Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
By CreamCraicer
January 18 2009
EMPHATIC, EFFICIENT….BUT NOT WHAT I WANTED
I’m sure many fans will be ecstatic with such an impressive win but I’m not amongst them; I’m left feeling a little down by the score-line; let me explain ...
January 18 2009
EMPHATIC, EFFICIENT….BUT NOT WHAT I WANTED
I’m sure many fans will be ecstatic with such an impressive win but I’m not amongst them; I’m left feeling a little down by the score-line; let me explain ...
I may be one of a London Irish supporter that’s more ‘London’ than ‘Irish’ but what Irish blood I have, flows from Westport, Mayo. I have to admit that I’ve only been lucky enough to visit the West Coast once spending just half a day in my ancestral hometown but I immediately fell in love with the area and the people. An area and people very proud of their roots with large numbers still preferring the Gaelic ways of doing things, from the language to the sport. The love of the former partly explains the score-line. Connacht is a province with a proud and successful sporting history in Gaelic Football and Hurling, Rugby has always taken a back seat.
We arrived a little later than usual and only caught the last 10 minutes of the warm-up but I noticed a difference in the styles of the two teams. Connacht seemed to be running through very basic drills compared to Irish.
On Irish’s side of the pitch, whilst the team were going through stretches Bob was barking out the orders, making sure everyone was as pumped up as he so obviously was. I was pleased to see the ‘solid-citizen’ figure of Richard Skuse gracing the pitch after what seems to be years out.
There was a change to the teams printed with Fionn Carr missing out due to the flu, he place on Connachts right wing was taken by Mike Roberts with Liam Bibo being promoted to the bench.
Connacht kicked off, attacking towards the North Stand, the kicked was fumbled by Hewat…scrum to Connacht on the 22. Pressure from the Irish pack lead to Connacht collapsing the scrum and conceding a penalty, which was duly dispatched into touch.
Irish opened the scoring in the third minute. An attack which started with quick ball from a lineout, and saw Irish using the full width of pitch, was finished off by ‘the best openside in the country’ Steffon Armitage as he stretched to touch down under the posts. Geraghty converted (Hewat still carrying an injury from the Sale game). 7-0 to Irish.
The lead was doubled 4 minutes later when pressure from the Irish pack at a scrum leads to scrappy ball. A bad pass was hacked downfield by Irish and after a good chase and offload, Hudson ran in for only his second try for Irish. Geraghty converted, 14-0 Irish.
Irish dominance at the scrum continued and after another penalty for collapsing, Irish showed their intention to secure the bonus point as soon as possible by turning down a kick at the posts, instead, sending the ball into touch.
This paid off when, after quick ball from the lineout, the ball was sent wide through the hands and Hewat ran in and touched down under the posts. Geraghty made the easy conversion. 21-0 Irish.
Connacht had their first period of possession and territory when Irish were caught offside on their own 22. They, like Irish had done earlier, turned down an easy kick at the posts and kicked the ball to touch. A catch and drive from the lineout got them over the line but Irish held them up. They kept the pressure up from the resulting scrum but were caught off their feet at the breakdown and Irish cleared the ball to touch.
Connacht stole possession on 17 minutes and Riordan launched a good garryowen, Hewat misjudged the flight of the ball and fumbled the catch, Riordan scooped the ball off the floor and cantered in for Connachts first and, as it turned out, only try; Dunne’s conversion struck the left upright. Irish 21 Connacht 5, was this the start of a fight back…….no.
Connacht did continue to put pressure on Irish’s defence when they turned down another kick at the posts, electing instead to put the ball into touch. They won the resulting lineout but were penalised for crossing.
Irish put pressure on the Connacht defence and good back-play set up an overlap, a deliberate knock-on from try scorer Riordan prevented the try and won him 10 minutes of seat-warming in the sin-bin.
Irish chose the scrum and Geraghty was held up by the Connacht defence. At the resulting scrum Connacht were penalised for driving-up, Hodgson took the quick-tap and moved the ball to Hala'Ufia who barged his way over for Irish's 4th try. Geraghty converted to make the score 28-5; half an hour gone and Irish had secured the bonus point.
