Paddy seems to have had a good game by all accounts.
Didn’t see this one but here’s the gist from what we can gather.
The Ireland Select XV ran in four second half tries to run out comfortable 38-3 winners over a determined Connacht side at Donnybrook on Thursday.
Connacht were still in touch at half-time, trailing 14-3 after recovering from a brace of tries from Irish second rows Mick O’Driscoll and Leo Cullen. But there was no stopping the Ireland selection’s backs after the break as Geordan Murphy, Fergus McFadden, Ian Keatley and Denis Hurley added further tries in front of a 3,168-strong crowd.
You can read more on the IRFU site here. There does seem to be a bit of a variation between their report and the live coverage on Connacht Rugby Facebook. I suppose it’s a bit of a relief that Ireland pulled away in the second half, latching onto Connacht errors, after the Ireland forwards appeared to have taken a bit of a pasting up front in the first.
From an Ulster perspective Chris Henry came in as a late bench replacement for Shane Jennings who has been withdrawn as cover for the match agaisnt France with Ryan starting. Cave and Wallace played the full 80 with Henry joining the game on 61st minute and Whitten got a ten minute run out joining the game on the 73rd minute.
The recently departed Niall O’Connor, Mark McCrea and TJ Anderson all got a reasonable run out for their new club.
From the live coverage on Facebook by Connacht Rugby it seems that, rather worryingly, the front row and scrum in general was given a bit of a working over by the rugged Westies and that McFadden had a good game.
No one else really seems to have stood out but, by the lack of the normal Paddy bashing, I’d guess that Wallace had a reasonable game at out half. Geordan Murphy also appears to have had a useful enough run out.
TIME LINE:
14 minutes – Ireland Select XV try: Mick O’Driscoll – 5-0; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 7-0
17 mins – Ireland Select XV try: Leo Cullen – 12-0; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 14-0
21 mins – Connacht penalty: Niall O’Connor – 14-3
35 mins – Connacht penalty: missed by Niall O’Connor – 14-3
40+1 mins – Ireland Select XV penalty: missed by Paddy Wallace – 14-3
Half-time – Ireland Select XV 14 Connacht 3
48 mins – Ireland Select XV try: Geordan Murphy – 19-3; conversion: missed by Paddy Wallace – 19-3
64 mins – Ireland Select XV try: Fergus McFadden – 24-3; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 26-3
66 mins – Ireland Select XV try: Ian Keatley – 31-3; conversion: Paddy Wallace – 33-3
77 mins – Ireland Select XV try: Denis Hurley – 38-3; conversion: missed by Paddy Wallace – 38-3
Full-time – Ireland Select XV 38 Connacht 3
Connacht Rugby covered the game live on their Facebook page – here’s the highlights!
Connacht Rugby
Open exchanges are even here in Donnybrook with Connacht getting the better of a couple of referee decisions. 5 mins gone still scoreless
Connacht Rugby
Connacht 12 Fa’afili makes a big hit on Ian Keatley in the middle of the field. Really making his presence felt. Connacht dominating the lineouts. With 10 mins gone.
Connacht Rugby
14 mins gone and Mick O’Driscoll goes over for Irelands first try after 5 phases of pressure on the Connacht line. Paddy Wallace adds the Conversion to bring it to Ireland 7-0 Connacht
Connacht Rugby
16 mins and Ireland take a quick lineout to send captain Leo Cullen over for their second try. Wallace kicks his second conversion attempt to bring the score to Ireland 14-0 Connacht
Connacht Rugby
Connacht captain John Muldoon stopped just short of the line after a strong Connacht scrum.
Connacht Rugby
Connacht penalty on the Ireland 22 just in front of the posts. Ireland defence deemed offside. Niall O’Connor kicks it to bring the score to Ireland 14-3 after 22 mins.
Connacht Rugby
?10 mins of the first half left score still 14-3 but the play is very even.
Connacht Rugby
Fa’afili makes another huge hit in the middle of the pitch, this time on Paddy Wallace. Connacht physicality is immense.
Connacht Rugby
Connacht get another penalty this time on the Ireland 10m line. O’Connor narrowly misses. The score remains Ireland 14-3 Connacht with five left in the half’
Connacht Rugby
Connacht penalised for not rolling away on their own 10m line. Leo Cullen points Paddy Wallace to the posts and the Ulster number 10 puts it wide to leave the halftime score 14-3 to the Ireland XV
Connacht Rugby
?1 minute left and Connacht fail to reach Niall O’Connors kick into the corner. Good pressure from the men in “black”!!
