Smal: Fresh faces must maintain our momentum

IRELAND’S entire 30-man World Cup squad has been charged with building on last Saturday’s victory over Australia as the team management prepares to make changes for Sunday’s Pool C clash against Russia.

There will be a weekend off for many of the 15 players who started the momentous 15-6 win over the Wallabies last Saturday at Eden Park in Auckland as thoughts turn to the task of completing a qualifying group campaign with wins over the Russians in Rotorua on Sunday and against Italy in the finale on October 2 in Dunedin.

Forwards coach Gert Smal, who saw the Irish pack dominate their Australian counterparts in the scrum and at the breakdown, said there must be no let up in commitment against the pool’s minnows, who yesterday suffered a 53-17 defeat to Italy for their second loss of the tournament.