Two tries: Keith Earls
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Ireland strengthened their chances of topping Pool C after claiming a nine-try 62-12 win over Russia at Rotorua International Stadium on Sunday.
With only six players backing up from the 15-6 upset of Australia at Eden Park last weekend, they still maintained their three-point lead over the Wallabies in Pool C heading into the final games.
A mass of green among the 25,661 capacity at the Rotorua venue generated a homely feel for for Ireland. And they steamed to a 43-0 lead eight minutes after half-time before taking off their key men and giving Russia the chance to get on the scoreboard with two late tries.
The Irish will lock up Pool C with victory over Six Nations rivals Italy in Dunedin next Sunday, with the Italians to first play the USA on Tuesday.
Fly-half Ronan O'Gara, the official man-of-the-match in his 115th Test, extended his Irish scoring record to 1,054 points with 15 points from six conversions and a penalty before he was replaced with 15 minutes remaining.
The Irish put the Russian defence to the test early with 14 phases on their try-line before they lost fly-half Konstantin Rachkov to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock down.
In the time Rachkov was off the field Ireland cashed in with two converted tries to Fergus McFadden off an O'Gara kick and outstanding openside flanker Sean O'Brien.
O'Gara was at the heart of the Irish attacks and his goal-kicking and general kicking was immaculate.
But when Rashov returned late in the first quarter the Irish scoring slowed and it took them until late in the half to rush on three tries in as many minutes.
New Zealand-born scrum-half Isaac Boss dived over and planted the ball next to the post and centre Keith Earls finished off a break from winger Andrew Trimble.
The Irish finished the half in storming fashion when Trimble toed through off Andrey Garbuzov's error to score for an emphatic 36-0 lead at the break. O'Gara's sideline conversion attempt struck an upright costing him an unblemished kicking performance.
Earls sliced through for his second try eight minutes after the break and was taken straight off along with prop Cian Healy as Ireland looked ahead to their next big match with Italy.
Russia had their best moment in the match when full-back Vasily Artemyev scored a classy try, slicing through and then standing up Rob Kearney to score in the 51st minute.
The Russians had another 'victory' when winger Denis Simplikevich brushed off McFadden and Trimble to score the Bears' second try on the hour. But Ireland powered on with the replacements' bench cleared and they added three more tries to Kearney, Shane Jennings and Tony Buckley.
Man of the match: We have mentioned him time and time again but flanker Sean O'Brien continues to impress. He was a tower of strength for the Irish and deserved his first-half try.
Moment of the match: Russia scoring their second try through wing Denis Simplikevich. It was a fine score that led to big celebrations, despite the result already being beyond doubt.
Villain of the match: Letting his side down by putting himself in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-down was not the wisest thing Konstantin Rachkov will ever do. It cost his team.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: McFadden, O'Brien, Boss, Earls 2, Trimble, Kearney, Jennings, Buckley
Con: O'Gara 6, Sexton
Pen: O'Gara
For Russia:
Try: Artemyev, Simplikevich
Con: Rachkov
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Fergus McFadden, 13 Keith Earls, 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Donnacha Ryan, 5 Leo Cullen (c), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 Tony Buckley, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Cian Healy.
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Mike Ross, 18 Denis Leamy, 19 Shane Jennings, 20 Eoin Reddan, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Geordan Murphy.
Russia: 15 Vasily Artemyev, 14 Denis Simplikevich, 13 Andrey Kuzin, 12 Sergey Trishin, 11 Vladimir Ostroushko, 10 Konstantin Rachkov, 9 Alexander Yanyushkin (c), 8 Victor Gresev, 7 Andrey Garbuzov, 6 Artem Fatakhov, 5 Adam Byrnes, 4 Denis Antonov, 3 Alexander Khrokin, 2 Valery Tsnobiladze, 1 Sergey Popov.
Replacements: 16 Evgeny Matveev, 17 Ivan Prishchepenko, 18 Alexey Travkin, 19 Alexander Voytov, 20 Andrey Bykanov, 21 Mikhail Sidorov, 22 Mikhail Babaev.
Referee: Craig Joubert (South Africa)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Jérôme Garces (France)
Television match official: Giulio De Santis (Italy)
Comments
blametheref says...
@Crunchfit
I agree with you on one aspect of Wallace's play against Russia, that he's a good passer and has good timing but I really see that as the attributes of a 10. I was hoping that Kidney might experiment when we built a lead against Russia, in view of the centre situation, by putting Wallace at 10 and Sexton at 12, since he gambled Johnny at 12 in the Australia game anyway, but it wasn't to be...
Posted 10:27 26th September 2011
blametheref says...
