Pretenders make impact in specialist positions

Ireland A 35 Scotland A10  AFTER YEARS of over-reliance on certain players in the specialist positions of halfback and prop, finally a new wave are making their presence felt this season. Granted, last night's contest was a significant step below the intensity that will be on show in Rome tomorrow, and Scotland were miserable, but heartening performances from Eoin Reddan, Cian Healy and official man-of-the-match Seán O'Brien deserve special mentions.

The Jonathan Sexton or Ian Humphreys question remains unanswered, however, as Humphreys was deployed at fullback on his introduction until a brief run at pivot that didn’t include defensive set-pieces.

Encouraging displays from winger Mark McCrea and tighthead prop Mike Ross also did their future prospects no harm.

The IRFU will hardly be pleased with the turnout, barely breaking 1,000, especially considering those who paid into Donnybrook last week for the late postponement of the England Saxons game had a free pass. The €10 price hike for a match broadcast live on RTÉ seemed to put most punters off. It was €25 into the stand and €5 for children.

There was the immediate matter of atoning for a 67-7 beating inflicted in the corresponding fixture 12 months ago in Perth. Six survivors from that Irish 22 – Gavin Duffy, Mike Ross, Ryan Caldwell, Donnacha Ryan, Niall Ronan and Isaac Boss – returned, while Stephen Ferris and Keith Earls have moved up the pecking order.

It was evidently a vastly stronger line-up with Reddan’s snappy service setting the early tone for the big men to rumble over the gainline.

Right from the kick-off the Irish pack showed their intent with Ulster’s disappointing signing from Edinburgh, Rob Dewey, wrapped up by Sexton and Ryan Caldwell. Sexton nailed the ensuing penalty and the St Mary’s man had another by the eighth minute but spurned a relatively easy third attempt soon afterwards.

With Scotland yet to make a notable foray into Irish territory, he was presented a fourth kick midway through the first-half and duly made it 9-0.

Shane Jennings was seen warming up alone an hour beforehand but eventually cried off, giving O’Brien an opportunity at this level. He took it with an industrious performance, vying with Healy and Reddan throughout for the most distinguished outing. The midlands man was eventually assisted off late on, battered and bruised.

It was O’Brien who profited from a decent Caldwell offload to break clear, and drew fullback Steve Jones before sending Sexton towards the line for the first try. It should have been disallowed but the Welsh officials were asleep. Sexton, inexplicably, headed towards the corner flag despite the slowing Scottish cover and proceeded to fumble the grounding.

Scotland responded with some straight, hard running but the malaise continued when 21-year-old outhalf Ruaridh Jackson missed an easy penalty, but he nailed his next attempt in first-half injury time.

Reddan is the most likely player on the field to break into the senior 22 ahead of England’s visit to Croke Park and his enthusiasm almost led to an ambitious individual try. The result was a five-metre scrum allowing the Irish pack to really show their superiority. After three collapsed scrums, referee James Jones galloped under the posts for a penalty try. Healy, Seán Cronin and, particularly, Ross were duly congratulated by their teammates.

A searing break from Barry Murphy, on for Darren Cave, off the next play saw Ireland earn a penalty 10 metres out under the uprights. Captain Bob Casey elected for another scrum that immediately saw tighthead David Young sinbinned for collapsing. It was reset but the all powerful frontrow tilted matters to allow John Muldoon saunter over.

Yet another scrum led to a fourth try as Reddan squeezed in with 12 minutes remaining. Sexton retained the kicking duties, despite Humphreys’ arrival, to confirm his place in the current number 10 pecking order. Now all he needs is game time at Leinster.

Scoring sequence– 2 mins: J Sexton pen, 3-0; 7: J Sexton pen, 6-0; 23 mins: J Sexton pen, 9-0; 28: J Sexton try, 14-0; 43: R Jackson pen, 14-3. Half-time. 45: Pen try, 19-3; J Sexton conv, 21-3; 52: J Muldoon try, 26-3; J Sexton conv, 28-3; 68: E Reddan try, 33-3; J Sexton conv, 35-3; 80: J Thomson try, 35-8; R Jackson conv, 35-10.

IRELAND A:G Duffy; A Trimble, D Cave, K Matthews, M McCrea; J Sexton, E Reddan; C Healy, S Cronin, M Ross; B Casey (capt), R Caldwell; D Ryan, S O'Brien, J Muldoon. Replacements: B Murphy for D Cave (half-time), I Humphreys for A Trimble (66 mins), J Andress for C Healy (71 mins), J Fogarty for S Cronin (72 mins), N Ronan for R Caldwell (73 mins), I Boss for B Murphy (75 mins), E O'Donoghue for B Casey (76 mins).

SCOTLAND A:S Jones; J Thompson, B Cairns (capt), R Dewey, S Lamont; R Jackson, M McMillan; S Corsar, F Thomson, D Young; C Hamilton, D Turner; S Newlands, A MacDonald, J Beattie. Replacements: S Lawson for F Thompson, S Swindall for S Newlands (both 48 mins), B MacNeill for S Swindall (49-59 mins), G Ross for S Jones (56 mins), S McLeod for C Hamilton, A Turnbull for S Lamont (60 mins), G Laidlaw for M McMillan (63 mins).

Referee:J Jones (Wales).