Emerging Ireland start tour with easy win v Griquas

30.09.2022 - 18:19 rte.ie

Griquas 7Emerging Ireland 54Emerging Ireland got their three-game tour of South Africa up and running this afternoon, with a dominant 54-7 win against a poor Griquas outfit in Bloemfontein.Simon Easterby's side scored eight tries in total, with two for Leinster's Scott Penny, and one each for Josh Wycherley, Shane Daly, David McCann, Calvin Nash, Stewart Moore and Robert Baloucoune.Jack Crowley added six conversions in an impressive performance, while his former Munster team-mate Jake Flannery, now of Ulster, kicked the final two-pointer.Emerging Ireland led by 28 points to seven at the break, with Niel Otto scoring the only try of the game for the Griquas, who handed out seven debuts in their matchday 23.After a cagey opening quarter of an hour, the tourists scored two tries in six minutes to shoot out to a 14-0 lead, as Penny forced his way over from close range, before Baloucone ran in for the second try out wide, Munster's Crowley kicking both conversions.A yellow card for McCann gave the Currie Cup saw Ireland reduced to 14 men, and they made the Irish side pay on 32 minutes as Otto got in to score.It would prove to be their only try of the game, as Penny restored the 14-point advantage three minutes later, while loosehead Josh Wycherley grabbed the fourth try on the stroke of half time, and Crowley's conversions ensured a commanding 28-7 lead at the break.The second half started off slow, before Ulster centre Moore ploughed through a gap in the defence to grab the fifth try on 53 minutes, having been played in by his provincial teammate Blaoucoune, while Daly connected with a Crowley crossfield kick on the hour mark to grab try number six.With 14 minutes to play, McCann made up for his earlier yellow card by

Irish Rugby Sport Rugby win Robert Baloucoune Calvin Nash Shane Daly Josh Wycherley Jack Crowley Scott Penny Simon Easterby South Africa Ireland county Stewart county Jack county Moore county Crowley

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Munster got their season back on track in Thomond Park on Saturday evening. A win against the usually physically dominant Bulls pack would have been accepted, but to do so with a bonus point and a solid performance will please fans and coaches alike. The Bulls weren't at their best in a wet and windy Thomond Park, however we can’t pick holes in Munster’s start to the season and then not praise them when they get things right. Not everything stuck, but a lot of things came together on the night. The return of Emerging Ireland players, such as Shane Daly and Calvin Nash helped. Joey Carbery putting in a man-of-the-match performance was one of the most important aspects for their immediate future, as were the performances of new stars such as the colossal Edwin Edogbo. Jack Crowley is one of the most interesting current case studies in Munster. The pressure was on Carbery last night because Crowley’s pre-season performances and his Emerging Ireland tour have put him in the limelight. Who knows where his ceiling is, he is really only getting going. Crowley would have been frustrated going into the first few games of the season. Munster stuck to their pecking order and gave Ben Healy the benefit of the doubt. However, If you watched the pre-season friendlies, whatever they stand for, and if you have an idea of how Munster are setting up their attacking structures, Crowley is the second in command at Munster and Carbery is within his sights. Crowley plays the game with a boyish excitement, yet his game management is taking huge strides forward. Managing the Emerging Ireland gameplan will have done wonders for his self-belief.

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