Rory Best dot's down for Ireland in their opening World Cup fixture against the USA.
Ireland huffed and puffed their way to an opening round win against the USA, eventually pulling away from the spirited Americans to win 22 -10.
Only Ulster men managed to cross the try line with Tommy Bowe (twice) and Rory Best crossing for Ireland and Ulster legend Paul Emerick scoring late on for the Yanks.
It was a pretty poor performance from Ireland who are still struggling to find the right balance, but there are so many under performing players in the squad at the minute that finding the right balance may be as elusive as the mote expressing his thoughts in two concise paragraphs!
Ireland only performed in flashes and few of the big questions were answered though Ireland still have another three matches to go before they absolutely need to find their form. On today’s evidence the Aussie game should be a write off, so Ireland have only to perform against Russia and a pretty poor looking Italy if they are to progress to the quarter finals.
The selections at half back,wings, inside centre, hooker, wing forward and full back still invite discussion and I guess we can add back row to that as well after today’s performance.
Sexton struggled off the tee and contributed little with ball in hand. Unfortunately for Ireland O’Gara addled little when he came on so no answers for the starting 10 in four weeks time.
The much hyped Conor Murray failed to live up to the pre match billing, roughed over by the semi pro outfit once to often and Reddan certainly improved things when he came on but I still think that Boss is the answer for the more abrasive performances that Ireland are going to have to commit to if they are going to make any sort of impact in this tournament.
Despite a few fumbles, Bowe looks like the only Irish player that has remembered the shortest route to the try line and Earls looked a lot more comfortable on the wing though again I’d prefer Trimble’s abrasive play.
D’Arcy is breaking the gain line but contributing little else and really Wallace has to get a couple of runs at twelve. In fairness he would have to contribute little to at least match his Leinster counterpart.
Heaslip and Ferris carried reasonably well but appeared to give up on their rucking where Ireland, who dominated scrums and lineouts, strangely found themselves overwhelmed at the breakdown. I would replace Jennings with O’Brien for the biff, bash, bosh, but as I indicated earlier this sort of approach would need Boss at scrum half to carry out a fair bit of the cleaning up at ruck time.
Murphy didn’t inspire at full back and Kearney slips into first choice by default and I thought Best had a solid enough performance and should remain as the starting hooker with Flanery used for impact after 60 – it’s a moot point as both are interchangeable anyway!
Looking to the Australia game next Saturday I think it’s too early to bring back Kearney and Healy but I think we’ll see O’Brien starting alongside Ferris and Heaslip as that combination will need a bit of work. O’Gara and Reddan to start with Sexton and Boss on the bench. Earls to full back 9god help us) and Trimble on the wing! Wouldn’t be surprised to see Flan head get the nod for this one but somehow I don’t see Wallace starting at 12 though either he or Sexton will play there in the second half!
The good side of today’s proceedings in New Zealand is that South Africa look as out of form as Ireland, appearing second best for much of their game against Wales. However Ireland are going to have to find a new level of intensity if they are going to trouble even a mediocre Boks side.
Ireland: Murphy, Bowe, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, Earls, Sexton, Murray, Court, Best, Ross, O’Callaghan, O’Connell, Ferris, Jennings, Heaslip.
Replacements: O’Gara for Sexton (50), Reddan for Murray (50), Flannery for Best (61), Leamy for Jennings (61), Buckley for Court (65), Trimble for Murphy (68). Not Used: Ryan.
USA: Scully, Ngwenya, Emerick, A. Suniula, Paterson, R Suniula, Petri, MacDonald, Thiel, Pittman, van der Giessen, Smith, Stanfill, Clever, Johnson.
Replacements: Malifa for R. Suniula (60), Moeakiola for MacDonald (63), Usasz for Petri (68), Biller for Thiel (69). Not Used: LaValla, Danahy, Hawley.
Att: 26,000
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
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6 Responses to “RWC 2011: Ireland 22 USA 10”
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The set pieces were fine the forwards failed in lose play and —
My impression of the match was once Ireland had a winning lead the referee just gave up on the rucks allowing the U S A to come in at the side at will on any attempt Ireland made to have a quick recyle of the ball, This resulted in Irelands inability to provide any service to the backs.
this policy enabled the USA to limit Irelands scoring opportunities and limit the margin of defeat.
D’Arcy still appears to be very ring rusty and on his only attempt to release the ball wide lead to an intercept try
The Australian match will be a totally different type of game in so far as Ireland will less dominant in the set piece and Irelands defence will be more fully tested I consider the kidney may have made a mistake in not playing Wallace against the USA but I believe D’Arcy would be the right call against Australia.
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As the Mote has said above the forwards failed in the loose, and to a greater or lesser degree so did the backs. In those conditions the game plan should have changed to play a much tighter game. Credit must go to the Eagles on their defence, but Joubert completely lost the plot in the second half allowing the Eagles forwards to do anything in the maul. He also gave a 22 drop out from ROG chip ahead when it was clear that the defence had carried the ball over the line. However Ireland on paper were streets ahead and should have won comfortably. On the positives Best did nothing wrong, every line-out was made, scrummaging superb …. (he didnt kick the ball forward either in the scrum), and his loose play was as good as if not better than most . Court had a solid game – probably unlucky to get pinged for a penalty, 1F had a solid game as well … uninjured thankfully and had a couple of runs with the ball. Once Bowe worked out how to catch the ball he did OK and worked both his tries well. Much improvement needed to even come close to the Aussies next week.
One point ed ! – Emerick an Ulster legend ??? mmmmmm he took his gift from D’Arcy well
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I might have been a touch sarcastic with that one junty!
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I’d move Bowe to outside centre and O’Driscoll to 12, drop D’Arcy and stick Trimble on the wing.
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The above BoD Bowe Trimble looks great —- If you expect Ireland to be attacking but I wouldn’t rate the back line very high in defence . Kidney will pick D’Arcy and BoD in the centre because of the defensive record of the combination.
Success this saturday coming depends in containing the opposition Half Backs who make the space and opennings for the players round them. Thus I expect Ireland to play a tight game not an expansive one.
Not that I expect anyone to approve of this but in my opinion it is the way I expect kidney would like to play .
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Mote – I think that you are right, Its probably why Trimble is on the bench and Earls is on the wing because wee Decky does not want to play an expansive game & wants to play defensively.
It still questions Earls capability to defend and we know that it is highly suspect recently as the French & England games show. My choice would have been Andy Trimble because he offers both good defense and attacking options.
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