RUGBY
Tracy makes Irish debut in routine win
By Daire Walsh
FOLLOWING on from their historic victory over the All Blacks in Soldier’s Field, Chicago seven days earlier, Ireland maintained their winning run in the 2016 Guinness Series at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday evening.
Canada were the opponents for Ireland’s first game on home soil in just under eight months, and although Mark Anscombe’s visitors proved to be a tougher nut to crack than may have been expected, the much-changed Green Army eventually secured a 52-21 success.
While Naas’ Jamie Heaslip (who is a nominee for the prestigious World Rugby Player of the Year award for 2016) was given a well-deserved rest, Joey Carbery once again featured amongst the replacements.
Carbery had a debut to remember against the country of his birth – New Zealand – the previous weekend, as he contributed two points in a famous win for Joe Schmidt’s men. He was selected as a back-up option for the returning Paddy Jackson, with fellow Kildare native James Tracy also making his international debut from the bench.
It was all going according to the plan for the hosts in the early stages of the contest in Ballsbridge, as tries from Keith Earls and Luke Marshall in the 6th and 22nd minutes, respectively, were converted by Jackson in a confident fashion.
However, Scarlets winger DTH Van Der Merwe edged the Canadians back into contention, and when a Taylor Paris five-pointer was supplemented by a second Gordon McRorie bonus strike, parity was restored on the half-hour mark.
Yet, Tiernan O’Halloran’s first-ever try for Ireland helped Ireland to develop a 21-14 interval cushion, and a converted penalty try after the restart created further daylight between the teams. Canada once again breached the Irish rearguard with a Matt Evans touchdown, before Ireland exerted their authority once again prior to the final-quarter.
Man of the match Ultan Dillane added his name to the scoresheet, and with Carbery and Tracy amongst those introduced to the action, Ireland had a spring in their step during the closing moments. The Connacht duo of Kieran Marmion and O’Halloran crossed over impressively, and Tracy capped off a night to remember with a well-worked try in second-half stoppage-time.
An eagerly-anticipated second test against New Zealand is next on the radar for Ireland, and they will complete the Guinness Series at home to Australia in a fortnight’s time.
Meanwhile, there was heartbreak for the Ireland Women’s side in their opening November Series international at UCD on Sunday, as a late converted score by Izzy Noel-Smith helped England to secured a narrow 12-10 triumph.
England had broken the deadlock through Rocky Clarke in the 34th-minute, but thanks to a routine injury-time penalty from out-half Nora Stapleton, Ireland were facing into a manageable two-point deficit (5-3) at the mid-way point.
A seven-point salvo by Stapleton moved Ireland into the ascendancy upon the resumption, before a strong finish by the visitors ultimately decided the outcome of the contest.