6 Nations
Ireland Make it Two Wins from Two
Ireland have made it two wins from two in the Six Nations with a brilliant win over Wales
Ireland have made it two wins from two in the Six Nations with a commanding 24-14 bonus-point victory over Wales at the Aviva Stadium this afternoon.
Tries from Jordan Larmour, Tadhg Furlong, Josh van der Flier and Andrew Conway saw Ireland power past their opposition and to an impressive win.
Ireland had the better of the early exchanges and had several opportunities to get the first try of the game in the opening 15 minutes, but they were turned-over each time, although it was an encouraging start by the home side.
However, in the 20th minute they got their reward when after some phases in the Welsh 22 Conor Murray sent the ball to the right-hand side where Larmour took the ball forward, jinking between a couple of defenders before powering over the line despite having defenders holding onto him. Johnny Sexton failed to connect well with the ball on the conversion leaving it at 5-0.
Wales made Ireland pay for their lack of precision in key areas as they took the lead seven minutes later, showing some great handling skills, with Alun Wyn Jones and Dan Biggar combining before spreading the ball to Tomos Williams who raced over the line. Biggar provided the extras to make it 7-5.
Williams turned into the villain moments later as he knocked-on the ball five-metres out from his own line, leading to an Irish scrum from which the hosts took the ball through a couple of phases until Furlong powered over from close-range. Sexton made no mistake with the kick this time around to make it a five-point game once again.
It was scrappy for the remainder of the half as it finished 12-7 in favour of the boys in green come the whistle.
Ireland came flying out of the blocks again and unlike in the first-half they took full advantage of their good start as they drove over from a line-out maul through van der Flier. Sexton knocked the conversion from the left-hand side right between the posts to stretch the lead out to 19-7 after 47 minutes.
Wales came roaring back following that try and thought they had a score of their own just before the hour mark as Hadleigh Parkes barrelled over beside the posts, only to have the try chalked off due to a knock-on.
They continued to put the pressure on but failed to cut into the Irish lead as the hosts held on strong in defence before eventually winning a penalty and clearing their lines.
It was Ireland’s turn to dominate territory and possession and secured the bonus-point with five minutes left on the clock as they spread the ball out to the right inside the opposition 22, finding Conway who dived to touch down in the corner. Ross Byrne couldn’t add the extras but it was 24-7.
Man of the match CJ Stander was sent to the sin bin with a minute left and Wales made their man advantage count scoring the final try of the game through Justin Tipuric with the clock in red. Leigh Halfpenny slotted over the conversion to leave the final score at 24-14.
Next up for the Irish is a trip to Twickenham to face England in two weeks’ time, while Wales will look to get back to winning ways with a game against France.
Player Ratings
Ireland Starting XV:
Jordan Larmour (8), Andrew Conway (8), Robbie Henshaw (7), Bundee Aki (7), Jacob Stockdale (6), Johnny Sexton (8), Conor Murray (8); Cian Healy (5), Rob Herring (7), Tadhg Furlong (8), Iain Henderson (7), James Ryan (7), Peter O’Mahony (8), Josh van der Flier (8), CJ Stander (8)
Replacements (7)
Wales Starting XV:
Leigh Halfpenny (6), George North (4), Nick Tompkins (5), Hadleigh Parkes (7), Josh Adams (5), Dan Biggar (7), Tomos Williams (6); Wyn Jones (6), Ken Owens (6), Dillon Lewis (6), Jake Ball (7), Alun Wyn Jones (7), Aaron Wainwright (6), Justin Tipuric (7), Taulupe Faletau (7)
Replacements (6)
The Irish Rugby Football Union (IRFU) is delighted to announce the return of the ‘A’ Interprovincial Men’s Championship which will kick off next month.
The times and dates of the opening three rounds of the Championship before Christmas have been confirmed, with a similar points-scoring system as used in the URC. A Championship winner will be declared after the final round of matches in May and the IRFU will be commissioning a legacy trophy to mark the 150th anniversary celebrations.
Welcoming the news, IRFU Performance Director David Humphreys commented:
“We’re delighted to kick-start the Men’s ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship which will provide a host of players with a further means of developing in a meaningful competition. With the success of the Emerging Ireland Tours, coupled with the return of an ‘A’ international against England next year, it is vital that we continue to provide players at provincial and Club levels with opportunities to impress outside of the traditional URC and EPCR fixture windows.
“Discussions have been ongoing for some time to provide players with meaningful games and all four provinces are unanimously supportive of this competition. It is also great to see provinces taking matches around their local Clubs.
“It is anticipated that as the competition progresses over the coming seasons these fixtures won’t clash with Energia All-Ireland League fixtures for the most part, thus potentially also offering players from the Club game with an opportunity to impress.
