RUGBY
Another defeat for Ireland but debutants show promising signs for the future
By Daire Walsh
THERE were a number of encouraging signs in Twickenham on Saturday, but following second-half tries from Mike Brown and Anthony Watson, Ireland are still searching for their opening victory of the 2016 RBS Six Nations Championship. England finished the contest with 11 points to spare (21-10), but even though the margin of defeat was greater than their previous reversal away to France, there was a general acceptance that the team’s overall performance had improved. With the squad hit by further injuries, Ulster’s Stuart McCloskey and Leinster flanker Josh van der Flier were handed debuts from the start, and they were joined in the second-half by another new cap – Connacht’s Ultan Dillane.
Naas’ Jamie Heaslip was joined by van der Flier and CJ Stander in the Irish back-row, and with Eddie Jones’ side aiming to secure a Grand Slam this year, it was no surprise to see that Ireland were on the back-foot for large spells of the opening period.
They remained resolute in defence for much of the half, though, and despite conceding a brace of penalties to English fly-half Owen Farrell, a similar effort by Jonathan Sexton ensured that they were only three points in arrears (6-3) during the interval.
Another famous triumph looked in sight when Conor Murray crashed over for a converted score upon the resumption, but even though Robbie Henshaw and van der Flier almost claimed subsequent tries for the visitors, a 15-point scoring blitz for a Billy Vunipola-inspired England ultimately sealed Ireland’s fate.
There was also disappointment for the Ireland women’s team in the same venue on Saturday evening, as they were narrowly defeated by their English counterparts in a closely-fought contest. Cill Dara’s Aine Donnelly featured at outside centre for the third Six Nations tie in succession, but although captain Niamh Briggs contributed six points in the opening period, an Emma Croker try gave the defending World champions a slender 8-6 advantage at the break.
A third successful place-kick from Briggs moved Ireland into the ascendancy when the action resumed, before Abbie Scott’s 62nd-minute touchdown propelled England towards a 13-9 success.
However, there was a positive result for the Ireland U20s in Kingston Park on Friday evening, when Nigel Carolan’s side recorded their opening win of their competition in dramatic circumstances against England.
Kildare’s Jimmy O’Brien was selected in the Irish midfield, and despite entering the interval period 14 points in arrears (20-6), second-half tries from James Ryan, Matthew Byrne and Andrew Porter, as well as five points from the boot of Brett Connon, helped the Green Army to claim an outstanding 26-20 triumph.
Meanwhile, in the Guinness Pro12 on Sunday, Kill native Adam Byrne was once again on the scoresheet, as Leinster secured a 27-10 bonus-point victory over Zebre in Parma. Byrne recently scored against the Italian outfit in a 52-0 whitewash at the RDS, and although it was a much tighter affair on this occasion, tries from Luke McGrath, Dominic Ryan, Byrne and Dan Leavy keeps the Blues hot on the heels of current Pro12 table-toppers Connacht.