IRELAND GOT THEIR summer Test series off to a winning start against the USA in New Jersey. Our match report from the Red Bull Arena can be found here, with some post-match talking points below.
The American Dream…
Last time out on American soil – eight long months ago at the beginning of this international season – Joe Schmidt cut Ireland loose to play a thrilling brand of rugby which culminated in five tries and a win over the All Blacks. Against much less daunting opposition in New Jersey, even an inexperienced Ireland outfit looked hungry to raid space and pile on nine tries.
You can write that attacking intent off as a mere summer tour mismatch, but Ireland don’t always make hay in such favourable conditions, so the reappearance of that ethos with a new crop of talent is to be celebrated.
… except for Joey Carbery
The Leinster tyro has flourished as a secondary playmaker in the latter stages of this season, but in the 10 jersey here the Athy man was guilty of forcing his game right from the off.
In the first set of phases he dinked a ball out from his own 22 that was comfortably gathered by a US jersey and invited early pressure from the home side that might have led to a try were it not for a well-marshalled defence.
On 20 minutes, he attempted to chip over the head of 6’8″ lock Nic Civetta and was duly punished with a try. Corkman John Quill benefited from another charge-down in the second half.
That third error was a genuine clearance attempt rather than a chip ahead, Carbery perhaps needed an experienced head to usher him further back from the gainline to allow more room to manouvre… but then that’s not his natural game and we want to see him with freedom to play.
Carbery’s goal-kicking left room for improvement too, but with Keith Earls insisting on creating and scoring tries in the corner, he didn’t get many gimmes — Garry Ringrose could have been ‘a mate’ and eased the pressure on him slightly by not nailing that first-half beauty from the left touchline.
James Ryan leads the debutants
Have no doubt, 21-year-old James Ryan is destined for very big things. A nasty hamstring injury left him unable to make his Leinster debut this season, but that didn’t stop him opening his international try-scoring account in America.
The lock got 20 minutes game-time in a match that had become fractured, but few would begrudge him a try just two minutes after his introduction after such a torrid experience all season long. He got to work after touching the ball down, lending his power to some violent ruck clearances and some solid tackles.
Ryan was one of five debutants, with Jacob Stockdale also dotting down a brilliant try (that too was courtesy of Keith Earls) and Rory Scannell was asked to play both centre and out-half. Dave Heffernan and Andrew Porter had a difficult start to life in an international front row, but certainly warmed to the task when in the loose.
Bow down to Earls
As Kate McEvoy tweeted: “Keith Earls looks like he’s knocked up to a tag social for the craic.”
The Moyross man looked a class apart in New Jersey, almost wearing a furrow down the right flank in the first half. On top of making breaks, his passing was absolutely flawless, particularly a sublime whipped pass off the left into the hands o Jacob Stockdale that ensured the Ulster debutant didn’t need to break stride on his way over the line.
Earls dovetailed beautifully with Marmion too, and the duo traded assists for one another to wrap up marvellous breaks from deep. But it was Earls’ involvement in four of the five first-half tries and over 200 metres gained with ball in hand that helped Ireland create a hefty amount of breathing space in hot and heavy conditions.
Conan leads from the front
The fireworks from Earls are a natural focus, but throughout the contest, Jack Conan completely bossed anything that orbited his way.
The Leinster number eight was a powerful presence at both set-piece and ruck, he smashed his way through 14 carries and topped up his day with eight tackles, but it was the manner in which he approaches his work – relentlessly – that kept the USA firmly on the back foot.
With that rugby rarity – a Jamie Heaslip injury – currently freeing up a space in Ireland’s back row, Conan can’t do much more to ease long-term concern about Ireland’s depth at number eight.
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