@Norm
I never said the Fiji v Samoa game was quality but I said Mapasua was good and was comparing him with the likes of Paddy Wallace at 12 who for the life of me I cannot see how some on these boards rate Wallace as a centre. If Wallace is a 12 as some seem to think, he's the poorest 12 I've ever seen playing for Ireland ever! The coach is at fault for putting him in this position as he's a 10. If ROG was put at 12 I'd probably be saying the same thing. Wallace cannot as a 12 bring the ball into contact to either offload or hold the ball up while getting over the gain line. Besides this his tackling and pressure harrying for a 12 is sub standard as he proved against Russia a 2nd tier team. He missed a crucial makeable tackle in the first half that against a top flight team would have been a try.
And regarding the lotto I'd say if you had the winning ticket you'd read the numbers wrong and never even know...
Best,
George Best
Posted 10:19 26th September 2011
crunchfit says...
@cillmore
People were disparaging him because he played terribly. I mean, it was a great performance but he has had a lot of chances over his career... If D'Arcy's injured we still have better options:
11: Earls 12: Trimble 13: BOD 14: Bowe 15: Kearney
11: Earls 12: Bowe 13: BOD 14: Trimble 15: Kearney
11: Trimble 12: Earls 13: BOD 14: Bowe 15: Kearney
etc.
etc.
Posted 22:49 25th September 2011
Rukrym says...
@GCP_JONES
Just on the topic of Northampton I completely agree. I think they're one of the few quality teams in the premiership - Leicester and to a lesser extent London Irish are probably the only other English teams I enjoy watching.
I think Downey and Bob Casey are two players in particular who can consider themselves hard done by for not being included at least in some capacity over the last couple of seasons. I just personally feel that after the world cup is the time to start bringing through younger guys, while there are still plenty of experienced heads in the squad to bed them in.
I'd love to see Nevin Spence and Eoin O'Malley tried out at midfield at some point in the next 6N. It might be a lightweight centre partnership by modern standards but they both have really good pace, footwork, passing and footballing skills and have shown they can play against bigger and more experienced guys - O'Malley was excellent against Rougerie in this years HC for example.
Posted 22:22 25th September 2011
crunchfit says...
@blametheref
He was. He was dummying, jinking, darting, offloading, everywhere. He was creating gaps for others all match. I have always said he can't cut it at international level but he did great today. I'm happy to be wrong about that. You just form an opinion of a player and stick with it like you did when you slated Fitzgerald for a poor performance against Osperys when he was one of two or three players who did played well. I agree though, Mapasua is class.
Posted 20:42 25th September 2011
GCP_JONES says...
@Rukrym..
the point i would make about Downey is that he would offer something different, if you look at the centre's we have in contention at the moment, they are similar in size and style of play(albeit with varying degrees of talent).
I don't think we have the luxary here in Ireland to ignore a man who has played over a 100 times and scored plenty of tries for a club that would aspire to win trophies , yeah Nothampton are playing badly at the moment,but how many of their players are at he world cup or injured,sure Leicester are second from bottom and got trounced by Saracens yesterday at Welford road.
Posted 19:54 25th September 2011
Carpelone says...
I think that ROG must start with Italy. He can control the game much better.
Ireland must just keep quiet and exploit the opportunities when Italy will inevitably concede them. Ireland must avoid the repeat of the 6N game early this year and Italy seem improved from that.
Posted 19:35 25th September 2011
DaveJ says...
Considering it was an absolute B team for Ireland I thought we did ok. Bit rusty when it came to handling and concentration but most of these guys haven't played in weeks and will not start again unless we get injuries to key players. Cronin's throwing was awful today. Buckley is possibly the worst prop in Ireland, how is he still getting selected? Gave away 3 penalties. When you look at what Ross did to the Aussies last week it's a stark contrast. P Wallace did very well in attack today but his defense left a lot to be desired. Then again he was playing against seriously inferior competition so I can't really merit him too much. ROG was an absolute class act. I'm generally an advocate for Sexton but I would like to see ROG start at 10 against Italy. I would be happy to see Sexton replace D'arcy at centre again, Sexton does still have good form ball in hand, it's just his kicking that's seriously lacking.
Not nice to see teams come to the world cup to represent their country and get absolutely demolished.
Posted 18:25 25th September 2011
blametheref says...
@Crunchfit
Amazed you think Wallace was superb at centre...you should watch the Samoa v Fiji game and see how a real centre plays, in this case Mapasua...different class!
Posted 18:25 25th September 2011
blametheref says...
Before the warm up games I was ranting about the potential problem at 12 and 13 if BOD and D'arcy (who left with an injury) get injured...From the evidence, this problem is still a potential banana skin for Ireland, as nobody, not even Kidney, seems to have found a solution, bar "sticking" Sexton in to see how he goes...at a World Cup??. Thank god we weren't up against good opposition today as we would've been exposed badly I feel...Just hope BOD and D'arcy make it through the big games
Posted 18:16 25th September 2011
crunchfit says...