Connacht didn’t give up and had a penalty deep in Irish’s 22 when Casey was caught off his feet at the breakdown, Dunne’s kick to touch went backwards (first time I’ve seen that) but they still had a lineout 15 metres out. However, Bob made up for his mistake by stealing the ball and Irish cleared their lines. During this period of play Michael Swift, Connacht's lock, picked up an injury and was replace by Mike McCarthy.
In the last minute of the half Connacht were penalised for hands in the ruck, Bob took a quick-tap, the ball was moved left and Bailey showed some good footwork and pace to touch down near the corner, Geraghty continued his perfect kicking and converted making the half-time score Irish 35 Connacht 5…………..time for a pie me thinks.
Half Time Substitutions
Dan Murphy replaced Clarke Dermody and Connacht reversed the earlier substitution with Michael Swift returning to the action
The start of the second half was dominated by slow, scrappy play with both sides making mistakes and losing the ball. A short period of pressure from Connacht ended with them conceding another penalty at the breakdown, this time for holding onto the ball. Irish made three changes, Danaher on for Armitage, Lea’aetoa on for Skuse and Coetzee on for Paice.
The first points of the half came 10 minutes in. Irish worked through the phases and Ojo made a half break into Connachts 22, quick ball from Hodgson went left to Hewat who ran through a hole, where I’m sure the defence was meant to be, to touch down in the corner. Geraghty missed his first kick at goal to leave the score at 40-5 to Irish.
Substitutions were made by both sides; for Irish Johnson, Fury and Seveali’i replaced Hudson, Hodgson and Catt respectively. For Connacht O’Loughlin replaced Campbell and McCarthy replaced Farley. A few minutes later Johne Lyne was replaced by Brian McGovern.
Irish scored their 5th try on 54 minutes when Ojo took a well timed inside pass from Geraghty, Ojo’s angle of run meant he just glided through Connachts defence and touch down with ease, Geraghty converted to move the score to 47-5. What followed was another period of sloppy play by both sides with knock-ons and forward passes.
Just after the hour mark came a moment of confusion for many. The referee penalised Connacht for yet another offence at the scrum and Irish elected to scrum down. Connacht made two substitutions Colm Rigney was replace by John Muldoon and Ronan Loughney was replaced by John Lyne or so everyone thought; after a discussion with the 4th official and the two coaches the decision was made to replace Loughney with Joe Meriden. This meant Connacht had a front row of two hookers and a prop on the field and scrums became uncontested.
The ball was spun wide from the scrum and ended up in the hands of Hewat, who was running at pace from deep, and he touched down near the corner, Geraghty converted and Irish lead 54-5
What turns out to be Connacht's last period of pressure and territory comes after 65 minutes when they are camped deep in Irish’s 22. They attempt consecutive drives for the line, each one unsuccessful and each one resulting in a scrum.. All the pressure leads to nothing and Irish clear.
Connacht continue to show ambition, attacking from deep in their own half. Their ambition almost pays off when they break through Irish’s defence thanks to clever passing and offloads. Sadly for Connacht, instead of setting up a good attacking platform they get turned over when a player becomes isolated, Hewat collects the ball and runs in from 55 metres through a disorientated Connacht defence. Geraghty converts to make it Irish 61 Connacht 5.
A period of ‘broken’ rugby follows with plenty of half breaks and just as many mistakes. Irish calm things down and work through the phases, working their way into Connacht territory, The ball is moved right and Hewat touches down right in the corner for his 5th try and Irish’s 10th. Geraghty puts the difficult conversion between the uprights and moves the score to 68-3.
The days scoring is completed when very imaginative but scrappy play leads to the ball finding its way into the hands of Topsy Ojo who exhibited great footwork and pace to beat defenders and touch down under the posts for a great individual try, Geraghty's conversion makes the full time score London Irish 75 – 5 Connacht with Geraghty landing 10/11 kicks and Hewat being awarded the MOTM; however, for me the MOTM was James Hudson who covered every blade of grass and added a dynamism to the pack.
