International
All Blacks surge to impressive win in Cardiff
All Blacks forward power and ruthlessness extinguised Welsh hopes as the pack laid the foundation for a memorable 55-23 win over Wales at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Although they felt they had a chance after the inconsistency of All Blacks’ results in 2022, Wales joined their 32 preceding sides since their last win in 1953 in failing in their task. It was the 10th Test in succession that the All Blacks had scored more than 33 points against Wales
This was a Test where the All Blacks dominated up front, controlled the loose exchanges at the vital moments, tackled with effect, and demonstrated the confidence seen in their Eden Park Test against Australia.
Man of the match No8 Ardie Savea was consistently lively with support from flankers Dalton Papali’i, who shone in the open, and Shannon Frizell in taking the ball up. Lock and captain Sam Whitelock controlled the lineout and was prominent in the pick-and-go plays the side unleashed with effect.
Great support from props Ethan de Groot and Tyrel Lomax both in the handling play and in their scrummaging demonstrated how much they have developed this year.
Halfback Aaron Smith, in his record-breaking effort as the most capped All Blacks back, scored two tries. The first was a brilliant solo effort while first five-eighths Richie Mo’unga controlled the flow of the game, even when Wales were able to apply some pressure, while his cover tackle on New Zealander Gareth Anscombe as he seemed try bound, was stunning.
New Zealand showed their intent from the outset, achieving a level of continuity rarely seen this season and achieved a 22-13 lead by halftime.
While Wales opened the second half scoring with an Anscombe penalty goal, but the All Blacks responded immediately courtesy of Smith who, playing under penalty advantage, made the most of an All Blacks lineout win, to pick his way past the early cover, and then switch back on the break to run in a try to mark his record-breaking appearance as the most capped All Blacks halfback.
Mo’unga then wasn’t able to control a lob kick to the All Blacks goalmouth by Welsh halfback Tomos Williams. He contested the catch with first five-eighths Rhys Priestland and when the ball dropped free, Wales flanker Justin Tipuric managed to secure the ball to score.
Then, yet again, from the restart plays, Wales conceded a penalty, out from the posts. That allowed Savea to throw one of his outrageous dummies before slipping the ball to Smith who scored his second.
Into the final quarter, rejuvenated by their substitutes, the All Blacks returned to their forwards for some determined driving and when the space was opened, it was Savea who dived over for deserved reward. He was followed five minutes from the end by Jordie Barrett who was fed into a wide gap by brother Beauden, and then after a last-minute penalty conceded by Wales, the lineout drive produced the half-century when replacement hooker Samisoni Taukei’aho scored a trademark try.
Making their best start of the season, the All Blacks led 17-0 after the first quarter. Early pressure was applied through Smith, who twice caught his opposite number Tomos Williams at scrums, and Savea whose two early ruck turnovers provided great momentum.
Continuing with the double effect hooker Codie Taylor scored their first two tries in the 10th and 18th minutes.
The first coming after Mo’unga ran from Savea’s turnover. When the ball was moved Papali’i broke through the Welsh backline. The pack took over with several pick-and-goes in the 22m area before Taylor scored.
Then, after significant driving play again inspired by strong running from Savea, and his tap penalty, the ball was taken to the line and Taylor completed the play.
A penalty conceded by the All Blacks in their 22 in the 24th minute saw Wales use their lineout and it was left-wing on debut Rio Dyer who positioned himself outside centre George North who had drawn the defence to open a gap for Dyer to score.
Halfback Nick Tompkins broke deep into the All Blacks 22 and when New Zealand conceded a penalty, Anscombe pulled three points back.
That was a prelude for more application of forward power from the All Blacks who again built on momentum from Savea’s ability to put his leg drive to use. Under penalty advantage close to the line Mo’unga lobbed a ball to the right wing where second five-eighths Jordie Barrett used his height advantage to secure the ball area of Dyer to score.
Traditionally, the final quarter has seen the All Blacks’ fitness tell, and it proved the case again for a win that will rank high in the satisfaction stakes.
Wales 23 (Rio Dyer, Justin Tipuric tries; Gareth Anscombe 2 con, 3 pen) New Zealand 55 (Codie Taylor 2, Jordie Barrett 2, Aaron Smith 2, Ardie Savea, Samisoni Taukei’aho tries; Richie Mo’unga 4 con, pen; Beauden Barrett 2 con). HT: 22-13
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
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
Jordan signs for Bristol Bears
IRFU Announces Return Of ‘A’ Interprovincial Championship
