This was always going to be a big ask for Ireland’s youngsters, with their creative backs (Jackson, Marshall and Gilroy) all playing for Ulster and their influential captain Annett crocked so the score is not as bad as I’d feared.

Haven’t seen the match yet but you can read the report here on the IRFU site. Unfortunately the report is no longer available, but we’ve found some details.

England drew first blood through the boot of George Ford who slotted two early penalties to give the away side a 6-0 lead with eight minutes played before Ireland hit back with three points from JJ Hanrahan in a frenetic opening passage of play.

The first try came from England’s Charlie Matthews who went over in the corner after good work by Mako Vunipola and Henry Thomas.

Minutes after scoring Matthews was binned for a stamp and Ireland made their man advantage count, pushing a scrum over the line for Shane Buckley to score and Hanrahan convert to take the score to 10 – 11 in England’s favour.

However, a Ford penalty and a conversion of a try from Mills saw Ireland trailing 10 – 21 at half time.

England pulled away in the second half with Matt Kvesic, Andy Short, Mike Haywood, and Alex Gray all crossing to add to a further penalty from Ford.

Ireland’s only response was a try, out wide, from hooker David Doyle half way through the English onslaught.

Final score: Ireland 15 England 46.

England take the U20 Six Nations Championship and Grand Slam, Ireland now finish in a disappointing fourth place. It’s all doom and gloom for the Irish youngsters who were missing their key players for the two big home games against France and England.

It must be remembered that the U20’s were unbeaten on the road this season the only hiccup being last weeks draw against Wales, in a match I feel they could have and should have won if they had maintained their concentration. However, with so many of the youngsters involved at senior level in the weeks prior to that game I suppose some dis-orientation was inevitable.

IRELAND U20: Michael Sherlock (Leinster), Tiernan O’Halloran (Connacht), Alex Kelly (Leinster), JJ Hanrahan (Munster), Andrew Boyle (Leinster), Cathal Marsh (Leinster), Blane McIlroy (Ulster), James Tracy (Leinster), David Doyle (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster), Michael Kearney (Leinster), Daniel Qualter (Connacht), Shane Buckley (Munster), Aaron Conneely (Connacht), Jordi Murphy (Leinster) (capt). Replacements: James Rael (Munster), Tadhg Furlong (Leinster), Cathal O’Flaherty (Munster), Stephen Lecky (Exiles), Mark Dolan (Connacht), Gareth Quinn McDonogh (Munster), Colm O’Shea (Leinster)

ENGLAND U20: Ben Ransom, Andy Short, Elliot Daly, Ryan Mills, Jonathan Joseph, George Ford, Chris Cook, Mako Vunipola, Mike Haywood, Henry Thomas, Joe Launchbury, Charlie Matthews, Matt Kvesic, Matt Everard, Alex Gray. Replacements: Rob Buchanan, Will Collier, Addison Lockley, Sam Jones, Dan Robson, Owen Farrell, Jamie Elliott.

2011 RBS U20 Six Nations Final Standings.

TEAM	P	W	D	PD	PTS
England	5	5	0	167	10
France	5	4	0	87	8
Wales	5	2	1	48	5
Ireland	5	2	1	(22)	5
Italy	5	1	0	(141)	2
Scotland	5	0	0	(139)	0