Ireland 35-0 Russia
Ireland are back on winning track but their Pool A victory over a game Russian side was far from pretty.
For the third time in three World Cup games, the men in green came out all guns blazing and flagged in the second half. The Ireland ratings, as a consequence, make for a mixed bag.
Ireland started fast and were 14-0 up after 13 minutes after tries from Rob Kearney and Peter O’Mahony. They then lost Jordi Murphy to injury but did not score again until the 35th minute, with Russia down to 14 men, when Ireland’s best player Rhys Ruddock powered over.
It took until the 62nd minute for Ireland to secure the try-scoring bonus point when Andrew Conway dotted down after good work from Jack Carty (chipping) and Keith Earls (chasing).
Garry Ringrose sealed the victory when Earls, again, and Jordan Larmour combined to set the outside centre up to make it 35-0.
OUR MAN OF THE MATCH: Rhys Ruddock.
Here’s how we rated Joe Schmidt’s men in green:
Rob Kearney – 7
Scored Ireland’s fastest ever Test try, after 91 seconds. His third in his last three Tests. One mishap under a high ball but was able to scramble, even if we conceded an attacking lineout. Came off after 50 minutes.
Andrew Conway – 7.5
Got the bonus point try for his side after chasing hard after that Carty chip. Was involved in that mix-up with Kearney after that Ramil Gaisin high ball. Kick-chase was bang on, all night.
Conway the express train is away in a hack#BONUSpic.twitter.com/ApGWKGWoFY
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) October 3, 2019
Garry Ringrose – 6
Energy and intent were there but few real moments to do much damage with ball in hand. Made a good block-down early in the first half and was rewarded for going all 80 minutes again with a late try.
Bundee Aki – 4
Hard carries, as per. Slippery ball caught him out with knock-on just before half-time. Made two more after the break to confirm it just was not his day.
Keith Earls – 7
Made one great break in the first half but could not get away pass as Luke McGrath had out-run him. Was tested by a couple of high balls and dropped one under pressure. Super chase and take after Carty’s chip and had the sense to find Conway on his outside. Linked up with Larmour well for the Ringrose try.
Johnny Sexton – 8
Pulled the strings all night and teed up the break for Kearney’s try before his grubber set up O’Mahony. Put in some lusty tackles but struggled, as captain, to sweet-talk Jerome Garces.
Luke McGrath – 6
Made a couple of snipes to get his team on the front-foot and fracture the Russian defence. Did overrun Earls to scupper a try-scoring chance. Did well to field a steepling high ball. Missed three of his seven tackles attempted. Played the full 80 as Conor Murray was spared.
Dave Kilcoyne – 7.5
Absolute wrecking ball and was forever getting over the gainline. Won his side an early scrum penalty, too, to make a big statement. But the Russians did gain a measure of revenge on the 46th minute.
Niall Scannell – 5
Did not do enough to displace Rory Best as starting hooker. Lineout was solid, apart from one to the back. Fumbled forward with the tryline gaping.
John Ryan – 7
His latching was vital for helping the ball-carriers gain forward momentum and he helped shove Ruddock over the tryline. A couple of hefty tackles in defence.
Tadhg Beirne – 7.5
Made a series of carries over the gainline as he brought real punch to the second row. No turnovers but he slowed down a lot of Russian ball at the breakdown. Powerful leg drives. Gave away a penalty, on 55 minutes, when he could not blast Tagir Gadzhiev off the ball. Made a fine covering tackle to shut down a dangerous Russian break.
Jean Kleyn – 5
Will be castigated for his no-look pass, off his knees, straight to a Russian forward. Was bashed back on one carry but grew into the game and was decent in defence. Four carries in the game for 0 metres gained.
Rhys Ruddock – 8.5
Rhys Ruddock on the charge against Russia. (Photo by Adam Pretty/Getty Images)One of Ireland’s stand-out players. His carries were pure brute-force and he often took two and three Russians with him. Powered over for Ireland’s third try after good carries from Kilcoyne and Beirne.
Peter O’Mahony – 7
He needed a big game and he delivered. Scored only his second test try and running on to a grubber and secured a first-half turnover by ripping the ball in the tackle. Two clean breaks and played the full 80.
Jordi Murphy – 7
Was having a fine game, assisted for an early try and carrying with intent until a cheap shot in a rolling maul saw his ribs damaged. Tried to play on but lasted only a few minutes. His World Cup could total 25 minutes played.
Replacements
CJ Stander (for Murphy ’25) – 6
Made one poor Russian famous with a barnstorming carry that left the lad flattened.
Jack Carty (for Sexton ’40) – 5
Not a great start after he came on at the break. Shelled a high ball and was turned over on the Russia five-metre line, on 43 minutes. Fine chip for Earls ahead of the Conway try.
Jordan Larmour (for Kearney ’55) – 6
Brought some direct running. Teamed up with Earls to set up that Ringrose try.
Sean Cronin (for Scannell ’56) – 5
Close to getting a try after Stander’s big carry.
Andrew Porter (for Kilcoyne ’56) – 5
Referee Garces was hawking the versatile prop at the scrums.
Tadhg Furlong (for Ryan ’56) – 5
Just one carry in his 25 minutes on the pitch.
Iain Henderson (for Kleyn ’60) – 5
Almost got over for Ireland’s fifth try but his reach saw the ball collide off a Russian arm.
WATCH HIGHLIGHTS OF IRELAND’S 35-0 WIN OVER RUSSIA:
