Brave Ireland set sights on 2013 as Fiji shatter dream

Ireland 14 Fiji 30

Kelly’s heroes missed out on a dream meeting with Australia at the Sydney Football Stadium after they were beaten 30-14 by the multi-talented Fijians in the semi-final qualifier in front of a crowd of 8,224 at Gold Coast’s Skilled Park.

The 2000 quarter-finalists are confident of being able to go one better next time and, in the meantime, hope their achievements will earn them a call-up to the Tri-Nations Series.

The series is due to be expanded in 2009 with the addition of France but, after the Tricolors finished with the wooden spoon from the 10-team tournament, there are calls for the Irish to be promoted above them.

Asked for his reaction if the French are confirmed as the fourth nation, Kelly said: “I would feel a little put out. I feel that we deserve a shot at something that is of a higher profile.

“We would be more than happy to be involved. There are a few suggestions about the next tournament but we’ve got nothing definite yet. I would hope something would be put in place quite quickly and it’s a viable competition that we can all benefit from.

“I understand there is another World Cup possibly in five years and, if we can get regular fixtures, I am sure we can go further than we have this year. I think Ireland’s improvement and regular international fixtures would help England as well.”

Kelly also believes the introduction of an Ireland club in the English National League would provide a boost not only to the national side but to Ireland’s fledgling domestic competition, which produced just four members of his 24-strong World Cup squad.

“I’ve suggested we need to look at the viability of having a National League side because we need to produce players who can cope with this kind of football,” he said.

Ireland went into yesterday’s game full of confidence and determination following their shock 34-16 win over highly-fancied Samoa and tackled heroically but they could not match their opponents for flair and skill on attack.

The plucky Irish finished bloodied and bruised but they kept alive their dream in a tense and hard-fought first half before being swept aside by superior opponents after the break.

“The spirit that we built among the players was there for all to see but we strayed away from what we’ve done well and that’s why we were under so much pressure the whole game,” said Kelly.

“The spirit wasn’t enough but, even in defeat, I’m really proud of the guys. I reckon we must have defended for 70% of the game. We defended manfully and still had the energy to come up with a score at the end.”

Fiji twice took the lead through captain Wes Naiqama and exciting teenage winger Akuila Uate but Ireland struck back through Damien Blanch and captain Scott Grix and would have been in front by half-time but for another off day with the boot by Pat Richards, who succeeded with just one of three attempts.

The Wigan winger also missed an interception opportunity early in the second half before Fiji pulled away with further tries from loose forward Jayson Bukuya, Jarryd Hayne and Uate, with Naiqama taking his goal tally to five. At least Ireland had the final say when Blanch took an offload from second-rower Lee Doran to score his fifth try of the tournament, matching the tally of Uate, but it was little consolation.

FIJI: Hayne; Tadulala, Naiqama (capt), Millard, Uate; Noilea, Groom; Sadrau, Suka, Vono, Sims, Koroi, Bukuya. Interchange: Storer, Bradley-Qalilawa, Tora, Naqau.

IRELAND: Platt; Blanch, Gleeson, Littler, Richards; Grix, Finn; O’Carroll, Beswick, Haggerty, Harrison, Doran, Finnigan. Interchange: McIlorum, Fitzpatrick, Corcoran, Tandy.

Referee: A Klein.