“This competition will form another important part of the representative pathway from Energia AIL to URC levels for Academy players upwards over the coming seasons.”
The dates for the post-Christmas fixtures will be confirmed in due course. Ticket details will be confirmed via the respective provinces.
IRFU 150 Interprovincial ‘A’ Championship Fixtures:
Saturday, 16th November:
Connacht Eagles v Leinster ‘A’ (Creggs RFC, 1pm)
Friday, 22nd November:
Ulster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ballymacaran Park, 3pm), Leinster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (Lakelands, 5pm)
Friday, 29th November:
Munster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (New Ormond Park, 3pm)
Friday, 20th December:
Ulster ‘A’ v Munster ‘A’ (tbc, 3pm)
Saturday, 21st December:
Leinster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (Ollie Campbell Park, 2pm)
Weekend of 28/29 December:
Connacht Eagles v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc), Munster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 9/10 May:
Connacht Eagles v Munster ‘A’ (tbc), Leinster ‘A’ v Ulster ‘A’ (tbc)
Weekend of 16/17 May:
Munster ‘A’ v Connacht Eagles (tbc), Ulster ‘A’ v Leinster ‘A’ (tbc)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
The Emerging Ireland team to face the Cheetahs in the final game of the three-match series in Bloemfontein on Wednesday evening (kick off 6pm Irish time, 7pm local time) has been named.
Leinster’s James Culhane will lead the team and he forms a new back-row alongside Harry Sheridan and Sean Edogbo, who makes his first start of the tour having come on as a replacement in the 29-24 win over Western Force on Sunday afternoon. Former Ireland Under-20 captain Evan O’Connell locks down with Darragh Murray, who featured in the opening 36-24 victory over the Pumas, with Alex Usanov named in the front row alongside hooker Stephen Smyth and Jack Aungier.
Darragh Murray of Emerging Ireland scores his sides second try – Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Steve Haag Sports/Darren Stewart
In the backline, Sam Prendergast starts his third game of the tour at out-half and he will be partnered by Cormac Foley, who featured as a second half replacements against the Australian Super Rugby side last time out. Connacht’s Hugh Gavin forms a midfield partnership with Hugh Cooney, with Ulster’s Zac Ward named in an exciting back tree alongside the returning Ben O’Connor at full-back and Andrew Osborne who moves to the right wing.
Munster loosehead prop George Hadden, who was called up to the squad last weekend, is set to make his first appearance after being named on the bench alongside Conor O’Tighearnaigh and Alex Soroka who started Sunday’s win. Hadden’s provincial team-mate Danny Sheahan provides cover once more at hooker, while Scott Wilson and Charlie Tector are also named on the bench for the Toyota Stadium clash alongside out-half Jack Murphy.
Looking ahead to the game, Emerging Ireland Head Coach Simon Easterby said: “When we set out at the beginning of our pre-camp in Dublin, we knew about the challenge of facing three sides in a week and we knew that every player in the group would have the opportunity to play his part. To a man each player has given his all so far and we are aiming to finish off the series with another positive performance on Wednesday.
The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them. It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times. The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high.”
Wednesday’s game will be broadcast once more on IrishRugby+ – click here.
Emerging Ireland (v The Cheetahs, Wednesday, October 9, 7pm local time, 6pm Irish time)
15: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster)
14: Andrew Osborne (Naas RFC/Leinster)
13: Hugh Cooney (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
12: Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
11: Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens)
10: Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
9: Cormac Foley (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
1: Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
2: Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster)
3: Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
4: Evan O’Connell (Young Munster RFC/Munster)
5: Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht)
6: Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster)
7: Sean Edogbo (UCC RFC/Munster)
8: James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster) (captain)
Replacements:
16: Danny Sheahan (Cork Constitution FC/Munster)
17: George Hadden (Garryowen FC/Munster)
18: Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster)
19: Conor O’Tighearnaigh (UCD RFC/Leinster)
20: Alex Soroka (Clontarf FC/Leinster)
21: Matthew Devine (Corinthians RFC/Connacht)
22: Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster)
23: Charlie Tector (Lansdowne FC/Leinster)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Following Emerging Ireland’s 29-24 victory over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday three players, Gus McCarthy (Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Munster) and Jude Postlethwaite (Ulster) will return to their provinces.
The trio will leave South Africa on Monday afternoon and will be available for selection for their respective URC fixtures this weekend.
The squad will visit Heidedal Township this afternoon and will conclude the three-match series on Wednesday evening against The Cheetahs (kick off 7pm local, 6pm Irish time). That match will be live on irishrugby+
Watch the full match back here on irishrugby+
Check out the highlights from the win against Western Force below.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
