the hole.
DOAK LIGHTS UP CARDIFF
Although the score remained 17-0 until the interval, Doak scored the try of the match, and perhaps of the round, early in the second half.
Leaping highest to catch a box-kick on halfway from his opposite number Harri Williams, the scrum-half ghosted between two defenders, got round the outside of another and burst into the 22 where he passed inside to Osborne, who drew the final tacklers and offloaded back to Doak for the dot down.
Wales did finally get on the board on 46 minutes when concerted pressure ended with Mann burrowing over from close range and although a calmly-converted Doak three-pointer re-extended the advantage to 20, Ireland were soon down to 14 men with Jennings sin-binned for foul play on his own line.
And the hosts immediately scored a second try as they worked the ball out to the left wing where McDonough dived over and Sam Costelow expertly slotted the touchline conversion.
Doak’s boot kept the scoreboard ticking with another penalty and McDonough seeing yellow for an infringement in his own 22 gave Ireland the perfect opportunity to grab the bonus-point score, which they did when Okeke was mauled over the line in the corner with 11 minutes left.
And there was still time for Ireland to put the cherry on top of the cake as skipper Kendellen forced his way over for try number five at the death.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH
Nathan Doak was simply sublime for Ireland throughout the game and was awarded Player of the Match.
The scrum-half crossed for a brilliant 50-metre try, assisted another, scored 20 points in total as he impressed off the tee and also pulled the strings from No.9.
He ensured Ireland always had quick ball to work with, which proved key to executing their strike plays, and he looks to have a hugely bright future in the game.
