IRELAND concluded their 2021 Summer Series with a more than convincing win over the USA. Head coach Andy Farrell included 8 uncapped players in the match-day squad, Farrell also gave Munster’s Gavin Coombes and Craig Casey their first test starts.
Ireland suffered from a slow start in the form of minor handling errors and bland attacking, however it wasn’t long before the novice team settled into the game. Irelands first score came in the form of a penalty kick from Joey Carbery, yet Carbery’s efforts would soon be forgotten due to a blazing try from Ulster’s debutante, Robert Baloucoune.
The USA kept the scoreboard relatively close for a period, thanks to a penalty kick from Roscommon native Luke Carty. Unfortunately for the Americans it wasn’t long before Ireland struck again, as Ronan Kelleher finished off a powerful attacking maul to drive over the American try line.
Ireland would clock up two more tries in the first half in the form of Nick Timoney and Ronan Kelleher again. By the end of the first half Ireland had crossed the American try line four times, while Carbery maintained a 100% success rate off the tee over four attempts.
The second half began without Munster’s Andrew Conway, who was replaced by Ulster’s Will Addison. Ireland proceeded to stick to what worked in the first half as Ronan Kelleher led the Irish maul to go 35 points ahead after just 45 minutes. Carbery continued his 100% success rate off the tee when converting Kelleher’s third try, until he was replaced by Leinster’s Harry Byrne.
The USA continued to lack the confidence they once showed in the first half. Now with the majority of the game being played in their half of the pitch, the Americans succumbed to the pressure as open-side flanker Riekert Hattingh was shown a red card due to his high tackle on Ronan Kelleher.
Now with just 14 men, the USA had to fend against a very unworried and confident Irish team. Ronan Kelleher would seal his man of the match award by crossing the American try line a fourth time, the first hooker to accomplish such a feat since Keith Wood in 1999.
Ireland continued to keep the pressure on the USA, with two additional tries from Stuart McCloskey and Hugo Keenan, the fatigued USA were forced to use the remainder of their bench.
Despite the fresh American legs now on the pitch, the USA were unable to create any form of promising momentum. Tries from Munster’s Gavin Coombes and Connacht’s Finlay Bealham in the games closing 10 minutes established the lopsided score of 71 – 10 in favour of the Irish.
Andy Farrell and his men will face off against the USA again this coming October in Las Vegas, and the home advantage could make all the difference for the Americans.
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