The morning started well enough. Up good and early in bright sunshine, met the bread delivery van with fresh rolls when I nipped down to the corner shop, bacon and sausages sizzling nicely and coffee percolating away as I got the breakfast baps ready to take round to The Eagle to catch the game.
Sure even Ireland stood a chance on a fine morning like this! Got round to The Eagle in plenty of time and I must admit the Haka got the adrenalin going as I munched my baps and sipped my coffee.
Ireland started not too badly, unfortunately gave away a soft try, and they were making a few breaks of their own against the young New Zealand side. Even the much maligned (and I’ve maligned him more than most) Tony Buckley was making line breaks and tackling well round the pitch and the ageing Ireland side looked well up for it.
Then disaster struck, all the more extraordinary in that it was the normally restrained Heaslip that resorted to the dirt, with the No. 8 sticking his knee into his trapped opponent two or three times close to the New Zealand line.
The loss of composure from the classy back row was a big disappointment, both personally and for the team, and Ireland’s hopes departed with him as he exited the pitch. O’Gara followed soon after and New Zealand racked up five tries in the first half.
The second half was a bit of a farce and more like a training run for the Blacks but Ireland regained a modicum of respect by running in three tries of their own to add to Dan Tuohy’s first half effort. They were still outscored with New Zealand running in four during the second half taking their tally to nine in total.
Andrew Trimble had a good enough game looking hungry for work and was unlucky not to back up his performance with a try in his abrasive display.
Dan Tuohy had a great debut, scoring with his first touch and making a mockery of Kidney’s reticence to use this trip to develop the depth of the Ireland squad.
Tom Court only got a few minutes at the end and was well off the pace when he was brushed aside for Whitelock’s second score but if Kidney has any sense he should give Court a full match against the Aussies if for no other reason than if Buckley can put in a big performance against the odds then it must be worth having a look at the rest of the squad.
With Heaslip out, Mick O’Driscoll injured and the unfortunate John Muldoon breaking his arm, Ireland’s chances of producing any wins on this trip are few and far between. They can however return home with some positive developments if Kidney grasps the nettle and plays some of the less experienced players for the remaining fixtures.
With Buckley and Tuohy’s performances we’ve effectively found two “new” players for Ireland if we can find another couple in the remaining fixtures then it’ll be worth a few hammerings! I just hope they don’t start pissing about with Dan and play him in the back row – let Henry fill that spot.
TIME LINE:
06 mins – New Zealand penalty: Carter – 3-0
13 mins – New Zealand try: Smith – 8-0; con: Carter – 10-0
16 mins – Ireland red card: Heaslip
21 mins – New Zealand try: Read – 15-0; con: Carter – 17-0
25 mins – Ireland yellow card: O’Gara
28 mins – New Zealand try: Franks – 22-0; con: Carter – 24-0
30 mins – New Zealand try: Cowan – 29-0; con: Carter – 31-0
34 mins – New Zealand try: Cowan – 36-0; con: Carter – 38-0
37 mins – Ireland try: Tuohy – 38-5; con: O’Gara – 38-7
Half-time – New Zealand 38 Ireland 7
47 mins – New Zealand try: Smith – 43-7; con: Carter – 45-7
51 mins – New Zealand try: Whitelock – 50-7; con: Carter – 52-7
57 mins – Ireland try: B O’Driscoll – 52-12; con: O’Gara – 52-14;
61 mins – Ireland try: Bowe – 52-19; con: O’Gara – 52-21;
66 mins – New Zealand try: Tialata – 57-21; con: Weepu – 59-21;
76 mins – Ireland try: D’Arcy – 59-26; con: Sexton – 59-28;
78 mins – New Zealand try: Whitelock – 64-28; con: Weepu – 66-28;
Full-time – New Zealand 66 Ireland 28
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.