The victory guarantees a home quarter-final and Northampton's failure to get a bonus against Montpellier leaves Irish in pole posistion to get the Number 1 seeding in the draw
We arrived a little later than usual and only caught the last 10 minutes of the warm-up but I noticed a difference in the styles of the two teams. Connacht seemed to be running through very basic drills compared to Irish.
On Irish’s side of the pitch, whilst the team were going through stretches Bob was barking out the orders, making sure everyone was as pumped up as he so obviously was. I was pleased to see the ‘solid-citizen’ figure of Richard Skuse gracing the pitch after what seems to be years out.
There was a change to the teams printed with Fionn Carr missing out due to the flu, he place on Connachts right wing was taken by Mike Roberts with Liam Bibo being promoted to the bench.
Connacht kicked off, attacking towards the North Stand, the kicked was fumbled by Hewat…scrum to Connacht on the 22. Pressure from the Irish pack lead to Connacht collapsing the scrum and conceding a penalty, which was duly dispatched into touch.
Irish opened the scoring in the third minute. An attack which started with quick ball from a lineout, and saw Irish using the full width of pitch, was finished off by ‘the best openside in the country’ Steffon Armitage as he stretched to touch down under the posts. Geraghty converted (Hewat still carrying an injury from the Sale game). 7-0 to Irish.
The lead was doubled 4 minutes later when pressure from the Irish pack at a scrum leads to scrappy ball. A bad pass was hacked downfield by Irish and after a good chase and offload, Hudson ran in for only his second try for Irish. Geraghty converted, 14-0 Irish.
Irish dominance at the scrum continued and after another penalty for collapsing, Irish showed their intention to secure the bonus point as soon as possible by turning down a kick at the posts, instead, sending the ball into touch.
This paid off when, after quick ball from the lineout, the ball was sent wide through the hands and Hewat ran in and touched down under the posts. Geraghty made the easy conversion. 21-0 Irish.
Connacht had their first period of possession and territory when Irish were caught offside on their own 22. They, like Irish had done earlier, turned down an easy kick at the posts and kicked the ball to touch. A catch and drive from the lineout got them over the line but Irish held them up. They kept the pressure up from the resulting scrum but were caught off their feet at the breakdown and Irish cleared the ball to touch.
Connacht stole possession on 17 minutes and Riordan launched a good garryowen, Hewat misjudged the flight of the ball and fumbled the catch, Riordan scooped the ball off the floor and cantered in for Connachts first and, as it turned out, only try; Dunne’s conversion struck the left upright. Irish 21 Connacht 5, was this the start of a fight back…….no.
Connacht did continue to put pressure on Irish’s defence when they turned down another kick at the posts, electing instead to put the ball into touch. They won the resulting lineout but were penalised for crossing.
Irish put pressure on the Connacht defence and good back-play set up an overlap, a deliberate knock-on from try scorer Riordan prevented the try and won him 10 minutes of seat-warming in the sin-bin.
Irish chose the scrum and Geraghty was held up by the Connacht defence. At the resulting scrum Connacht were penalised for driving-up, Hodgson took the quick-tap and moved the ball to Hala'Ufia who barged his way over for Irish's 4th try. Geraghty converted to make the score 28-5; half an hour gone and Irish had secured the bonus point.
Connacht didn’t give up and had a penalty deep in Irish’s 22 when Casey was caught off his feet at the breakdown, Dunne’s kick to touch went backwards (first time I’ve seen that) but they still had a lineout 15 metres out. However, Bob made up for his mistake by stealing the ball and Irish cleared their lines. During this period of play Michael Swift, Connacht's lock, picked up an injury and was replace by Mike McCarthy.
In the last minute of the half Connacht were penalised for hands in the ruck, Bob took a quick-tap, the ball was moved left and Bailey showed some good footwork and pace to touch down near the corner, Geraghty continued his perfect kicking and converted making the half-time score Irish 35 Connacht 5…………..time for a pie me thinks.
