International
All Blacks defeated in World Cup warm-up
South Africa gave the All Blacks their most emphatic reality check ahead of the Rugby World Cup when claiming a record 35-7 victory at Twickenham on Saturday (NZT).
Mounting attacking pressure from the outset, the Springboks were unrelenting, forcing errors throughout the 80-plus minutes of the contest in a performance that surpassed the record margin for South Africa over New Zealand of 17-0 in 1928.
Mistakes resulting from scoreboard pressure marred New Zealand’s game. They rarely got the momentum that marked their earlier games, and too often, handling mistakes or miscommunication compounded the lost opportunities.
It seemed every time the All Blacks got the sniff of a chance, an error occurred. Their usual discipline evaporated. The errors were manifested in several ways. The worst was the second first-half yellow card for lock Scott Barrett, which became a red card – his second in Test rugby.
But there were many others. First five-eighths Richie Mo’unga hit the post with a kickable penalty goal, fullback Beauden Barrett’s skewed kick off the second half restart, which allowed hooker Malcolm Marx to score, several lost lineout throws in the most concerning area of the loss, and an overload of handling mistakes. Replacement lock Tupou Vaa’i dropped a pass and then tried to play it; a penalty conceded allowed South Africa to mount a lineout drive. And it was replacement hooker Bongi Mbonambi who scored.
A midfield scrum penalty, a kick to the corner, and replacement No8 Kwagga Smith ran through to score.
New Zealand was in danger of going scoreless before a 70th-minute break by replacement halfback Cam Roigard, who stamped his hopes for the future with an outstanding run to score.
The game extended beyond two hours with stoppages for video consultations and injuries. But if it was an example of what teams can expect at the World Cup, then New Zealand has been put on notice.
Both sides had tries ruled out. Promising Bok centre Canan Moodie and All Blacks wing Will Jordan felt the effects of TMO scrutiny to deny them.
The All Blacks also lost prop Tyrel Lomax early with what appeared to be a badly cut knee.
While 0-14 down at the turn, New Zealand could be thankful they weren’t further behind.
South Africa camped in the New Zealand 22 during the first quarter; the All Blacks conceded eight penalties and ended the first half with 11 penalties compared to five from South Africa. That resulted in the All Blacks defensive lineout work getting a thorough workout. They stood firm until referee Matthew Carley ran out of patience, resulting in Scott Barrett being sin-binned in the 13th minute after a team warning, only to be followed at yet another goal-line lineout by his captain flanker Sam Cane for side entry at a maul.
The Springboks launched another maul, but Mo’unga held up Marx. But from the dropout, South Africa’s wave rolled in again, and captain and flanker Siya Kolisi scored under the bar.
Apart from the penalties, the All Blacks showed outstanding defensive presence to hold the Springboks out so often and to only be down by 14 points at the break. Yet, they had to make fewer tackles than the South Africans in the first half, 62-79; by the game’s end, it was 94-132.
However, their lineout retention was challenged, with the Springboks taking five All Blacks throws.
When they got their hands on the ball, they never secured consistent field position, and they were forced to chance their hand when in their half. That resulted in South Africa’s second try when wing Kurt-Lee Arendse picked off an intercept and ran 30 metres to score in the 33rd minute.
Two weeks out from their Cup opener against France, the All Blacks have been left with plenty to occupy their minds to recover their earlier momentum.
Scorers: New Zealand 7 (Cam Roigard try; Richie Mo’unga con) South Africa 35 (Siya Kolisi, Kurt-Lee Arendse, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Kwagga Smith tries; Manie Libbok 5 con). HT: 0-14
Content & Images from – New Zealand Rugby
Munster Rugby and the IRFU are pleased to confirm contract extensions for Conor Murray and Jack Daly with Brian Gleeson to be promoted from the Academy to the senior squad next season.
Murray and Daly have signed one-year extensions with Gleeson moving up to the senior squad on a two-year deal.
Gleeson is one of five Academy players moving up to the senior squad next year with Tony Butler, Ethan Coughlan, Mark Donnelly and Edwin Edogbo also signing two-year deals.
Conor Murray is one of the most decorated scrum-halfs in world rugby with 116 Ireland caps and three British & Irish Lions tours to his name.
A former St Munchin’s College student, the Garryowen man won his fifth 6 Nations title with Ireland last month and earned his second league title with Munster last season.
The 34-year-old has made 185 Munster appearances and scored 34 tries for the province to date and was named on World Rugby’s Team of the Decade in 2019.
