Irish eyes smiling

Roger Graham 1551 - 1551 • Published 25 May 2009 12:00

Scotland U-20 7 Ireland U-20 48

A CROWD of some five hundred turned out on Sunday at Fort Matilda to watch the Scotland and Ireland Under-20 rugby sides do battle as a warm-up for the Junior World Rugby Championships.

The match was split into three half-hour sections and, at the end of a bitterly cold afternoon, it was the lads from across the Irish Puddle who deservedly triumphed.

On the day Paddy was far more direct, abrasive and chose better running angles than Jock.

What struck the objective observer is how fit and well conditioned all these young men are. The professional era clearly has filtered down through the different age groups.

This was confirmed in conversation with SRU president Jim Stevenson who spoke of just how disciplined these players have to be.

If the physical preparation was impressive, the skill levels were a little less so among the Scottish boys whose defence was too often suspect, both in the backs and around the fringes, while in attack it was the visitors who impressed far more with their ability to almost always breach the gain line.

At this stage, though, it is all about developing players, the results being largely secondary. Both sides were clearly working on patterns of play and formation, as well as trying to give everyone in the respective squads game time.

Some of these young men will make it right to the top, most won"t, but everyone on the pitch yesterday has a dream.

The match itself was a final warm-up for the Junior World Championships in Japan.

The Six-Nations "Juniors" has been a success for Scotland in which they beat Wales, Italy and Ireland, defeats coming in away games in England and France.

In Japan, the young Scots will be in the same group as the host nation, England and Samoa.

Both the Scots and Irish were delighted with the venue, the first time they have come to Greenock in this age group.

Wanderers president Dougie Sloan was equally pleased to welcome them and said: 'It has been a tremendous pleasure to host this event.

'Both the Scots and Irish have been very complimentary about the facilities and the reception they have had.'

The fixture was a major showpiece for hosts Greenock Wanderers and featured as a climax to a whole day of community rugby activity from skills zones to passing drills organised by club development officer Ian Forster.

The match also saw the return of Scotland sevens internationalist and former Greenock Wanderer Grant Anderson - now of Premiership Division One Champions Ayr - who took to the field on the wing.

Anderson said: 'The result obviously didn"t go our way but it was a nice feeling to return to the club where I learned to play and love the game, and to see my Sevens World Cup and under-18 jerseys hanging on the wall was a nice touch.

'Greenock Wanderers provided the foundations for my rugby and, while I"ve gone on to continue my learning with the Scotland age-grades, Scotland sevens, the National Academy and Ayr, I"ll never forget the contribution the club, especially Dougie Sloan and John McDougall, made to my rugby career.

'I love coming back here. It"ll always have a special place in my heart.'

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This article appeared in Greenock Telegraph 25 May 09

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