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Ireland pulls off Wallabies shocker
Source: Agencies |
September 18, 2011, Sunday
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THE upset the Rugby World Cup has been threatening since the start finally materialized yesterday as Ireland produced a magnificent performance at a rocking Eden Park in Auckland to beat Australia 15-6 and completely open up the tournament.
Ireland's first victory in five World Cup meetings with the Wallabies will probably shift the three Tri-Nations sides into the same side of the draw and open a path to the final for the Six Nations teams.
Holder South Africa, which invariably raises its game when it matters, showed that it remains a major threat with a clinical 49-3 six-try destruction of Fiji in Wellington.
Argentina also began to find its rhythm as the Pumas bounced back from their narrow opening defeat by England to also score six tries in a fluid 43-8 victory over a poor Romania side in Invercargill.
It was the Irish though who will hog the headlines as they outfought and out-thought the Pool C favorites in a match that will live long in the memories of the 58,000 there and the millions more watching over their breakfasts in Europe.
Going into the match on the back of four warm-up defeats and a nervy opening victory against the United States, the Irish tackled like demons, refused to allow the Wallabies to settle and were deserved winners.
Two penalties and a drop goal from Jonathan Sexton and another two penalties from Ronan O'Gara proved decisive as the Irish pack, and their scrum in particular, ruled the night.
"It was the performance we knew we had in us," said Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll. "It's just half the job done. As much as we'll enjoy this, let's not lose sight there are two more games."
Those are against Russia and Italy but on this form they should prove a formality for a team desperate to perform well after failing to live up to expectations all too often in the biggest tournament of all.
Two more victories would give Ireland top spot in the pool and a quarterfinal against the runner-up from Pool D, likely to be Wales or Samoa, and a great chance of reaching the semifinals for the first time.
Tri-Nations champion Australia badly missed injured flanker David Pocock as the Irish back row made hay, scything down gold shirts at every opportunity and preventing the talented Wallaby backs from having any time or space.
Assuming they win their remaining games against Russia and the US, the Wallabies should face a daunting quarterfinal against the Springboks, with New Zealand likely to be waiting for the winners in the semis.
South Africa, which narrowly avoided its own upset when it scraped past Wales by a point in their opener, was much more like its old self against Fiji.
After absorbing a strong start from the Pacific islanders, the Africans eventually bullied and bossed their opponents, who never looked capable of a repeat of their 2007 performance when they pushed the Springboks so close in the quarterfinal.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez had a superb match while flyhalf Morne Steyn scored a try and slotted five conversions and two penalties.
Gurthro Steenkamp, Jaque Fourie, Frans Steyn - who also landed a 58-meter penalty, Tendai Mtwarira and man of the match Danie Rossouw also crossed for the Springboks.
Argentina was a little unlucky to lose its opener to England but set itself up nicely for a probable shoot-out for second place with Scotland after thrashing Romania.
The Pumas ran in four tries in the opening 30 minutes against a Romania side which looked a shadow of the team which was within six minutes of beating Scotland a week ago.
Tries for Santiago Fernandez, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Figallo and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino had the bonus point in the bag, while Juan Jose Imhoff and Genaro Fessia crossed after the break.
Today, Wales faces Samoa in coach Warren Gatland's hometown of Hamilton, England plays Georgia at Dunedin, and France tackles Canada in Napier.
Ireland's first victory in five World Cup meetings with the Wallabies will probably shift the three Tri-Nations sides into the same side of the draw and open a path to the final for the Six Nations teams.
Holder South Africa, which invariably raises its game when it matters, showed that it remains a major threat with a clinical 49-3 six-try destruction of Fiji in Wellington.
Argentina also began to find its rhythm as the Pumas bounced back from their narrow opening defeat by England to also score six tries in a fluid 43-8 victory over a poor Romania side in Invercargill.
It was the Irish though who will hog the headlines as they outfought and out-thought the Pool C favorites in a match that will live long in the memories of the 58,000 there and the millions more watching over their breakfasts in Europe.
Going into the match on the back of four warm-up defeats and a nervy opening victory against the United States, the Irish tackled like demons, refused to allow the Wallabies to settle and were deserved winners.
Two penalties and a drop goal from Jonathan Sexton and another two penalties from Ronan O'Gara proved decisive as the Irish pack, and their scrum in particular, ruled the night.
"It was the performance we knew we had in us," said Ireland captain Brian O'Driscoll. "It's just half the job done. As much as we'll enjoy this, let's not lose sight there are two more games."
Those are against Russia and Italy but on this form they should prove a formality for a team desperate to perform well after failing to live up to expectations all too often in the biggest tournament of all.
Two more victories would give Ireland top spot in the pool and a quarterfinal against the runner-up from Pool D, likely to be Wales or Samoa, and a great chance of reaching the semifinals for the first time.
Tri-Nations champion Australia badly missed injured flanker David Pocock as the Irish back row made hay, scything down gold shirts at every opportunity and preventing the talented Wallaby backs from having any time or space.
Assuming they win their remaining games against Russia and the US, the Wallabies should face a daunting quarterfinal against the Springboks, with New Zealand likely to be waiting for the winners in the semis.
South Africa, which narrowly avoided its own upset when it scraped past Wales by a point in their opener, was much more like its old self against Fiji.
After absorbing a strong start from the Pacific islanders, the Africans eventually bullied and bossed their opponents, who never looked capable of a repeat of their 2007 performance when they pushed the Springboks so close in the quarterfinal.
Scrumhalf Fourie du Preez had a superb match while flyhalf Morne Steyn scored a try and slotted five conversions and two penalties.
Gurthro Steenkamp, Jaque Fourie, Frans Steyn - who also landed a 58-meter penalty, Tendai Mtwarira and man of the match Danie Rossouw also crossed for the Springboks.
Argentina was a little unlucky to lose its opener to England but set itself up nicely for a probable shoot-out for second place with Scotland after thrashing Romania.
The Pumas ran in four tries in the opening 30 minutes against a Romania side which looked a shadow of the team which was within six minutes of beating Scotland a week ago.
Tries for Santiago Fernandez, Juan Manuel Leguizamon, Juan Figallo and Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino had the bonus point in the bag, while Juan Jose Imhoff and Genaro Fessia crossed after the break.
Today, Wales faces Samoa in coach Warren Gatland's hometown of Hamilton, England plays Georgia at Dunedin, and France tackles Canada in Napier.
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