Ireland scores 106 against Portugal in record-breaking rugby match
After watching the Ireland rugby team he's nursing thrash Portugal by a record 106-7 on Saturday, the stand-in coach admitted he felt sorry for the home side.
Advertisement
The 16-try victory surpassed the 83-3, 13-try win over the United States in 2000 and set Ireland records for most points, most tries and biggest margin.
Ireland did it without 17 of its British and Irish Lions.
'I feel sorry for Portugal but we were very clinical and took our chances," O'Connell told Virgin Sports.
'It is a unique summer tour given the Lions tour is on at the same time, but I am very happy with how our squad applied themselves. It is great to get some guys capped and scoring tries and training in an international environment.'
There were 11 different try-scorers, doubles for debutants Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton and one for debutant Alex Kendellen.
Flyhalf Jack Crowley nailed 12 of 15 conversion attempts. There was one penalty try.
Ireland next faces New Zealand in Chicago on Nov. 1.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
16 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Report – Agent Of Inter Milan Midfielder Set For Crunch Meeting With Fenerbahce
These could be the crucial hours for the future of Inter Milan star Hakan Calhanoglu amid genuine interest from Fenerbahce. According to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu via FCInterNews, Calhanoglu's agent is in Istanbul to discuss a deal. Despite Beppe Marotta's recent denial, Hakan Calhanoglu could be counting his final days at San Siro. Indeed, talks with Fenerbahce will soon gain momentum now that Gordon Stipic has landed in Turkey to meet the Canaries chiefs. Hakan Calhanoglu Agent in Turkey to Discuss Terms with Fenerbahce Hakan Calhanoglu is getting closer to joining Jose Mourinho's side. While talks between the clubs are still in the early stages, Fenerbahce are already negotiating personal terms with the player. Indeed, they need leverage before meeting Inter at the negotiating table. Meanwhile, the 31-year-old's silence only fuels the Turkish club's optimism. Despite never expressing his desire to leave, Calhanoglu's exit has become a distinct possibility. As for Inter, they won't crack under pressure. Fenerbahce will likely have to meet Nerazzurri's asking price to sign the former Milan star no matter what.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
‘I'm not sure about another back-heel!' – Alessia Russo on facing Sweden in quarter-finals and scoring first Euro 2025 goal against Wales
Alessia Russo was delighted to score her first goal of Euro 2025 as England beat Wales 6-1 in another convincing display in St Gallen. The Arsenal striker was the joint top goalscorer in the Women's Super League last season, but had failed to score in England's first two fixtures in Switzerland, despite assisting three goals in the Lionesses 4-0 victory over the Netherlands. Russo joined Georgia Stanway, Ella Toone, Lauren Hemp, Beth Mead and Aggie Beever-Jones on the scoresheet in St Gallen, as the Lionesses secured a quarter-final with Sweden. 'It feels nice [to get my first goal],' Russo said. 'I want to be scoring as much as I can. It took a bit longer than I would have liked but as much as I can contribute to the team in any possible way, I'll always do. 'I'm really excited, It was a positive result. Again, a big performance was needed. We knew we still needed to win this game to get out of the group and keep progressing. I think our turnaround since the France game has been really exciting. 'Things don't always go how you plan them to. But we knew that we still had a massive chance to get out of this group [after losing to France] and keep progressing in this tournament and that's what we want. 'We want to be here right until the end so the reaction was really important and I think you could see that in the performances against Netherlands and Wales'. Despite an early scare which saw England lose their first match 2-1 to France, England beat Netherlands and Wales to qualify to the knockout stages. Sarina Wiegman's side finished second in group D to set up a quarter-final clash with Sweden, who won all of their three games in group C, only conceding one goal. They go head-to-head in Zurich on Thursday. The last time these two teams met at the Euros, England beat Sweden 4-0 with Russo's incredible backheel goal grabbing the headlines in that 2022 semi-final. 'I'm not sure about [another] backheel,' Russo joked. 'But as long as we win, that's all that matters. 'Sweden are a top side. They've got lots of talented players and they play really well together. We'll have to look into them over the next few days and get ready for a really tough game. It's knockout football – it's all down to one game, so we'll do everything we can to be ready for it. 'We want to go out and keep this momentum going. We know that knockout football is all down to that game and that game in the moment. So, yeah, we'll be ready and we'll do everything we can to win the game.' Russo also expressed her pride at seeing her best friend Toone perform at her best in Switzerland, after a tough year which saw the Manchester United forward lose her father. 'She's been great,' Russo added. 'She's been working really hard on lots of different things. 'So as a best mate to see someone go on a journey like that, especially after a tough year, it's really nice to see her flourish on the big stage.'
Yahoo
40 minutes ago
- Yahoo
It's happening: Liverpool will sign Thierry Henry 2.0
Liverpool are about to sign their new no.9. And they're getting the modern Thierry Henry. It's now all but certain that Hugo Ekitike will join Liverpool. The striker, who appeared destined for Newcastle United a week ago, has permission to seal a transfer from Eintracht Frankfurt. The Athletic is among many reporting that a deal has been agreed and it could climb to £79m. Liverpool have wanted a new striker all summer - it was their priority heading into the window, even if a deal for Florian Wirtz quickly usurped it. They're now getting that player in Ekitike. Now, it's no secret that Alexander Isak was the dream addition but the French forward is absolutely a major coup here. He's an incredible talent and one who could become a major superstar if all goes to plan. Thierry Henry 2.0, even. From Thierry Henry to Hugo Ekitike There are easy comparisons to make between Henry and Ekitike. They're both French forwards who initially broke into the senior game as wingers, earned a move to a major European club but failed to deliver, mainly because of factors that had nothing to do with their ability, before heading to England. The only real difference in stories there is that Henry won a World Cup before joining Arsenal, while Ekitike had a stopover between his major European club and the Premier League. Though we should say that, on paper, they are different types of player. Henry was blessed with sensational pace that Ekitike certainly doesn't have, even if he's not exactly slow. On the other hand, Ekitike is a much taller, more physical threat than Henry was. And that's why it's easy to call him a more modern striker than his compatriot. Strikers are tall, all-action threats. That wasn't the case in Henry's time, where centre-forwards typically had strike partners or were either target-man-style lone strikers or someone who played off the shoulder with electric pace. The game has changed and virtually no one plays with two-man striker partnerships anymore. It's meant the centre-forward role has become far stricter in what makes it at the top level. You've got to have pace, you've got to have ability with the ball at your feet, and you've got to have a physical presence. That's the modern elite striker and Ekitike is exactly that. But there is a similarity between Ekitike and Henry, even with that massive difference. They're both left-wingers converted into central players who retain their desire to play in the left channel. Ekitike wants to drift into that space, cutting inside and isolating defenders. That's his natural game, rather than operating within the confines of the box. Above is Ekitike's 'expected threat' heatmap (courtesy of xfb Analytics). It essentially shows his most threatening positions with the ball - those from which he creates the best opportunities for himself and teammates. So essentially, he wants the ball in that inside left channel. He'll drift to the wing, he'll drift to the very middle - but he wants the ball between the centre-back and full-back. That's the Thierry Henry role. It's the one he popularised at Arsenal and became a world-beater with. Ekitike wants to do the same thing, though in a more modern way as a focal-point through the middle. No, he's not got the same pace to create out of nothing but he's much more of a target for crosses and hold-up play. That's what Liverpool hope for, certainly. The next great French forward in England? The Reds have banked on it and it's easy to see why. **👉 **Liverpool set to increase transfer budget by £200m 🔗
