Ruthless McCarthy makes sure for Ireland

By SAM JACKSON

Australia……….. 10pts

Tries: O'Donnell 24

Conversions: Bowen 25 Penalties: Bowen 27

Ireland……………30pts

Tries: Nicholson 32, Gleeson 53, McCarthy 63, Mangan 79

Conversions: Prendergast 54, Oliver 80

Penalties: Prendergast 7, 40

Ireland strengthened their bid for a place in the Championship semi-finals by comfortably beating Australia.

Richie Murphy's side came into this Pool B clash needing a victory, after drawing 34-34 with England in the opening round last Saturday, while Australia started the second round at the top of the Pool B standings after beating Fiji 46-37.

The tight five, led by excellent hooker Gus McCarthy, were ruthless in the scrum and maul while the loose trio, with brilliant Brian Gleeson at No.8, providing so much momentum from the base, Australia were simply steamrolled.

Ireland scored three second half tries and 19 unanswered points in the stanza, and in truth, it could have been more.

The difficult surface and atmospheric conditions might have taken some advantage from Australia, but Ireland adapted best. With Prendergast and scrum-half Fintan Gunne using their superb kicking game to pin Australia back, it was a long second half for the southern hemisphere side.

“It's a really difficult day to play rugby. The pitch is extremely heavy, so it makes it very difficult,” said Ireland head coach Murphy. “I suppose the team that manages the field position best has the advantage. And our forwards got the edge in the second half through the scrum and the maul.

“You really couldn't play much rugby out there, so it was just a case of a couple of phases and trying to get the ball back into the corner.”

Highly rated fly-half Sam Prendergast opened the scoring with a penalty but Australia delivered the first significant blow when Teddy Wilson broke the line and offloaded to centre Henry O'Donnel for a well-deserved try.

Australia's lead was extended through Jack Bowen's penalty but Ireland dug deep, though, to ensure that they registered a try of their own before the break.

After controlling the ball through the phases, they shifted it to the left wing, where James Nicholson made sure of the finish.

Prendergast put Ireland back in front with a penalty and Ireland maintained their intensity, and earned some reward when No.8 Gleeson crashed over in the 53rd minute.

On the back of a well-executed maul, Ireland hammered away at the try line, with captain Gus McCarthy dotting.

Replacement Rory Telfer was shown a yellow for a high tackle but, despite being one man down, Ireland continued to press and were awarded the fourth try and bonus point after Diarmund Mangan went over.

Player of the match McCarthy said: “We really went at them and it paid off. Well done to the props and the second row as our scrum was phenomenal.”