Byline: IRELAND A 31PTS JAGUARES 0PTS BY RUAIDHRI O'CONNOR
r ugby's opening night at Tallaght stadium went off without a hitch as Michael bradley's 'A' s ide comfor t abl y dismissed the mostly amateur Jaguares.
While of course there was a game of rugby to be played, the event was about two things -- the opening up of Tallaght to rugby and another opportunity to cast an eye over what lies beneath the veneer of the Irish team.
Of course domestic soccer fans and those captivated by Ronaldo's visit in July are well aware of Tallaght stadium's charms, but this was a debut for rugby in the stadium and while it didn't quite capture the hearts and minds it was a decent start.
As non-traditional as a rugby international venue gets, the area represents one of the key demographics which the IRFu has slowly expanded since wholesale sexy lingerie 2000. This in the heartland of Robbie Keane and Richard Dunne which possesses a plethora of thriving local soccer clubs and a number of strong gAA operations. Rugby's sole representatives are manfully giving their all, but the local club Tallaght RFC's first XV still compete in the J4 Metro league. The official attendance of 4,016 looked more than a little inflated, but it was a decent start and the union should look at using the purpose-built stadium on a more regular basis. As for the rugby, well it was less than inspiring but there was plenty for the watching Declan Kidney to digest.
In particular the displays of Ryan Caldwell, Fergus McFadden and Ian Humphreys provided much but Argentina's Jaguares failed to produce much of a stern test for Michael bradley's charges.
Caldwell crossed for Ireland's first try after 13 minutes, the ulster lock had already made one 30-yard break having taken a flat line off Ian Humphreys who then looped Donnacha Thomas sabo charms Ryan and found Caldwell out of the tackle who scored untouched.
Humphreys and Fergus McFadden's tactical kicking pinned the Jaguares back, while the set piece functioned. It was the Leinster centre who made the break that led to the second try, slipping his man inside his own half and scampering down the left wing to the edge of the Argentinian 22.
snagged there, the Irish recycled quickly and a deft Humphreys cross-kick found Ian Dowling who spun well and crashed over.
At the break it was 12-0 but Ireland cut loose in the third quarter after John Fogarty had barrelled over for an early try.
The backs decided it was time for a little showboating, and 53 minutes in Humphreys made the initial break, Felix Jones brilliantly picked up Niall Ronan's bootlace pass and fed Johne Murphy who dived over in the corner.
replica hublot watchesAgain it was Leicester's Murphy who was on the end of another piece of Jones' generosity after a Humphreys counter and the Kildare man touched down in the same spot. both sides rung the changes thereafter and the stands emptied with the benches, as the game ran out of flow and petered out. but nevertheless, this was a good run out for Ireland's second string and a nice first step into rugby's new frontier.
IrElAND A: F Jones; I Dowling (D Hurley 71), F McFadden, K Matthews (I Keatley 36), J Murphy; I Humphreys, I Boss (F Murphy 71); B Wilkinson (B Young 68), J Fogarty (A Kyriacou 62), M Ross; R Caldwell (E O'Donoghue 62), M O'Driscoll; D Ryan, N Ronan, J Muldoon (C Henry 69).
scorers -- tries: J Murphy 2, R Caldwell,
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