Rugby: England awesome in first-half romp but Irish show plenty of pluck

Harry Sloan of England scores a try during the 2014 Junior World Championship Semi Final match between England and Ireland at North Harbour Stadium in Albany, Auckland. Photo / Getty Images

England were, mostly, at their clinical best in dispatching Ireland in the first Junior World Championship semifinal in Albany.

The defending champions, winners of Pool A, burst out of the blocks with serious intent but again took the foot off the pedal in the second stanza, allowing Ireland to "win" that period.

Some high-paced multi-phase play led to the first try to second-five Harry Sloan. This was not the flat England on display against Argentina, but the sharp England who played with style for about half the pool match against Australia.

Ireland, winners of Pool B, looked impotent in the face of some powerful, skilful rugby. Even loosehead prop Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, who scored a bowling-ball try, was breaking out effective 30m grubber kicks and lock, and captain Maro Itoje was on 35m gallops. The skipper also pulled down a heap of lineout possession and was clean at the kickoffs.

The Irish were not without heart, just wherewithal, in their first JWC semifinal. The likes of lock and lineout ace Ross Molony and flanker Frank Taggart gave plenty to the cause, but the task, and deficit, was too great.

England right wing Howard Packman latched on to a sweet crosskick by Billy Burns for the third try. They were breaking Ireland down with short, accurate inter-passing in the pack, and stretching them to the limit on the flanks.

Packman snapped a dropped goal, the first in JWC semifinal history, only for Ireland to hit back with their first try via Garry Ringrose off a Ross Byrne grubber. It was a minor blip for the English juggernaut. Flanker Gus Jones dived over for another easy try from a deadly lineout drive to complete their scoring.

Harrison Brewer, son of former All Black Mike Brewer, entered the fray at centre for Ireland in the second spell, but saw little ball.

In semifinal matches for places fifth to eight Australia had an easy 53-16 win over Samoa and France beat Wales 19-18 in a tight match at Pukekohe. Argentina beat Fiji 38-12 and Scotland edged Italy 21-18 in matches for ninth to 12th.

England 42 (Harry Sloan, Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi, Howard Packman, Tom Woolstencroft, Gus Jones tries; Billy Burns 4 cons, 2 pens, Packman dg).
Ireland 15 (Garry Ringrose, Alex Wootton tries; Ross Byrne con, pen). HT: 34-3.