@Fred91
The referee favoured Russia. He even acknowledged it just before half time by allowing the Russian player away with the yellow card (and telling him he was letting him off) when he gave a yellow for almost the exact same thing earlier in the match. Fair enough in a one sided amateur game but that is just not acceptable at the professional level.
Also, I'm guessing there was a bit of a language issue, but regardless the Russians were giving away a huge amount of penalties and they could easily have gotten 3 or 4 cards this match. As far as I now, only 2 or 3 guys speak fluent English on the team.
Posted 18:10 25th September 2011
munster1981 says...
Whats all the noise about Downey. I think it's a case of a player been talked up because he's not in the Irish squad. Downey's reputation seems to get better by the week. He hasn't exactly set the Aviva Premiership on fire.
The real question should be why was Macfadden put on the wing when he is the best candidate to replace D'arcy for the Italian match should his hamstring strain not clear up. This match seemed like the perfect opportunity to try that. And if he still wanted to give Wallace a game Kidney could have put him in at 10, he's a much better outhalf then centre anyway.
Who are we to question Kidney, alot of his choices seem to be very strange, would love to get a straight interview off him besides his usual
" sure isn't it great to be here playing and sure if we win we win and if we lose we lose but we'll go away and work on things to improve"
Again not questioning him, would just like to hear his reasoning behind his decisions.
Posted 17:15 25th September 2011
crunchfit says...
I'm halfway through the game now and I'm amazed at the refereeing. Shocking game by Joubert.
And as much as I dislike Paddy Wallace, he has been superb.
Posted 16:52 25th September 2011
Rukrym says...
@ GCP_JONES
I agree that both are good players but I'd hope the Irish selectors would be a bit more far sighted than to bring two players who are over 30 into the squad for the 6N next year, especially when we have a number of talented young back row and midfield players players with huge potential.
Posted 16:38 25th September 2011
GCP_JONES says...
@NHSaint...
I agree with you I would hope to see R Wilson and more importantly James Downey for the six nations squad. Downey's omissiion from the tourmanmnet is backfiring against Kidney. P Wallace did well today(lets not forget who the opposition were) but will be found-out against the Italians and even if D'arcy is past fit for the Italy match he is not in any sort of form.
Downey's ability to break through defences etc.. would be very effective I reckon.
Posted 14:11 25th September 2011
blametheref says...
GCP JONES, totally agree with you about the mid week matches, just look at the disadvantage of Samoa where Wales had 3 extra days rest, which I think cost Samoa the match and then again today where they played Fiji and meet South Africa next Friday. South Africa's last match was last Thursday giving them 3 days more rest....A real double whammy for Samoa who have played very well, I really think their lack of rest time will cost them the SA match...
Posted 12:49 25th September 2011
Fred91 says...
very poor refering of the game, Russia could not tackle well because too much infringement from the Irish and picked out.....I wonder if that idiot Paddy O'Brien is doing his job or just worrying about All Blacks affair??
Posted 12:36 25th September 2011
blametheref says...
Sexton's a big game player and should start against Italy, as he was a huge part of the Australia win, which some are forgetting all too quickly. He's had a bit of an off time with the boot but so have many kickers but I reckon he'll get it right as he usually does. Paddy Wallace was average today, saw nothing special, and it was Russia we were playing, he's just not an international centre. Either is Earls who is more a winger and finisher as he's proved.
A couple of things Ireland need to address if they are to be WC contenders is the breakdown where we won few turnovers against a 2nd tier team. And even though O' Brien played well he's not an out and out 7. Ireland also need to support ball carriers more on the shoulder, there were numerous times, when O' Brien for example, was motoring and there was no one with him for an offload. And the offload is the biggest problem I have with Ireland in comparison to the top world teams. We missed 3 probable tries through players going to ground ball in hand rather than offload. One was Mc Fadden near the Russian posts with Boss outside him, another was a great break by Leamy with Cronin outside him. If that was Australia, NZ, SA or France they would have offloaded and scored.
Some other things are: We leaked two tries; we shouldn't have against this opposition. Our line out throwing and line out is not up to standard. We went through in each half periods of 10 minutes when the team seemed to back off and have a rest, this cannot happen against top opposition and should be addressed.
Otherwise, a job well done, but there's room for quite a bit of clinical improvement if this team are to be rated as true WC contenders. Italy will tell a huge amount...
Posted 12:30 25th September 2011
NHsaints says...
If roger wilson wasn't injured then he'd make a good replacement 8 while heaslip is off form...
Posted 11:46 25th September 2011
curates_egg says...
@hougie disagree that Sexton is off form - he has played very well. However, he has missed too many kicks. Given O'Gara is playing well AND slotting the kicks, he has done enough to start against Italy.
Posted 11:20 25th September 2011