Airlink Pumas 24 Emerging Ireland 36
Simon Easterby’s wish list for Emerging Ireland might have started with a victory against Airlink Pumas before alighting on other markers, collective and individual. Most, but not all, of the items would have been ticked off following a lively and, at times, entertaining performance from a young Irish scratch side that negotiated the step up from training ground to match environment in a reasonably assured manner.
Six tries were a reward for enterprise, a nice attacking shape in the preamble and muscular finishes; the three conceded offered a reminder of the importance of alignment and communication in defence. Wing Rob Russell (hand) and Mark Donnelly (ankle) picked up injuries that will require further evaluation but for the remainder, the legacy issues were bruises and cramps.
Easterby was broadly pleased: “I think to a man our guys stepped up to the challenge. I thought on the whole we were outstanding, and everyone showed up really well. We got good minutes out of those guys that started, and we got a really good hit out of the guys who came off the bench and they added as well.”
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Sam Prendergast and Cormac Izuchukwu toured South Africa with Ireland in the summer and were thrust into leadership roles with Emerging Ireland. Prendergast was physical in defence and put a decent shape on Ireland’s attack with his vision and range of passing but there were several blemishes in his kicking game.
The young outhalf missed a straightforward conversion, overcooked a cross-kick that would have led to a try and also kicked dead, albeit with a capricious bounce in the in-goal area. Easterby said: “Sam was great, I think he had a pretty good platform to work off, the forwards gave him some pretty good front foot ball.
“Sam coming on this tour, it was crucial that he gets a chance to lead and step up and take control. The time that he was on the pitch I thought he did that really well. He drives the team really well. He has driven the team really well throughout the week and that led to some really good performances in attack from him and the players around him.”
Izuchukwu, a try scorer, and Prendergast were withdrawn with almost half an hour to go, as Easterby looked to his bench early in the second half. Ireland led 24-7 at that point thanks to the standout excellence from players like hooker Stephen Smyth, another try scorer, Jack Aungier, James Culhane, Darragh Murray in a pack ably led by Alex Kendellen.
Harry Sheridan, who moved from lock to blindside flanker during the game, was simply outstanding. Easterby said: “Harry has a very big bite in his tackle and moves really well; we have been very impressed with him. He put in a big shift and did excellently.”
Scrumhalf Matthew Devine was sharp and alive to opportunity, keeping the Pumas fringe defence on their toes. Hugh Gavin carried well, Seán O’Brien, whether at centre or wing, showed great game intelligence, Ben O’Connor was bright on both sides of the ball, while Zac Ward beat multiple tacklers every time he touched the ball; his try a classic example of that quality.
A word too for 19-year-old Alex Usanov, a late addition to the travelling party but the young Clontarf and Leinster prop enjoyed a superb game off the bench. Easterby admitted: “[Usanov] did what he does really well, he carried well [and] he was fighting in the tackle. The scrum was excellent throughout. He got on the wrong side of a couple of decisions but maybe that is interpretation.”
The last sentiment is probably fair too, there were some questionable calls that went against Ireland. The defence was good, particularly goal-line, the work at the breakdown to force penalties and turnovers impressive, while the lineout operated with precision, with a couple of steals thrown in for good measure.
The Pumas were limited in what they did but in fullback Tino Swanepoel (two tries) and Lundi Msenge, they had a couple of players who hurt the tourists with their pace, footwork and lines of running.
It took Ireland a while to settle and while tries for Ward and Izuchukwu were encouraging, the visitors only led 12-7 coming up to the interval. Izuchukwu’s try just before the siren and Smyth’s 70 seconds after the restart gave Ireland a bit of breathing space on the scoreboard.
The raft of changes and the reshuffling required took some cohesiveness out of the Irish performance and they had reasons to be grateful in sharing the final four tries of the game 2-2 with their hosts, Gus McCarthy’s effort following a lineout maul and a penalty try, kept them at arm’s length.
The Pumas were limited in what they mustered but that shouldn’t be the case when Emerging Ireland take on Australia Super Rugby side Western Force at the same venue on Sunday. They’ll be slicker and quicker which will bring a whole new set of challenges. But then that is why this young squad is in South Africa.
Scoring sequence – 13 mins: Ward try, 0-5; 27: Murray try, Prendergast conversion, 0-12; 31: Msenge try, C Swart conversion, 7-12; 39: Izuchukwu try, Prendergast conversion, 7-19. Half-time: 7-19. 41: Smyth try, 7-24; 54: Swanepoel try, Swart conversion, 14-24; 60: McCarthy try, 14-29; 72: E Swart try, 19-29; 76: penalty try, 19-36; 79: Swanepoel, try, 24-36.
Airlink Pumas: T Swanepoel; L Msenge, T Pretorius, C Swart, D Adonis; D Visagie, R Gora; E Janeke, J-Henning Campher, S Swiegers; H Theunisson, D Slabbert; N Fisanti, A Fouche, K Dimaza. Replacements: D Osuagwu for Henning-Campher 45 mins; R Fredericks for Gora 45 mins; D Maritz for Janeke 51 mins; E Swart Swiegers 51 mins; T de Klerk for Theunisson 58 mins; W van Niekerk for Visagie 58 mins; P Sobahle for Pretorius 62 mins; M Mashimbyi for Swanepoel 71 mins.
Yellow card: L Msenge (Pumas) 77 mins.
Emerging Ireland: B O’Connor (Munster); R Russell (Leinster), S O’Brien (Munster), H Gavin (Connacht), Z Ward (Ulster); S Prendergast (Leinster), M Devine (Connacht); M Donnelly (Munster), S Smyth (Leinster), J Aungier (Connacht); H Sheridan (Ulster), D Murray (Connacht), C Izuchukwu (Ulster), A Kendellen (Munster, capt), J Culhane (Leinster). Replacements: J Postlethwaite (Ulster) for Russell 12 mins; A Usanov (Leinster) for Donnelly half-time; R Foxe (Munster), 45 mins; G McCarthy (Leinster) for Smyth 50 mins; E O’Connell (Munster) for Izuchukwu 50 mins; S Jansen (Connacht) for Izuchukwu 50 mins; J Murphy (Ulster) for Prendergast 51 mins; E Coughlan (Munster) for Gavin 71 mins.
Referee: S Geldenhuys (South Africa).
