Fergus McFadden

By Gary Watton
June 9 2013

United States Of America 12 IRELAND15..........Okay, so fifteen points to twelve does not exactly sound like a landslide, and a failure to record any tries doesn't set the pulses racing either, but Ireland can draw much relief and satisfaction from their narrow win away to Uncle Sam. 

It is sometimes stated that winning can become a good habit and losing can deteriorate into a bad habit. Well, the Oirish have been on something of a losing streak since the heady days of the 2009 grand slam milestone. Therefore, a narrow win away to the potential banana skin of the improving United States of America represents a possible step forward or at least arrests the alarming decline. Furthermore, in their defence, the men in green were a makeshift XV, devoid of their regulars. It is therefore something of a learning curve for new captain Peter O'Mahony and his wet-behind-the-ears colleagues that they produced a spirited display and passed the first of their two summer auditions in the awkward heat of Houston. Admittedly, Canada next weekend may present even more of a tricky assignment than this one proved to be.

In the event, Ian Madigan completely justified his inclusion by successfully converting five penalties, the first four of which yielded a twelve-six interval lead for the tourists. I thought that Paddy Jackson was extremely unfortunate to lose possession of the number 10 jersey, but Madigan's progress may well have persuaded the Leinster selectors that they need look no further for Jonny Sexton's successor.

Elsewhere, the Irish front row of Kilcoyne, Ross, and Strauss bossed the scrums and the team excelled in its defensive duties. Debutants Robbie Henshaw and Stuart Olding can only profit from this testing experience. A potential ambush has been safely negotiated, albeit by a slender margin. Presumably, the constantly overlooked Andrew Trimble can be relied upon to replace the departing Simon Zebo as the Irish rugby warriors prepare for their expedition north of the border.

The Ireland team was:

15 Henshaw

14 McFadden

13 Cave

12 Olding

11 Zebo

10 Madigan [5 penalties]

9 Boss

8 O'Mahony (captain)

7 Henry

6 Henderson

5 Toner

4 McCarthy

3 Ross

2 Strauss

1 Kilcoyne