Ireland 52 Canada 21
Squidgy defence, discipline that will make Joe Schmidt very unhappy and inaccuracies that were not evident in Chicago.
But then, what do you expect from a scratch team?
A team peppered with debutants scored eight tries but, more importantly, was made to work by a Canadian side who smelled opportunity in the crisp Dublin air.
In the end the class, raw as some of it was, shone through on a night when we got a glimpse of the future.
How many of these youngsters or returning old hands will figure in Schmidt’s plans for next week’s All Blacks rematch remains to be seen.
Tiernan O’Halloran – 8
Deservedly grabbed his first tries for Ireland in his third Test, slaloming through the Canadian defence after being on hand to received Finlay Bealham offload. His own flying offload in second half was dropped by Keith Earls. These Connacht lads are just having the craic. Unlucky his last-ditch tackle did not prevent Canada’s third try. Consolation was try number seven at end of a great team move.
Craig Gilroy – 6
Early chip into space and chase promised a big game but he was the quietest of the back line.
Garry Ringrose – 7
So close to a debut try only for a forward pass in the build-up. Should have made his tackle on Matt Evans before Canadian full-back touched down for third try. Still had the crowd on their feet time and again with his inclination to run – light on his feet and always slinking diagonally, he would remind you of someone.
Luke Marshall – 7
Tackled like a demon, made himself a nuisance at the breakdown and finished his try with real power and purpose. Unfortunately blotted his copybook somewhat with an unnecesarrily risky pass five metres from the Irish line, which was picked off by DTH van der Merwe for the first Canadian try.
Keith Earls – 8
The mild-mannered boy from Moyross is becoming the bad boy of Irish rugby. Back from suspension after his red card against Glasgow, he started a scrap with the intimidating looking Ray Barkwill on the stroke of half-time. Before that he opened the scoring with his 18th international try, a typical darting finish in the corner. His two-step for Marshall’s try was the highlight of the first half.
Paddy Jackson – 7
Kicked immaculately from the tee and kept the backline moving with plenty of snappy, flat passes. Just as you were wishing he would run a little more often, if only to keep the opposition guessing, he makes a superb break at start of the second half.
Kieran Marmion – 6
No bad thing when your last act is a push-over try. Passing was snappy and his energy boundless. Passed up a few opportunities to test the defence around the fringes. The box-kicks are not at Conor Murray’s level but he is developing into a hell of an understudy.
Cian Healy – 6
Bruising start, repeatedly trucking the ball into contact. Looked like a man wanting to make a statement. Tiring in the second half, he got caught badly offside at a Canadian ruck, which led to visitors’ third try.
Sean Cronin – 6
Like his front-row brethren, he was at the sharp end of all the attacking play early on. Displayed his GAA roots with a cracking kicked clearance on the run late in the first half.
Finlay Bealham – 8
All of a sudden the tighthead position looks to be stocked to high heavens. First Tadhg Furlong put in a super shift against the All Blacks and now the Connacht man is lighting it up. Massive tackle on Djustice Sears-Duru early on set the tone but everyone will remember the offload for O’Halloran’s try. A thing of beauty.
Ultan Dillane – 8
A block here, an upending tackle there, a bullocking two-yard carry. The Connacht lock got around on his full debut, and that was before he crashed over for a very well-deserved try. Carries with such confidence, he could be something really special. Deserved man of the match
Billy Holland – 6
A couple of really good takes in the lineout, the debutant put in a really solid shift in defence.
Peter O’Mahony – 6
He’s back! Broke from Canada scrum on their own five-metre line to get in the face of first receiver, forcing a knock-on. He carried on from there
Sean O’Brien – 6
Typically bullocking in his ball carrying. A little more match practice and he may not have dropped Jack O’Donoghue’s pass with the try line at his mercy.
Jack O’Donoghue – 6
This debutant made a couple of huge early tackles and his slick reverse pass early on deserved to result in a try, unfortunately O’Brien dropped it.
REPLACEMENTS
John Ryan (for Bealham 48′) – 6
Front-row changed, push over try is scored
Dave Kilcoyne (for Healy 58′) – 6
Ditto
James Tracy (for Cronin 61′) – 7
Ditto. Plus one all of his own on a debut to remember for the hooker.
Niyi Adeolokun (for Gilroy 67′) – 5
Made a couple of tackles, but we’ll see more of this young man.
Luke McGrath (for Marmion 67′) – 5
Kept things ticking over as a replacement scrum-half should.
Dan Leavy (for O’Brien 68′) – 5
The back-row was looking a little light on options alright…
Joey Carbery (for Jackson 68′) – 5
Just on the field and he takes off on a mazy, crossfield run. Chicago did this lad’s confidence no harm at all.
Donnacha Ryan (for Dillane 73′) – 5
Disrupting Canadian line-outs. The usual.