Connacht Rugby
The teams are back on the pitch for the second half. Ireland kick us off with Paddy Wallace.
Connacht Rugby
Ireland XV held up on the line but referee Peter Fitzgibbon brings it back for a scrum inside the Connacht 22
Connacht Rugby
Great hands by the irish backs send Geordan Murphy over the line. Wallace kicks the conversion wide. Ireland 19-3 Connacht. Tj Anderson is on to replace Mick Kearney who had a great first start.
Connacht Rugby
3168 fans in Donnybrook tonight. A brief stoppage in play after some fierce exchanges. Matt Jarvis replaces Tiernan O’Halloran in the Connacht Backline. Ireland lineout.
Connacht Rugby
Johnny O’Connor replaces Ray Ofisa in the backrow.
Connacht Rugby
McFadden crosses for Irelands fourth try. Wallace kicks the conversion. Ireland 26-3 Connacht. Dennis Buckly, Ethienne Reynecke and Tiernan O’Halloran replace Dylan Rodgers, Adrian Flavin and Brian Touhy. 16 mins to go.
Connacht Rugby
A huge Irish break and quick hands from McFadden sends former Connacht man Ian Keatley over for Irelands fifth try. Wallace kicks the touchline conversion to bring it to Ireland 33-3 Connacht.
Connacht Rugby
Connacht pressurising in the Ireland 22. Scrum to the western province with 12 on the clock.
Connacht Rugby
James Loxton replaces Mark McCrea on the Connacht wing.
Connacht Rugby
Another Connacht scrum on the irish 5m line. Great Connacht pressure.
Connacht Rugby
Dave Moore replace Paul O’Donohoe at scrum half. 6 mins left still 33-3 to Ireland.
Connacht Rugby
Geordan Murphy crosses for his second try and Wallace misses the conversion. 38-3 to the Ireland XV with two minutes to go.
Connacht Rugby
Full time in Donnybrook 38-3 to Ireland. Great display by the Irish backs with the Connacht pack coming out on top. Great displays from Rodney Ah You and Mick Kearney.
Connacht Rugby
Fergus McFadden had a great game. Cullen was his industrious self. Props had better days at the office.
IRELAND SELECT XV: Geordan Murphy (Leicester); Johne Murphy (Munster), Darren Cave (Ulster), Ian Keatley (Munster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster); Paddy Wallace (Ulster), Isaac Boss (Leinster); Tony Buckley (Sale), Sean Cronin (Leinster), John Hayes (Munster), Mick O’Driscoll (Munster), Leo Cullen (Leinster) (capt), Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), Niall Ronan (Munster), Denis Leamy (Munster). Replacements used: Denis Hurley (Munster) for J Murphy (28 mins), Conor Murray (Munster) for Boss (47), Marcus Horan (Munster) for Hayes (50), Donnacha Ryan (Munster) for Cullen, Chris Henry (Ulster) for Ronan (both 61), Ian Whitten (Ulster) for Keatley, Damien Varley (Munster) for Cronin (both 73).
CONNACHT: Tiernan O’Halloran; Mark McCrea, Eoin Griffin, Henry Fa’afili, Brian Tuohy; Niall O’Connor, Paul O’Donohoe; Dylan Rogers, Adrian Flavin, Rodney Ah You, Michael Swift, Michael Kearney, John Muldoon (capt), Ray Ofisa, George Naoupu. Replacements used: Thomas Anderson for Kearney (49 mins), Matthew Jarvis for O’Halloran, Johnny O’Connor for Ofisa (both 55), Ethienne Reynecke for Flavin, Denis Buckley for Rogers, Tiernan O’Halloran for Tuohy (all 66), James Loxton for McCrea (68), David Moore for O’Donohoe (74).
Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (IRFU)
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One Response to “The road to glory: Ireland XV 38 Connacht 3”
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Cave had some mixed reviews one on UAFC said he looked overweight and slightly off the pace while surprise surprise one on Munsterfans described him as the pick of the backs
Cave has never appeared to be the fastest on a rugby pitch but makes space by guile and change of pace. and passing after the break.
Paddy had an alright game according to most but had a few knock- ons ( about par for the course for Paddy)
I have consistantly stated Cullen is not an International and MoD is too far over the hill to be an International That a 32 + year old third or fourth choice second row for his province is in the squad (40+ ) defeats me.
The quality of the oppossition being Pro12 standard would make assessment of the backline difficult and the scoreline would reflect the difference in quality but make the decision as to whether players are true International standard uncertain,
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