Confident Ireland qualify for quarterfinal clash vs. Wales

[caption id="attachment_67132" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="Irish players celebrate with their medals awarded for topping Pool C in the World Cup. "]

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THE Irish rugby team took another massive step in answering its critics with a thumping 36-6 World Cup final pool game victory over Italy in Dunedin last Saturday.


Not only are they now through to a quarter-final showdown with Wales in Wellington next Saturday, but they have also become a hugely respected combination. Quite a change from the lead-up to the tournament when they had to contend with criticism from all sides.

That's all very much in the past now. This is an entirely different Irish side from the one which struggled in the warm-up, a team full of confidence, skill and scoring power.

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It's amazing what one major performance, such as the victory over Australia a few weeks back, can do. Having seen off the Italians in such comprehensive style, Ireland are now looking forward to the possibility of a first World Cup semi-final.

But coach Declan Kidney is much too sensible to get carried away. He fully appreciates that the quarter-final against Wales much be looked on as a 50/50 affair given the history of the two teams in recent seasons.

While Ireland have been very impressive in the World Cup, so have Wales. After coming within a whisker of beating the defending champions South Africa first time out, they have won their next three pool games, culminating in a runaway 66-0 success over Fiji last Saturday.

They played some outstanding rugby in scoring nine tries but Ireland clearly are not going to allow them anything like the same space. It promises to be a fantastic occasion between two well-matched teams.

Ireland will be hoping that their added experience will be the deciding factor. That experience proved vital as Ireland took Italy to the cleaners in the second half after only leading 9-6 at half-time.

Brian O'Driscoll showed that he is back close to his best, scoring a smashing try, while Gordon D'Arcy gave his finest performance in a long time. Ronan O'Gara, brought in to steady things at out-half, responded by landing six out of seven goalkicks.

Up front Paul O'Connell seems to be flying again, although troubled by a slight hamstring strain, while Tommy Bowe had a huge game. But for two dreadful decisions by the officials, the right-wing's powerful running would have seen Ireland score two more tries.

Never mind, this was not a day to complain too much. In truth, the only real disappointment was a shoulder injury suffered by influential hooker Rory Best.

A player of his ability and experience would be an undoubted loss, particularly as Jerry Flannery is already ruled out. But Ireland just have to move on with the former Shannon hooker Sean Cronin, now with Leinster, thrown into the limelight.

Cronin, it has to be said, did reasonably well, after coming on for Best 14 minutes into the second half of Saturday's encounter. In truth, everyone did their bit, right through to all of the substitutes brought on.

Perhaps though no one was better than Sean O'Brien and Stephen Ferris in the back-row. O'Brien seems to get better with every outing, his ball carrying enabling Ireland to repeatedly set up great positions.

Ferris is back to the sort of form which saw him win such praise for the Lions in South Africa a few years back. With Jamie Heaslip between them, Ireland arguably have the best back-row in the competition.

Something else they have is a hugely improved scrum. It needed to be against a much hyped Italian set piece.

But, not only did Ireland have to match up and eventually get the better of the Italian scrum, they also had to put up with some particularly nasty tactics. It was highlighted by one eye gouging incident, and on at least two occasions D'Arcy was taken out off the ball.

But importantly Ireland kept their discipline. That wasn't exactly easy in a torrid first half when they had to settle for three O'Gara penalties, with Bergamasco kicking two for Italy.

Ireland had looked the better side but nothing could be taken for granted as the Italian rolling maul was proving very successful. In the event, the huge Irish support in the indoor stadium at Dunedin need not have worried.

Ireland moved into another gear with O'Gara initially adding another penalty and then O'Driscoll getting the crucial first try following a break by Bowe seven minutes after the break. Once O'Gara landed the conversion to make it 19-6, the game was over.

Quite simply, Italy are not built to chase a game. They were outclassed and Ireland duly ran in two further tries, both finishing in style by the impressive Keith Earls.

A further bonus was the form shown by young Conor Murray at scrum-half, while Jonathan Sexton came off the bench to land a penalty and a conversion from the touchline before the finish. So, everything appears to be in place for that quarter-final against Wales, apart from the unfortunate injury to Best.

