IRELAND’S EMERGING RUGBY squad were out-gunned 19-8 by their South African equivalents in the Tbilisi Cup today.
Having trailed 10-3 at half time, Ulster wing Michael Allen touched down the only try for Allen Clarke’s side just after the hour mark to spark hope of a big comeback.
By that stage, however, the President’s XV were well in control with a 16-8 lead thanks to three penalties from Carl Bezuidenhout and a conversion of Alshaun Bock’s 20th minute try.
Trailing 10-0 minutes before half time, Ian Keatley put the first points on the board for Ireland and could have brought the deficit to just four points at the break, but was off target.
Keatley’s next kick at goal was the conversion attempt off Allen’s score. That too trailed wide and, despite winning a sizeable chunk of territory, Ireland were unable to muster another score after prop Ivann Espag’s sin-bin period expired.
Instead, it was the emerging ‘Boks who took the last score of the game, Bezuidenhout bringing his tally to 14 points from five kicks with an 80th minute penalty.
EMERGING IRELAND: David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Niall Morris (Leicester Tigers/Exile), Brendan Macken (Blackrock College/Leinster), Noel Reid (Clontarf/Leinster), Tiernan O’Halloran (Galwegians/Connacht); Ian Keatley (Young Munster/Munster), John Cooney (Lansdowne/Leinster); Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Niall Annett (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Michael Bent (Leinster), David Foley (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ian Nagle (Cork Constitution/Munster), Rhys Ruddock (capt, St. Mary’s College/Leinster), Jordi Murphy (Lansdowne/Leinster), Robbie Diack (Malone/Ulster).
Replacements: Rob Herring (Ballynahinch/Ulster), Ricky Lutton (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Dave O’Callaghan (Dolphin/Munster), Eoin McKeon (Galwegians/Connacht), Michael Heaney (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Eoin Griffin (Galwegians/Connacht), Michael Allen (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster).
SOUTH AFRICA PRESIDENT’S XV: Coenie van Wyk (Steval Pumas); Alshaun Bock (SWD Eagles), Wilmaure Louw (Steval Pumas), Adriaan Engelbrecht (Leopards), Rosco Speckman (Steval Pumas); Carl Bezuidenhout (Steval Pumas), Ntando Kebe (Regent Boland Cavaliers); Vincent Koch (Steval Pumas), Frank Herne (Steval Pumas), Ivann Espag (Steval Pumas), Eduan van der Walt (Steval Pumas), Brendon Snyman (Leopards) (capt), Brian Shabangu (Border Bulldogs), Uzair Cassiem (Steval Pumas), Zandre Jordaan (Regent Boland Cavaliers).
Replacements: Khwezilokuza Mkhafu (Border Bulldogs), Martin Dreyer (Leopards), Giant Mtyanda (SWD Eagles), Jaco Bouwer (Steval Pumas), Sinovuyo Nyoka (Border Bulldogs), Stefan Watermeyer (Steval Pumas), Jerome Pretorius (Steval Pumas).
Referee: Nick Briant (New Zealand)
Might have been better to put off posting this celebratory article for a little while
@Kevin Ryan: yes it’s a bit like the media are shovelling it rather than spoiling us, more curry chips than Ferrero Roche, oh wait, I prefer the former….
It’s like the 42 has become the Joe Schmidt tribute page this summer. I know things aren’t going well right now but can we leave it off until the RWC is finished ? That’s the litmus test for any coach, no matter how successful you are between world cups.
@Daire Cullinane:
That is your litmus test not mine ::if you were following Ireland since the 60s you would know what I mean ::Do better in W C great but I would never give up those days against N Z :: SA:: Aus:: England ::If you followed it for 10 years what would you know about all the loses we have felt over the 40 years :: no matter what happens next month you can never take that those years away from US
About the author =Volkswagen..
Are ye having a laugh? Are ye trying to push people who read your content away?
Dear Volkswagen I always take a dim view of brands that refuse to sponsor or support a sports team directly, but are wallets out to hijack the coverage of said sport. Grow a pair and get stuck in. If you do already it would be a great idea for example, to begin your speil with VW; proud sponsors of Clontarf/Garryowen/etc and then blah blah away. I buy sponsors products as a rule. But, you have a long way to go to match Land Rover in this game.
We all love Rugby .We all want Ireland to do well
When things go off kilter the Provincial garbage comes to the fore. Mostly from the Munster crowd ,the blame game.Joe has beaten everybody when winning I have read laughable comments on Johnny Sexton would you have him as a Captain ?
Munster supporters reign it in cos there will always be a rainy day were you can enjoy yourselves stomping on other provincial players ,can you stop for one moment being the most childish churlish posters on here .
This is the WC I see green there is no P in Ireland
Not a first series win in Australia