Trimble continues to put his hand up for selection for the business end of the tournament!
It’s pretty much job done for Ireland as the dirt trackers racked up nine tries in this 62 – 12 demolition of a spirited but limited Russia early this morning.
Under fire Keith Earls bagged a brace with Andrew Trimble, Isaac Boss, Rob Kearney, Sean O’Brien, Fergus McFadden, Tony Buckles and Shane Jennings all chipping in with one a piece. O’Gara added 6 conversions and an early penalty and his replacement Sexton chipped in with a conversion at the end.
Ireland started the game well, keeping things simple and driving up the middle and the limited game plan reaped rewards with McFadden and O’Brien plus an O’Gara pen giving the men in green an early 17 – 0. lead.
Buoyed by their success the dirt trackers got a little excited and started going for the silly passes and uncontrolled drives and off loads allowing Russia to disrupt and spoil throughout the mid period of the first half. However a flurry of late and somewhat fortunate tries from Boss, Trimble and Earls just before the break settled the game and put Ireland well in control leading 36 – 0 at half time.
Earls completed his brace shortly after the re-start but with Ireland still flinging the ball about and Buckles giving away penalties in the scrum Russia hit back to score two tries of their own to take the score to 43 – 12.
Ireland regrouped and as the Russians began to tire from the pace of the game Ireland added three more scores with Kearney, Jennings and Buckles all going over to take the score to 62 – 12.
It’s hard not to be satisfied with a fifty point win but Ireland did make heavy weather of the game at times and after such a good start it was disappointing to see them stray from their simple game plan and start flinging the ball about which is something they cannot afford to do against better sides. If they hadn’t bagged those three tries at the end of the first half things could have been a lot more difficult in the second period but, thanks to quick thinking from Boss and Trimble in particular, they managed to put the game to bed before the break and must be congratulated for that.
From an Ulster point of view Trimble once again put his hand up for further inclusion and the Trimble/Earls debate and O’Gara/Sexton are really the only talking points in selection for the business end of the tournament. Paddy played OK but any chance of unseating D’Arcy probably disappeared with his faffing attempt at a tackle on the Russian No. 8. At out half I’m starting to edge towards O’Gara given the limited tactical game I believe Ireland have to play if they are to continue to progress!
By my reckoning anything better than a losing bonus against the Italians should be enough to see Ireland through, with a win putting them top of the group with the prospect of a mouth watering fixture against Wales or Samoa, most likely Wales, their reward for beating Australia last week. Cant be bad at that!
Pool C as it stands.
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | TF | TA | BP | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Ireland
|
3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 99 | 28 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 13 |
 Australia
|
3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 105 | 26 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 10 |
 Italy
|
2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 59 | 49 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 5 |
 USA
|
3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 95 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 4 |
 Russia
|
3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 128 | 5 | 19 | 1 | 1 |
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