Half Time Substitutions
Dan Murphy replaced Clarke Dermody and Connacht reversed the earlier substitution with Michael Swift returning to the action
The start of the second half was dominated by slow, scrappy play with both sides making mistakes and losing the ball. A short period of pressure from Connacht ended with them conceding another penalty at the breakdown, this time for holding onto the ball. Irish made three changes, Danaher on for Armitage, Lea’aetoa on for Skuse and Coetzee on for Paice.
The first points of the half came 10 minutes in. Irish worked through the phases and Ojo made a half break into Connachts 22, quick ball from Hodgson went left to Hewat who ran through a hole, where I’m sure the defence was meant to be, to touch down in the corner. Geraghty missed his first kick at goal to leave the score at 40-5 to Irish.
Substitutions were made by both sides; for Irish Johnson, Fury and Seveali’i replaced Hudson, Hodgson and Catt respectively. For Connacht O’Loughlin replaced Campbell and McCarthy replaced Farley. A few minutes later Johne Lyne was replaced by Brian McGovern.
Irish scored their 5th try on 54 minutes when Ojo took a well timed inside pass from Geraghty, Ojo’s angle of run meant he just glided through Connachts defence and touch down with ease, Geraghty converted to move the score to 47-5. What followed was another period of sloppy play by both sides with knock-ons and forward passes.
Just after the hour mark came a moment of confusion for many. The referee penalised Connacht for yet another offence at the scrum and Irish elected to scrum down. Connacht made two substitutions Colm Rigney was replace by John Muldoon and Ronan Loughney was replaced by John Lyne or so everyone thought; after a discussion with the 4th official and the two coaches the decision was made to replace Loughney with Joe Meriden. This meant Connacht had a front row of two hookers and a prop on the field and scrums became uncontested.
The ball was spun wide from the scrum and ended up in the hands of Hewat, who was running at pace from deep, and he touched down near the corner, Geraghty converted and Irish lead 54-5
What turns out to be Connacht's last period of pressure and territory comes after 65 minutes when they are camped deep in Irish’s 22. They attempt consecutive drives for the line, each one unsuccessful and each one resulting in a scrum.. All the pressure leads to nothing and Irish clear.
Connacht continue to show ambition, attacking from deep in their own half. Their ambition almost pays off when they break through Irish’s defence thanks to clever passing and offloads. Sadly for Connacht, instead of setting up a good attacking platform they get turned over when a player becomes isolated, Hewat collects the ball and runs in from 55 metres through a disorientated Connacht defence. Geraghty converts to make it Irish 61 Connacht 5.
A period of ‘broken’ rugby follows with plenty of half breaks and just as many mistakes. Irish calm things down and work through the phases, working their way into Connacht territory, The ball is moved right and Hewat touches down right in the corner for his 5th try and Irish’s 10th. Geraghty puts the difficult conversion between the uprights and moves the score to 68-3.
The days scoring is completed when very imaginative but scrappy play leads to the ball finding its way into the hands of Topsy Ojo who exhibited great footwork and pace to beat defenders and touch down under the posts for a great individual try, Geraghty's conversion makes the full time score London Irish 75 – 5 Connacht with Geraghty landing 10/11 kicks and Hewat being awarded the MOTM; however, for me the MOTM was James Hudson who covered every blade of grass and added a dynamism to the pack.
The victory guarantees a home quarter-final and Northampton's failure to get a bonus against Montpellier leaves Irish in pole posistion to get the Number 1 seeding in the draw
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StumbleuponIrish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: The Craic www.londonirish.org (IP Logged)
Date: 18/01/2009 10:24
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Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: CooperMan (IP Logged)
Date: 18/01/2009 12:26
Thanks, almost like being there! Sorry I missed out online too, but the offer of free food and drink (unlimited by the way) at the Overmach - El Salvador match, before, during and after the game was too tempting! We even had Grappa brought round the stand by one of the sponsors. At one point he went &rse over tìt with the bottle and tray in his hand - he must have had Irish blood, he didn't spill a drop!
CooperMan
An son spajé co'l cul c'a bruséva.
