International
Ireland Give Schmidt and Best Perfect Send Off
Ireland concluded their Rugby World Cup preparations with a dominant winning display against Wales
Ireland finished off their Rugby World Cup preparations with a brilliant 19-10 win over Wales at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The game was a massive improvement for the Irish as they sent head coach Joe Schmidt and captain Rory Best off with a perfect result in what was the duos final home game for Ireland. It also left Ireland heading to the tournament in Japan as the No 1 team in the world rankings.
Wales dominated the possession early on and were nearly in for a try with only two minutes on the clock when Leigh Halfpenny had a shot at goal but missed.
George North nearly barrelled over a couple of minutes late, but Ireland held them out.
The home side began to grow into the game after some impressive defensive work and took their chance when it came on 20 minutes as they gave up a chance to take 3-points in the opposition 22, going for the corner instead.
James Ryan took the line-out and after a few phases Conor Murray flung the ball out to the backs with Jonny Sexton providing a beautiful pass to Rob Kearney, who held off Jonathan Davies to barge over for the first try of the game.
Sexton slotted home the conversion from the left-hand side to make it 7-0. To add to Wales’ worries Rhys Patchell went off injured as the game restarted.
However, the Welsh came back following that score with Halfpenny thumping a kick over from the left-hand side of the pitch just inside the Irish 10-metre line with 25 minutes gone.
Replacement out-half Dan Biggar seemed to steady the away team’s attack and made an interception on halfway on 30 minutes, racing to the try-line only to be held up.
Although from the resulting five-metre scrum Wales struck with centre Hadleigh Parkes bursting through the Irish line to score a try beside the posts. Halfpenny tipped the conversion over to make it 10-7 to Wales, and that’s how they went in at the half-time whistle.
Ireland dominated the second-half in both terms of territory and possession and went ahead again on 51 minutes after camping in the Welsh 22.
Following a number of penalties, the home side took a scrum which they went through a couple of phases before a huge carry from Tadhg Furlong lead to a try. Sexton knocked over the conversion from the left to make it 14-10.
Ireland continued to put pressure on the away team and got in for their third try of the game just before the hour mark as man of the match Ryan powered over the line. Sexton failed with the kick this time around, but Ireland opened up a nine-point lead.
They stayed in the Welsh half for most of the remainder of the match, as they pounded away at the defence, which led to a yellow card for Adam Beard, but the score remained the same as it finished 19-10.
Both teams will now head to Japan for the Rugby World Cup where they will be hoping to be in the mix for the Webb Ellis Cup come the start of November.
Player Ratings:
Ireland –
Rob Kearney (7), Jordan Larmour (8), Robbie Henshaw (7), Bundee Aki (7), Keith Earls (6), Jonathan Sexton (8), Conor Murray (8); Cian Healy (6), Rory Best (7)(capt), Tadhg Furlong (8), James Ryan (9), Jean Kleyn (6), CJ Stander (7), Josh van der Flier (7), Jack Conan (6)
Replacements (7)
Wales –
Leigh Halfpenny (6), George North (6), Jonathan Davies (7), Hadleigh Parkes (7), Josh Adams (5), Rhys Patchell (5), Tomos Williams (6); Wyn Jones (6), Elliot Dee (6), Tomas Francis (6), Jake Ball (5), Alun Wyn Jones (6) (CAPT), Aaron Wainwright (6), Justin Tipuric (6), Ross Moriarty (7)
Replacements (5)
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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