Respect.
Ireland’s big game players stood up today and handed Italy a sound thrashing in this final Pool C game in Dunedin this morning. O’Connell, O’Driscoll, D’Arcy, O’Gara and O’Callaghan all rolled back the years and ably supported by the wrecking ball back row of Ferris, O’Brien and Heaslip the Ireland side made a mockery of their pre World Cup form and now look forward to facing Wales in next Saturday’s Quarter Final.
Surprisingly, Ireland laid down the foundation of this success in the front row with Healy, Best and Ross making a mockery of [my] pre match pronouncements by dominating the scrums, reducing Italy’s biggest threat into a penalty conceding liability, allowing Ireland to build up successive attacking platforms. However the loss of Best early in the second half, to a shoulder injury, is a blow to Ireland’s chances though it may see the call up of Ulster’s Andi Kyriacou as a replacement!
The first half was a tense and feisty affair with Ireland dominating proceedings but failing to take the points with both sides getting involved in niggly incidents as they literally fought for dominance. Bowe looked as . . .
You will need to log in or register to read the rest of this article. If you have not already registered you can click here to register.
In 2022 we added 102,631 new images in 510 galleries with a gallery breakdown of 263 Rugby, 217 Hockey and 30 Athletics. Your registration and subscription will help us to continue.
Thanks.
Corrections, comments or questions?