RUGBY
Questions over Ireland while Leinster maintain winning start
By Daire Walsh
IRELAND got their Rugby World Cup campaign back on track to some degree at Kobe’s Misaki Park Stadium last Saturday, but questions still remain as the quarter-finals of the tournament move into view.
Following a shock defeat to Japan just five days earlier, Joe Schmidt’s side recorded a 35-0 bonus point triumph over Russia in the capital city of the Hyōgo Prefecture. Even allowing for the raft of changes that were made to the starting line-up, Ireland were always expected to sweep aside the challenge of the Pool A minnows.
Nevertheless, the Russians made life difficult for their Tier One counterparts for much of the contest and the clock had gone past the hour mark before maximum points were accrued. The man who finally crossed over for Ireland’s fourth try was Munster winger Andrew Conway, whose uncle – Mark McDermott – is currently employed as forwards coach by Russia.
Having appeared off the bench in the preceding clashes with Scotland and Japan, Eadestown’s Tadhg Beirne was named alongside provincial compatriot Jean Kleyn in the second row. On his 11th appearance in an Irish senior shirt, the former Clongowes Wood College student staked a claim for a regular spot through a productive all-round display.
Initially, Athy native Joey Carbery had been included among the replacements as scrum-half cover for Luke McGrath, with Jack Carty offering back-up to the returning Jonathan Sexton. However after experiencing irritation in his ankle, he was subsequently withdrawn from the match day squad.
Given it is more than eight weeks since he first experienced pain in this area, it is a major worry that the problem continues to persist. It is unlikely to bring his World Cup to an end, but a lack of match sharpness potentially leaves him behind Carty in the pecking order for his favoured position of fly-half.
While Ireland started brightly in this contest with first-quarter tries courtesy of Rob Kearney and Peter O’Mahony, the level of their performance disintegrated as the action wore on. Eventual man of the match Rhys Ruddock got over for a 35th-minute try to give Ireland an unassailable interval lead (21-0) and a bonus try appeared inevitable on the restart.
Yet, a succession of knock-ons and general handling errors robbed them of momentum and five-pointers from Conway and Garry Ringrose in the closing moments helped to flatter Ireland in the end.
Destiny is still in their hands as they prepare to face Samoa in Fukuoka on Saturday, but champions New Zealand will await them in the last-eight unless Scotland can do a number on host nation Japan.
Meanwhile, Leinster maintained their winning start to the new Guinness PRO14 season with an emphatic 53-5 victory over Ospreys at the RDS on Friday. Suncroft man Fergus McFadden got the ball rolling for the blues with an 11th-minute try, while Will Connors (Donadea) also impressed at openside flanker.
Hooker Ronan Kelleher stole the show with a hat-trick of tries, however, as the Welsh outfit were convincingly put to the sword.