RUGBY
Carbery a doubt for Japan after picking up injury during win over USA
By Daire Walsh
IT was a successful return to action for Joe Schmidt’s Ireland at the Red Bull Arena in New Jersey on Saturday evening, as they recorded a comprehensive 55-19 victory over the US Eagles in the opening game of their summer tour.
With two tests against Japan (the host country for the 2019 Rugby World Cup) to come, the Green Army are expected to face sterner examinations before the conclusion of their latest overseas odyssey. However, with a number of players receiving their first caps in the game, and some fringe performers getting a chance to impress, it proved to be a worthwhile exercise on US soil.
With Ronan O’Gara temporarily stepping into the role of defence coach, there was a certain level of anticipation for this game.
Debutants Jacob Stockdale – a starter in the Irish back-three – Dave Heffernan, Andrew Porter, James Ryan and Rory Scannell were all included in matchday squad, while Joey Carbery made his fourth senior international appearance at out-half.
The most experienced back on show was Munster’s Keith Earls, and he recorded two tries during a superb individual display in the first-half. Stockdale, Niall Scannell and Kieran Marmion also crossed over before the interval, but even though he registered a 35th-minute conversion, Carbery was charged down for an earlier US try by Nick Civetta.
He also added the bonuses to a Jack Conan try after the restart, but it was a frustrating outing overall for the Athy youngster. After he had another kick blocked on 45 minutes, John Quill (a native of Youghal, Co Cork) claimed a second try for the hosts.
He later departed the scenes through injury, which could well bring his tour with Ireland to an abrupt end. Ryan Matyas also secured a five-pointer for the US, but even though Connacht star AJ MacGinty (who is, like Carbery, an ex-Blackrock College student) added four points from the kicking tee, Ireland were the dominant team throughout.
James Ryan (who is yet to make a first-team appearance for Leinster), Luke McGrath and Simon Zebo added further tries, and they aim to bring this attacking momentum in their upcoming fixtures with Japan on June 17 and June 24.
Meanwhile, there was further disappointment for Jordan Duggan and the Ireland U20s in the World Rugby U20 Championships in Georgia last Thursday, when they suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of New Zealand in their final Pool B encounter.
Duggan was a 55th-minute replacement for Joey Conway, but couldn’t prevent Peter Malone’s charges from being on the receiving end of a 3-69 reversal against the Baby Blacks. They will now face Samoa this afternoon (1pm local time/10am Irish time) in the U20 Championships 9th place semi-final, as they continue to search for their opening win in this year’s competition.
Meanwhile, it was another positive weekend for Naas natives Billy Dardis and Fionn Carr, as they were part of the Irish Sevens squad that finished third in the second round of the Rugby Europe Grand Prix in Lodz, Poland.