Ireland 55-15 Italy: Ireland score eight tries in U20 World Cup opening match

World Championship Under 20

Try: Sheahan, L Murphy, O’Connell, Berman 3, Treacy, Naughton Cons: J Murphy 3, Naughton 3 Pen: Naughton

Try: Eletri, Bellucci downside: Pucciariello Pen: Pucciariello

Sam Berman scored a hat-trick as Ireland opened their Under-20 World Cup campaign with a commanding 55-15 victory over Italy in Pool B.

The Irish scored in five tries in the first half in Cape Town for a 31-10 lead.

Italy, who lost to Ireland by one point in this year’s Six Nations, took an early lead when Lorenzo Elettri’s converted try canceled out Danny Sheahan’s unconverted opener.

The Italians increased their lead through a penalty from Martino Pucciariello, but after that it was one-way traffic.

Luke Murphy and Evan O’Connell crossed before Leinster centre Berman had two tries to give Willie Faloon’s side a commanding half-time lead.

Luca Bellucci took advantage of Sean Edogbo’s yellow card shortly after half-time, but Berman completed his hat-trick in the 48th minute.

Central Finn Treacy scored Ireland’s seventh try before substitute Sean Naughton completed the win with 15 minutes remaining.

Ireland return to action on Thursday against Georgia, who lost their opening match to Australia 35-11.

Ireland: B O’Connor; D Colbert, F Treacy, S Berman, H McLaughlin; J Murphy, O Coffey; J Boyd, D Sheahan, P Bell, A Spicer, E O’Connell (captain), S Edogbo, M Flynn, L Murphy.

Replacements: S Smyth, E Calvey, A Mus, J McKillop, B Ward, J O’Riordan, S Naughton, H Gavin.

Italy: I am Belloni; M Scalabrin, F Zanandrea, N Bozzo, L Elettri; M Pucciariello, M Jimenez; S Pellicioli, N Gasperini, D Ascari, M Midena, G Milano, C Zucconi, L Bellucci, J Botturi (capt).

Replacements: V Siciliano, V Gentile, V Pisani, T Redondi, N Casartelli, L Casilio, S Brisighella, P de Villiers.