Eagles' wings are truly clipped

Hitting 50-something was important. Even had it been 40-odd, Ireland's tally on Saturday evening would have lacked that certain gloss which came with passing the half-century mark. As it happened, that was the target the players had set themselves according to Dion O'Cuinneagain, and so they can feel satisfied with a job reasonably well done.

As it also transpired, Ireland's 53-8 win was exactly half of England's 106-8 win at Twickenham four weeks beforehand. Again, comparisons with England were a little odious, for Clive Woodward's team looked considerably slicker, and applied far more continuity rugby through the hands than Ireland achieved against the Eagles.

Even so, Ireland have landed satisfactorily in this World Cup.

Perhaps, in any case, more relevant comparisons can be set against, say, Wales or France - Ireland's putative quarter-final opponents.

Even allowing for the respective rustiness brought about by the month-long pre-cup hibernation, Ireland looked considerably better organised, sure of what they were doing and were generally far quicker into their rhythm

The old warhorse Paddy Johns set the tone as much as anyone else by being first to react when Tom Tierney opted for a quick tap to charge into the Americans and set up an attacking ruck; the big lock then covered across to bravely snaffle up stray ball in the prelude to David Humphreys' opening three-pointer.

True, it wasn't the most expansively minded performance. It was striking to note how little, for example, Conor O'Shea was used as a strike runner.

For stages in the last quarter especially, there looked to be some real potential there and presumably Ireland, like everyone else, are keeping a good few tricks up their sleeve. No point in showing your whole hand yet.

For the most part they adopted sensible, simple, one-ruck rugby - giving a limited US team few opportunities; all the more sensible given Joel Dume's erratic and loose display.

The disappointingly one-dimensional Eagles lapsed into an utter spoiling mode, intent purely on keeping the score down. It was thus no surprise that some tetchiness crept in.

Using, say, Kevin Maggs up the middle and then putting the ball in behind the Eagles, Humphreys gave a varied and very assured kicking performance. He also, by the way, landed six from six.

Generally, the positives far outweighed the negatives. Jeremy Davidson gave further evidence that he's back to his Lions form after his inevitably lengthy rehabilitation from knee surgery in quickly taking up Johns' tempo.

Malcolm O'Kelly too gave his best 40 minutes of the season, really putting himself about in the rucks and reaching athletically in Ireland's impressive line-out. The line-out mauls were first-rate, as were the scrums.

Warren Gatland and his coaching staff will also have been pleased in the manner Ireland matched the Eagles in the one area they could really compete - the physical exchanges. This was especially so around the fringes, where the tackling was first-rate.

Admittedly, there were a couple of worrying signs that the Irish defence, spreading out and pushing up quickly, might have been punctured by slicker opponents.

What's more, the fitness levels came through the full 80, while the game also enabled Ireland to utilise seven of their replacements' bench while not diminishing the pursuit of scores and that half-century mark.

True, some of the seven Irish tries won't be repeated in this tournament. Even Justin Bishop's well-taken and cheekily celebrated opener; Humphreys orchestrating a straightforward enough skip pass to the blindside winger and the Eagles' naively letting Maggs draw two men.

Well though O'Cuinneagain enveloped Tomasi Takau for the turnover prior to O'Driscoll's try, Johns and Maggs showing good hands, it was a soft score. The scrum accounted for the penalty try, and the line-out for two more, while the others were simply down to the inspirational Keith Wood.

The Irish pilfered a half dozen of the American throws, which was surprising given Tom Billups is one of their quartet of professionals, as are his two prime targets Luke Gross and Dan Lyle. By contrast, Wood's darts were on the money all bar a couple of times, ensuring more than a twoto-one ratio of line-outs in the home side's favours.

After his first-half try from the line-out/maul, for his second try, he burrowed over on the blind side of a ruck after a strong scrum and Tom Tierney's tackle on Lyle had ensured another turnover, then Wood stealthily pounced on the blind side of a US line-out which Johns had flapped down to him, and for his final trick (following the intervening up-andunder) he latched on to Elwood's carefully weighted chip to the corner.

His unmistakable bald dome could also be seen beavering away in the nitty-gritty stuff as well, supporting the ball-carrier when tackled to ensure the release of ruck ball and making his tackles too. Another facet was his ability to take the ball up to the Americans came from the latter's deep restarts, once sweetly side-stepping the otherwise outstandingly athletic and skilful Dan Lyle, and another time successfully chasing ahead his own towering up-andunder along the touchline.

Lyle apart, and Lansdowne Road will rarely witness a more stunning exhibition of number eight ball-handling skills and athleticism, the Eagles offered little. They're nice people, and it's not often you feel sorry for beaten Americans, even if it's not often you see them getting a good whupping.