25-year-old flanker Jack Daly came up through the ranks at Castleisland RFC and made his Munster debut against Zebre in 2020.
Daly joined the Academy in 2018, moved up to the senior squad in 2021 and plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen. A former Ireland U20 international, he made his Champions Cup debut against Toulouse in the quarter-final at the Aviva Stadium in 2022.
Try-scoring number 8 Brian Gleeson leads the charge for the Ireland Under-20s against France ©INPHO/Evan Treacy
20-year-old Gleeson moves up to the senior squad after just one year in the Academy that has seen him score one try in nine senior appearances.
Currently out of action with an ankle injury, he had already made three Champions Cup appearances before turning 20.
The powerful back-row forward was a Grand Slam winner with the Ireland U20s last year. plays his AIL rugby with Garryowen and came up through the ranks at Thurles RFC and Rockwell College.
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against Scotland at Aviva Stadium (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Ireland – currently sitting top of the Six Nations table heading into Super Saturday – can clinch back-to-back Championship titles with victory over Scotland in Dublin.
Farrell has named an unchanged starting XV for the Round 5 clash, as Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash and James Lowe continue in the Ireland back three. Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki are once again selected in midfield, with Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park the starting half-backs.
Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong pack down in the front row, with Joe McCarthy partnering Tadhg Beirne – who is set to win his 50th Test cap for Ireland – in the engine room.
Captain Peter O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have opted for a 5-3 split on the bench, with Rónan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan providing the reinforcements up front, and Conor Murray, Harry Byrne and the fit-again Garry Ringrose the backline options.
Saturday’s match is live on Virgin Media One and ITV, with live radio coverage available on RTE Radio 1.
Ireland Team & Replacements (v Scotland, Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Saturday, March 16, 4.45pm)
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(39)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(5)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(71)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(55)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(30)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(13)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(34)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(63)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(25)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(75)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(9)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(49)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(104)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(61)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(40)
Replacements:
16. Rónan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(30)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(128)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(39)
19. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(19)
20. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(45)
21. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(115)
22. Harry Byrne (UCD/Leinster)(3)
23. Garry Ringrose (UCD/Leinster)(57).
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
Head Coach Andy Farrell has named his Ireland Match Day Squad for Saturday’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations clash against England at Twickenham (Kick-off 4.45pm).
Peter O’Mahony captains Ireland for the Round 4 visit to London, with Hugo Keenan returning to the starting XV after recovering from injury.
Keenan joins Calvin Nash and James Lowe in the Ireland back three, with Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw continuing their midfield partnership.
Jack Crowley and Jamison Gibson-Park are retained as the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan and Tadhg Furlong are in the front row, with Joe McCarthy and Tadhg Beirne named in the engine room. Captain O’Mahony is at blindside flanker, Josh van der Flier is at openside and Caelan Doris completes the starting XV at number eight.
The Ireland Coaching Team have selected a 6-2 split on the bench, as Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird and Jack Conan provide the reinforcements in the pack.
Backs Conor Murray and Ciaran Frawley complete Ireland’s Match Day 23 to face England.
Saturday’s match is live on RTÉ2 and ITV.
Ireland:
15. Hugo Keenan (UCD/Leinster)(38)
14. Calvin Nash (Young Munster/Munster)(4)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Buccaneers/Leinster)(70)
12. Bundee Aki (Galwegians/Connacht)(54)
11. James Lowe (Leinster)(29)
10. Jack Crowley (Cork Constitution/Munster)(12)
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Leinster)(33)
1. Andrew Porter (UCD/Leinster)(62)
2. Dan Sheehan (Lansdowne/Leinster)(24)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Clontarf/Leinster)(74)
4. Joe McCarthy (Dublin University/Leinster)(8)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Lansdowne/Munster)(48)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster)(captain)(103)
7. Josh van der Flier (UCD/Leinster)(60)
8. Caelan Doris (St Mary’s College/Leinster)(39)
Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Lansdowne/Leinster)(29)
17. Cian Healy (Clontarf/Leinster)(127)
18. Finlay Bealham (Buccaneers/Connacht)(38)
19. Iain Henderson (Academy/Ulster)(80)
20. Ryan Baird (Dublin University/Leinster)(18)
21. Jack Conan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)(44)
22. Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)(114)
23. Ciaran Frawley (UCD/Leinster)(3)
Images & Content from Irish Rugby & Images © Inpho Photography
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