Ireland pack build victory platform

Schools International/ Ireland Schools 47; Wales Schools 8: Wales were fortunate that their hosts displayed a touch of rustiness, understandable given a first outing for the Ireland side, because otherwise the scoreline could have been seriously embarrassing for the visitors.

The place-kicking return alone was three from 10 opportunities as Ireland's full back Robert Kearney suffered an off-day with the boot but the home side had no cause ultimately to bemoan such frailties. They scored eight tries, and could have tagged on half as many again, as they comprehensively outplayed Wales in every facet of Saturday's Schools international at Donnybrook.

What will be particularly galling for the visitors is they have already enjoyed one outing this season, albeit a losing one to France. They were ripped asunder, almost from the off, and by the 48th minute had conceded 40 points. The fact that Ireland added just a single converted try in the final 22 minutes owed primarily to a raft of replacements but also to an appreciable lessening in the intensity with which they played for two-thirds of the game.

It's a talented Ireland Schools team and that was reflected in several of the tries they conjured: they produced sumptuous passages of play that gave free rein to the footballing ability in this team. The forwards cut a swathe through the opposing pack before releasing the backs to embroider fine approach work.

Within the team parameters, there were a host of excellent displays but none more captivating than that of scrumhalf Duncan Williams. He was quite simply superb, whether taking on the opposing back row, directing his forwards or in the more mundane duties of acting as a link between the pack and backs. He invariably took the right options and his eye for the Welsh shortcomings defensively was uncanny.

The pack, despite incurring the wrath of fussy French referee Cedric Marchat and being penalised on five occasions at scrums and one or two lineout aberrations aside, were far too dynamic for their Welsh counterparts. Devon Toner provided the platform out of touch but it was the marauding backrow trio of captain Diarmuid Laffan, David Pollack and Barry O'Mahony who were at the heart of several Irish tries.

So, too, hooker Seán Cronin who complemented his basic duties with an exceptional performance in the loose. The forwards punched the holes and the backs gorged on the opportunities created. Kearney, despite grabbing a brace of tries, had a reasonably subdued afternoon and should benefit from an important lesson: good habits lead to tries, overplaying the ball doesn't.

He is an exceptional talent but his option taking on Saturday was flawed.

Right wing Rory Drysdale helped himself to a couple of tries while centre Tom Gleeson also crossed the Welsh line, the latter another footballer of rich promise.

Having conceded an early penalty to Welsh outhalf Emyr Williams, Ireland responded with a similar strike from Kearney and, having picked up the tempo, quickly ended the game as a contest. Williams timed his run beautifully in coming onto Peter Shallow's pass, crusing through a gap and linking with Kearney who popped up a scoring pass for Gleeson.

The excellent Pollock was next across the whitewash, a catch and drive from a lineout and Cronin's muscular break providing the number eight with an unopposed stroll. Williams charged down Emyr Williams' attempted clearance, Pollock secured possession and from the ruck Drysdale skinned the understaffed cover.

Ireland's fourth try was conceived by the back row, Pollock and O'Mahony making serious yardage and finished by Kearney whose pace took him between defenders. The full back managed to tag on the extra points and Ireland retired at the interval 25-3 ahead.

Pollock's second try came courtesy of a reverse pass from Williams and a one-yard plunge while Ireland's sixth was again largely down to Williams' virtuosity. It was his break and link with Drysdale, taking the return pass that allowed Laffan to coast the final 20 metres. Drysdale's second on 48 minutes was a superb team try, O'Mahony the central figure this time with Kearney providing the scoring pass.

There was a brief respite from the onslaught for Wales when left wing Marcus Johnstone scooted over with three minutes left but in injury time, Kearney completed the rout by once again choosing the angle cleverly to skate between two defenders; Replacement Jonathan Watt converted.

It was an auspicious beginning to the Ireland Schools campaign but tougher days lie ahead with trips to England and France still to come. On Saturday's evidence, this Irish side certainly possesses the ability to deal with those assignments successfully.

Scoring sequence. 2 mins: E Williams penalty, 0-3; 4: Kearney penalty, 3-3; 6: Gleeson try, 8-3; 19: Pollock try, 13-3; Drysdale try, 18-3; 31: Kearney try, Kearney conversion, 25-3. Half-time: 25-3. 43: Pollock try, 30-3; 44: Laffan try, 35-3; 48: Drysdale try, 40-3; 67: Johnstone try, 40-8; 73: Kearney try, Watt conversion, 47-8.

IRELAND: R Kearney (Clongowes Wood College); Rory Drysdale (Belfast Royal Academy), T Gleeson (PBC Cork), D Cave (Sullivan Upper School), P Shallow (Rockwell College); C Doyle (Ard Scoil Rís), D Williams (CBC Cork); G Walsh (Blackrock College), S Cronin (Ard Scoil Rís), P Collins (Templeogue College); J Cornett (Royal School Armagh), D Toner (Castlenock College); D Laffan (Blackrock College, capt), D Pollock (Royal School Dungannon), B O'Mahony (Crescent College). Replacements: T O'Kane (St Gerard's School) for Walsh (14 mins); B McGovern (St Mary's College) for Collins (59 mins); D O'Reilly (Blackrock College) for Cornett (52 mins); J Burns (Coleraine Academical Institution) for Williams (61 mins); G O'Meara (St Mary's College) for Cronin (61 mins); J Watt (Royal Belfast Academical Institution) for Doyle (64 mins); J Short (CBC Cork) for Drysdale (64 mins).

WALES: A Bramwell; R Owen, M McClean, L Knight, M Johnstone; E Williams, T Dickens; R Gill, D George, R Jones; B Davies (capt), A Andrews; A Powell, L Isaac, A Murphy. Replacements: J Roberts for Bramwell 10 mins; R Johnston for George 49 mins; G Williams Davies for E Williams 53 mins; L Probert for Powell 60 mins; L Williams Jones for Gill 60 mins.

Referee: C Marchat (France).