Emotional Horgan marks comeback with try

Shane Horgan admitted tonight he feared he would never even make the World Cup let alone score a try in his opening game.

Horgan has been so badly affected by a thigh injury in recent months that his appearance against Romania in Gosford was only his fifth international start out of the last 20 played.

The 25-year-old winger has not featured for his country since February and less than two months ago was forced to pull out of the warm-up win over Wales when his thigh problem resurfaced.

So the emotions which poured out as he set Ireland on their way to a 45-17 Pool A win were understandable as the law graduate explained why he thought his tournament was at an end before it had even begun.

“When I first suffered the injury I didn’t believe I would be out for more than a couple of weeks,” he admitted.

“Then I had three huge setbacks, none of which was particularly career-threatening but they were enough to put doubt in my mind.

“When it happened again before the Wales game I suddenly realised I could miss the World Cup altogether. It’s amazing how something like that focusses the mind.

“I put in a lot of work with the medical staff and I owe them a lot for getting me here. It felt fantastic just to be back after so long out and to get the try as well just made the day even more special.”

Backed by the majority of a capacity 20,000 crowd which braved a howling gale blowing straight down the pitch, Ireland added more tries through skipper Keith Wood and flanker Victor Costello, who barged his way over either side of a Denis Hickie brace.

It meant Ireland collected a precious bonus point to leapfrog Australia at the top of Pool A, although they still have the Wallabies and dark horses Argentina to face in their bid to land a quarter-final slot.

“I don’t think it’s very fair to say we were rusty,” bristled Eddie O’Sullivan when questioned about the lacklustre periods of his team’s performance.

“We got the bonus point, which could turn out to be quite important. At one stage it didn’t look like we were going to get it, but we kept going and showed a lot of character. To get three tries playing into a hurricane in the second half deserves some credit.”