The one thing Ireland doesn't want is an injury to either of the two props Cian Healy and Mike Ross, both of whom were outstanding again. Overall, however, Kidney has precious few complaints, his team is exactly where he wants it to be.

Significantly, the Italian coach Nick Mallett was impressed. Prior to the game, the former Springbok coach had gone in for mind games, emphasizing that Ireland would be in trouble against the Italian scrum.

His post match comments show that he has changed his tune. He said: "I don't think any team can be confident against Ireland. I thought they were outstanding.

"They were the better team in all departments. They have got a side who can knock over any team in the quarters and semis."

Cian Healy, understandably hugely upset by the eye gouging incident involving Leonardo Ghiraldini, had calmed down somewhat by the final whistle. He summed up the mood within the camp when asked could Ireland actually go on and win the World Cup.

"We are capable of it but it's about us putting the right performances in and everything working out." he responded.

"There are a lot of strong teams left, but our next hurdle now is Wales. That's a huge, huge task." Very true, but roll on next Saturday.

3 provinces lose

UNFORTUNATELY, it wasn't a good weekend for the Irish provinces on the Rabo Bank Pro 12 League front with only Leinster managing a victory.

They got the better of bottom side Aironi 26-7 at the RDS, while Munster, Connacht and Ulster all lost. Munster went down to their first defeat 29-14 away to Edinburgh, Connacht put in a decent performance to only go under by 26-21 away to new leaders the Ospreys, while Ulster were well beaten 22-9 by Gwent Dragons.

Carrigtwohill

close long gap

THEY say that things come to those who wait. Well, Carrigtwohill had to wait 93 years since their last success before winning the Cork Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday.

They beat Cork IT by 0-15 to 1-11 in a tense final watched by a crowd on 10,000 at Pairc Ui Chaoimh. Former Cork intercounty player Seanie O'Farrell emerged as a hero, scoring the winning point in the 59th minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The Limerick Senior Hurling Championship final proved a much more one-sided affair. It was won by Na Piarsaigh who got the better of Ahane by 2-18 to 0-13.

Only founded in 1969, this was Na Piarsaigh's first Limerick championship.

They had many heroes, but none more so than 18-year-old Shane Dowling who hit 1-10.

Lar Corbett was sent off in stoppage time as the holders Thurles Sarsfields were beaten by 2-14 to 0-15 by Clonoulty-Rossmore in the semi-final of the Tipperary SHC. Thurles, in fact, finished with 13 men as David Kennedy had early been shown the red card.

Drom and Inch won the other semi-final beating Mullinahone by 1-20 to 0-14.

Another interesting result saw Ballygunner defeat the Munster club champions De La Salle by 2-10 to 0-11 in the Waterford SHC semi-final.

On the football front, Dunshaughlin and Summerhill will have to meet again in the Meath Senior Championship final after finishing level at 0-10 apiece. Remarkably, this is the third time in five years that the final has gone to a replay.

There will also be a replay of the Westmeath Senior Football Championship final. That finished Garrycastle 0-11 to Mullingar Shamrocks 1-8.

No such problems for Cavan Gaels who won the Cavan Football Championship by trouncing Castlerahan by 4-11 to 0-7. Also on the football front, county star Michael Murphy played a major role for Glenswilly, scoring 1-7, as they edged past St Michael's by 1-8 to 0-9 in the Donegal SFC final.

The Fermanagh SFC decider went to Roslea Shamrocks who defeated Teemore Shamrocks by 1-10 to 1-7.

Cats lead nominations

UNSURPRISINGLY, Kilkenny head the nominees for the 2011 Hurling All-Stars with 14 of their panel included.

Tipperary, the beaten All-Ireland finalists, have 10, as do defeated semi-finalists Dublin. Waterford have six, and Limerick three in the 45-strong list. The Hurling and Football All-Stars will be selected on October 19.

Meanwhile, there are no decisions as yet whether the successful All-Ireland hurling and football managers Brian Cody (Kilkenny) and Pat Gilroy (Dublin) will continue on. Cody has been in charge of Kilkenny since 1999, while Gilroy has just finished a three-year term as Dublin football boss.

Understandably, the two All-Ireland Champions would love to keep them but both, it seems, will be given time to think over their situations.

 

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