CooperMan
An son spajé co'l cul c'a bruséva.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: CooperMan (IP Logged)
Date: 18/01/2009 12:28
P.S. I predicted 18 - 9 by the way
CooperMan
An son spajé co'l cul c'a bruséva.
CooperMan
An son spajé co'l cul c'a bruséva.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: MadMonk (IP Logged)
Date: 18/01/2009 14:00
I predicted 75 - 5 but forgot to tell anyone before the match.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: CreamCraicer (IP Logged)
Date: 18/01/2009 14:15
I predicted 77-5 but shanes poor kicking let me down
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: balpw2. (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 07:24
Good report CC.
It great to see the team play with such purpose and skill but I too was left a bit disappointed by Connacht. I'd given the ECC games a miss this season because I predicted that against Rovigo and Dax it would be little more than a training run for our boys. And I was right (I actually saw the Dax game on TV BTW)
I went to the Connacht game because I thought they would put up a bit more of a fight and also because I like to take a look at the Irish Province team when I can. (I went ot the Stoop a couple of seasons ago when Connacht played there). So the fact that it was another ECC group game training run was a touch disappointing.
It great to see the team play with such purpose and skill but I too was left a bit disappointed by Connacht. I'd given the ECC games a miss this season because I predicted that against Rovigo and Dax it would be little more than a training run for our boys. And I was right (I actually saw the Dax game on TV BTW)
I went to the Connacht game because I thought they would put up a bit more of a fight and also because I like to take a look at the Irish Province team when I can. (I went ot the Stoop a couple of seasons ago when Connacht played there). So the fact that it was another ECC group game training run was a touch disappointing.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: cameronk (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 08:38
I was a little disappointed, too. It was my first London Irish game, so that in itself was exciting! But I took my Dad, who's a Galway man, so obviously supporting Connacht. He had a fantastic time, but he was disappointed with how his team played. At least he had one try to cheer, though!
And what a difference to football. If my Dad had been yelling for his team in a similar way among a sea of opposition footie fans, we would either have been beaten up or chucked out.
And what a difference to football. If my Dad had been yelling for his team in a similar way among a sea of opposition footie fans, we would either have been beaten up or chucked out.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: paul Mc (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 09:32
Although the game was very one sided the passing of our team was superb and would have caused problems to most teams - even those in the Heinken Cup.
There was one of Peter Hewat's tries where Shane passed the ball a good 40 to 45 yards past 4 Connacht players and Peter had only to fall over the line with the ball.
There was one of Peter Hewat's tries where Shane passed the ball a good 40 to 45 yards past 4 Connacht players and Peter had only to fall over the line with the ball.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: Griff (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 09:47
Welcome Cameron, glad you enjoyed your first Irish experience (sorry your Dad didn't have much to cheer about, perhaps if we get Connacht again for the Quarter Final he can come back for a a fairer fight). The difference from footy is marked, many can't go back to football once they get used to rugby, it's just too much like hard-work.
One point of clarification chaps, Wasn't it Peter Hewatt who missed the conversion ? I thought Shane was 100% yesterday. Happy to be told I was wrong, though (and they can be a bu99er to tell apart from a distance).
One point of clarification chaps, Wasn't it Peter Hewatt who missed the conversion ? I thought Shane was 100% yesterday. Happy to be told I was wrong, though (and they can be a bu99er to tell apart from a distance).
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: CharlieG (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 10:21
All the stats said that Shane got 10/11.
But then the stats said that Delon got the first try !!
But then the stats said that Delon got the first try !!
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: bisach (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 12:18
Come on now Griff, Shane missed the conversion from right in front of us on the touchline which went left of the posts.
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: CharlieG (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 13:20
From the offy report at [www.london-irish.com]
Quote:Geraghty kicked the conversion to make his tally five out of six in the second half
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: Griff (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 13:28
Ah, fair enough. It's the aging eyes you know...
Re: Irish 75 - 5 Connacht
Posted by: bisach (IP Logged)
Date: 19/01/2009 17:46
That's alright, I though Shane has scored one of Peter's tries.
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