Centre Javiah Pohe and hooker Harry Thacker started the game in the England line-up, with George Tresidder and Tom Hudson making their appearance from the replacements’ bench.
Scrum-half Jordan Burns and flanker Ross Moriarty got the tries as England led 13-0 at half-time but a new-look Ireland side came out after the break and soon established a 15-13 lead.
England regained composure and Sam Olver slotted a drop goal to add to his earlier penalty to regain the lead at 16-15.
England head coach John Fletcher said: “We should have been out of sight by half time. We scored two tries but it should have been more. Ireland came back fighting, two of our guys went into the sin-bin and we were staring a defeat in the face.
“Full credit to guys for battling back and putting Sam in a position to get his drop goal.
“Overall it’s been a good experience, a good exercise, and a good test for our players.”
England Under-19s
15 Nathan Earle (Saracens)
14 Zach Kibirige (Newcastle Falcons)
13 Tom Stephenson (Northampton Saints)
12 Javiah Pohe (Leicester Tigers)
11 Josh Watkins (Worcester Warriors)
10 Sam Olver (Northampton Saints)
9 Jordan Burns (Harlequins)
1 Danny Hobbs-Awoyemi (Northampton Saints)
2 Harry Thacker (Leicester Tigers)
3 Adam Jamieson (Bath Rugby)
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens)
5 Tom Ellis (Bath Rugby)
6 Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
7 Gus Jones (London Wasps)
8 Hayden Stringer (Saracens)
Replacements (all used)
16 Cameron Neild (Sale Sharks)
17 Alex Lundberg (London Wasps)
18 Jake Armstrong (Leeds Carnegie)
19 David Hughes (London Wasps)
20 Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester Rugby)
21 George Tresidder (Leicester Tigers)
22 David Buck (Bath Rugby)
23 Tom Hudson (Leicester Tigers)
