Ireland A wilt as Saxons raise the heat

England Saxons 34 Ireland A 12

A Keith Earls brace had Ireland in contention at the break, 17-12 down, but they wilted on the resumption as two games in four days, played in soaring temperatures, took their toll.

“It is very frustrating, we made a few mistakes which compounded the scoreline and a few decisions went against us,” said Clarke.

“At times we didn’t retain the ball and when you are points down and are trying to chase the game, that doesn’t help.

“The boys are absolutely shattered. It was a good spectacle as far as rugby goes but we were just on the wrong end of the result.”

Ireland will be glad of a seven-day rest before they meet Argentina A in their third successive Plate final at Chicago’s Toyota Park on Saturday, after the South Americans ousted Canada 17-16 on Saturday.

The Saxons, inspired by Bath fullback Nick Abendanon, who created three tries before grabbing one of his own, will now meet Group A winners Scotland.

Ireland drew first blood when centre Keith Earl collected a flat pass from fly half Jonathan Sexton to slice through the English midfield.

But after soaking up the early pressure, England fought back in the second quarter, their aggressive tackling and effective tactical kicking creating three first-half scores.

The first came when Gloucester centre Anthony Allen collected a Lamb up-and-under and shrugged off the midfield defence. Paul Hodgson was on hand to recycle the ball wide to send waiting winger Matt Banahan over in the left corner.

Lamb’s conversion meant England nosed ahead 7-5 after 20 minutes. But moments later, an unconverted try on the half-hour from London Irish flanker Steffon Armitage, courtesy of a break from livewire Abendanon, was cancelled out when Earls added his second, after powering through some poor Saxons tackling. Sexton added the extras to level the scores at 12-12.

Working their way out of their own 22, England powered forward, before Hodgson released Abendanon to jink his way through the tiring backline before feeding wing Ugo Monye, who left opposite number Brian Tuohy grasping at air to sail over.

Abendanon put Banahan in for his second after the break, before Allen killed off any Irish hopes of a comeback with a try as the game entered the final quarter.

But the final word of the game went to Abendanon, who touched down after collecting his own midfield chip thanks to a deflection off an Irish hand.

ENGLAND SAXONS: N Abendanon; U Monye, O Smith, A Allen, M Banahan; R Lamb, P Hodgson; A Clarke, G Chuter (capt), D Wilson; G Skivington, C Jones; J Crane, S Armitage, T Guest.

Replacements: C Robshaw for Guest (39, inj), J Forster for Clarke (40), R Blaze for Jones (66), B Foden for Monye (71), A Jarvis for Lamb (75), A Titterall for Chuter (75).

IRELAND A: D Hurley; G Brown, K Lewis, K Earls, B Tuohy; J Sexton, T O’Leary; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; B Casey (capt), D Ryan; N Best, D Pollock, R Wilson.

Replacements: J O’Connor for Pollock (48), I Keatley for Sexton (54), D Fogarty for Cronin (57).

Referee: A McPherson (Scotland).