Churchill Cup/USA 13 Ireland A 28: Far from convincing, Ireland lurched over the American try line for four tries in the blazing heath of Santa Clara on Saturday afternoon, but despite a ferocious performance from Jamie Heaslip the Maori challenge next Saturday will require a massive improvement.
There were some positives: the leadership qualities of Shane Jennings, the John Fogarty and Matt McCullough combination out of touch, and some dangerous broken-field running from right wing Simon Keogh.
But other key areas were disappointing. Outhalf Paddy Wallace missed four from seven attempts on goal, including one from in front of the posts. More worryingly, considering that the heat and humidity - referee Phil Smith allowed water breaks every 20 minutes - demanded an effective territory game, he repeatedly missed touch, forcing the Irish defence into prolonged action.
Wallace should improve by next Saturday; he desperately needed a high-level game at pivot after a season playing either club rugby for Ballymena or inside centre for Ulster.
Things initially went to plan, the opening try coming off a textbook rolling maul on 12 minutes. Fogarty hit McCullough from the lineout to allow Jennings control the drive and touch down.
Second-phase ball proved fruitless though as every time Wallace sent David Quinlan crashing up the middle to provide a platform the Americans dived offside.
Ireland reverted to the maul midway through the first half, Fogarty profiting from an identical lineout take and drive not long before he was sinbinned along with the US hooker Owen Lentz for fighting.
The US flanker Todd Clever followed them into the bin before half-time after Smith finally lost patience with the Eagles' infringements at the breakdown.
Fogarty has a nervous wait to see if he is cited for a stamp on Clever when the Eagles were living offside late in the game. Jennings was present and defended his hooker by informing the referee, "We need quick ball."
Francois Viljoen slotted a second penalty but a reply from Wallace left it 16-6 at the break.
The US captain Kort Schubert almost made it an interesting contest but his try was disallowed after a forward pass from Fijian outhalf Alipate Tuilevuka.
The introduction of Kieran Lewis injected pace into the Irish attack and Andrew Maxwell was just denied a try in the corner after the former's break and 20-yard cut-out pass.
By now Wallace had brought some rhythm to the Irish challenge, an excellent line kick creating the perfect position to crank up the maul once more, and the third try arrived when the replacement flanker Neil McMillan flopped over. Wallace landed the difficult conversion.
Maxwell secured a vital bonus point late on when he collected his own chip for the fourth try but the Americans' endeavour was eventually rewarded when Salesi Sika broke out of a Ronan McCormack tackle to touch down near the uprights.
"The primary aim was to win with a bonus point and that has been achieved, so we are happy with that," said Ireland coach Michael Bradley. "But we're somewhat disappointed with the manner of the victory.
"We created a lot of opportunities but our efficiency levels were not high enough, so there's a bit of work to be done there."
SCORING SEQUENCE: 2 mins: F Viljoen pen, 0-3; 8: P Wallace pen, 3-3; 12: S Jennings try, 8-3; 20: J Fogarty try, 13-3; 39: Viljoen pen, 13-6; 45: Wallace pen, 16-6 (half-time 16-6); 75: N McMillan try, Wallace con, 23-6; 87: A Maxwell try, 28-6; 90: S Sika try, Viljoen con, 28-13.
IRELAND: R Kearney (Leinster); S Keogh (Harlequins), J Hearty (Connacht), D Quinlan (Northampton), A Maxwell (Ulster); P Wallace (Ulster), T O'Leary (Munster); R Hogan (Connacht), J Fogarty (Connacht), T Court (Ulster); M McCullough (Ulster), T Hogan (Leinster); J Muldoon (Connacht) S Jennings (Leicester, capt), J Heaslip (Leinster). Replacements: K Lewis (Leinster) for Hearty (50 mins), N McMillan (Ulster) for Muldoon (56 mins), R McCormack (Leinster) for R Hogan (57 mins), D Browne (Northampton) for T Hogan (68 mins), B Blaney (Leinster) for Fogarty (77 mins), E Hickey (Leinster) for Wallace (88 mins).
USA: F Viljoen (Belmont Shore); M Palefau (Haggis), S Sika (BYU), V Esikia (Blackjacks), J Hullinger (BYU); A Tuilevuka (BYU), T Meek (Denver Broncos); M MacDonald (Leeds Tykes), O Lentz (Washington), J Tarpoff (St Louis), C Hansen (Olympic Club), M Mangan (Chicago Griffins), T Clever (Mahurangi), T Petruzzella (Olympic Club), K Schubert (Cardiff Blues, capt). Replacements: P Bell (Life) for Lentz (43 mins), M French (OMBAC) for MacDonald (64 mins), C Osentowski (Belmont Shore) for Tarpoff (77 mins), B Barnard (Golden Gate) for Hullinger (78 mins), M Timoteo (Hayward) for Meek (78 mins).
Referee: Phil Smith (Canada).
