Ireland turn on their A game
Coach, Michael Bradley, said he was very pleased with an efficient display. “I thought, in the first half in particular, we took our tries very well, but when we took our eye of the game, they came back and got two tries.
“It broke up a little bit more in the second and I am delighted to have started the autumn series with a win.”
Three minutes in, following a lively backline move, Ireland out-half Ian Humphreys popped over a cross-field kick for late call-up hooker, Denis Fogarty to catch and feed debutant prop Brett Wilkinson to drop over the line for an unconverted try.
The Irish absorbed the big Tongan drives well and when they were finally penalised for going offside at a ruck, Humphreys increased the lead to 8-0 with a penalty just inside half way.
But the Irish should have gone further ahead when winger, Andrew Trimble set the home crowd alight with a lovely burst and sidestep putting Humphreys away on the left flank. Why the out-half did not go for the line was his judgment call, but his pass inside to either Fogarty or Trimble was poor. But the Irish kept possession and a penalty for offside was duly converted by Humphreys after 16 minutes.
Ireland were guilty of ball watching minutes later which saw a backline movement from the visitors resulted in full-back, Vungakoto Lilo racing in unopposed for a try, converted by Morath.
A delightful reverse pass move between centres, Darren Cave and Fergus McFadden, saw the inside centre make ground and feed Trimble, who slid in at the corner for the try. Humphreys missed the touchline conversion.
Then from a dreadful kick by Fatafehi, Ireland back row Sean O’Brien gathered on his own 22 and took off down the right flank, eluded all the red shirts and popped the pass inside to Cave on the Tonga 22, the Ulster centre slithering in at the corner for another unconverted try to make it 21-7.
A dreadful mix-up between Humphreys and Horgan in the Tongan line saw Fatafehi race away and it was not until he reached the Irish 22 that he was finally surrounded by home shirts. Tonga finally got the ball moved to the left and centre, Sukanaivalu Hufanga, went in for a try, converted by Morath to cut the Irish lead to 21-14 at the break.
Neil Best increased the lead further when he stole lineout ball and fell at full stretch over the line to get the score. Humphreys again missed the wide conversion effort.
A sweeping back-line movement on the hour saw Duffy stretch out and go over in the corner, Humphreys this time gracing the far upright with the touchline effort which left Ireland ahead 34-14.
Ulster duo, replacement hooker, Andy Kyriacou and Cave combined for the sixth try of the evening, Cave spinning out of the tackle to go in, this time Humphreys finally getting his first conversion of the evening to take the score through the 40-point mark.
William Hafu, a half-time replacement at hooker, grabbed a consolation for the Islanders, although replacement Manu Ahotaeiloa was just caught on the line by O’Brien.
Three minutes from the end, Ireland had the final say when replacement, Ian Keatley broke a tackle and soared in from hear halfway to grab a try, and duly added the extras to complete the scoring.
Ireland A: G Duffy (Murphy 64); S Horgan, D Cave, F McFadden, A Trimble; I Humphreys, P Stringer; B Wilkinson, D Fogarty, M Ross; D Ryan, D Toner, N Best, S O’Brien, C Henry.
Replacements: A Kyriacou (D Fogarty 40), B Young (Wilkinson 69), D Tuohy (Toner 69), K McLaughlin (Henry 60), I Boss (Stringer 62), I Keatley (Humphreys 69), J Murphy.
TONGA: V Lilo; A Fatafehi, S Hufanga, J Vaka, M Vakaloa; K Morath, K Fangupo; T Toke, S Telefoni, M Moala, P Hehea, E Kauhenga, S Filo, U Fono, S Vahafolau.
Replacements: W Hafu (Telefoni 40), P Taula (Toke 22), L Faaoso (Filo 61), R Mahe (Fono 69), M Fangupo (Fangupo 71), R Hola (Fatafehi 57), M ‘Ahota’e’iloa (Hufunga 49).
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
