RUGBY
Kildare men play their part in historic weekend for Irish rugby
By Daire Walsh
IT was an historic weekend on two counts for Irish rugby, as Joe Schmidt’s senior squad and Nigel Carolan’s U20 charges upset the form book in their respective victories on foreign soil.
First up on Saturday afternoon was the game between Ireland and New Zealand in the U20 World Rugby Championship at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. The Green Army had kick-started their campaign at the same venue four days earlier by recovering from an early 17-0 deficit to secure a magnificent 26-25 triumph against Wales.
Former Newbridge College star Jimmy O’Brien appeared as a late replacement in that encounter, while Naas RFC’s Adam Coyle was called into the squad ahead of the New Zealand game following an injury to prop Conor Kenny.
As reigning World Champions, New Zealand posed a significant threat, and thanks to tries from Jordie Barrett and Shaun Stevenson, the southern hemisphere outfit led 14-6 with 25 minutes gone on the clock.
Ireland once again responded in the face of adversity, though, and converted tries by Greg Jones and Adam McBurney meant that they brought a 20-14 cushion into the second period.
The loss of fly-half Bill Johnston to injury just before the interval looked like being a hammer blow, but with the excellent Johnny McPhillips kicking eight points in his absence, Ireland remained in the ascendancy.
As expected, New Zealand did place Ireland under some pressure after the restart – pacy winger Malo Tuitama crossed over twice – but with Max Deegan securing a third try in the final-quarter, Ireland recorded a thoroughly-deserved 33-24 win.
This was the first-ever victory for an Irish men’s side over a New Zealand team, and they will go into their final pool game against Georgia tomorrow knowing that another win will guarantee them a place in the competition’s semi-final.
This stunning performance put Irish rugby fans in the mood for Ireland’s opening test against South Africa in Cape Town, and despite losing CJ Stander to a controversial red-card in the first-half, a courageous display from a 14-man Ireland helped to register a 26-20 winning margin.
Naas native Jamie Heaslip was once again selected in the No 8 position, and in addition to a try from re-deployed full-back Jared Payne, Ulster out-half Paddy Jackson contributed 8 points to Ireland’s cause.
Indeed, a drop-goal from Jackson meant that the Irish were on level terms (13-13) at the mid-way point, but Stander’s dismissal for connecting with the head of South Africa’s Patrick Lambie left them severely hamstrung upon the resumption.
Yet, courtesy of a well-worked Conor Murray try – as well as another eight-point haul from the impressive Jackson – it is advantage Ireland ahead of the second test in Johannesburg this Saturday.
Meanwhile, Kildare duo Adam Byrne and Billy Dardis played significant roles for the Ireland Men’s Sevens squad in Malmo at the weekend, when they secured the Rugby Europe 7s Trophy with a 57-0 final success over hosts Sweden.