Ireland hit tonne in Test mismatch against Portugal

RTÉ News​

20 hours ago

Ireland recorded their biggest ever Test victory, scoring 16 tries in a complete mismatch against Portugal in Lisbon.
Shorn of 17 squad members on Lions duty, interim head coach Paul O'Connell's charges ran riot against a Portugal team out of their depth and looking nothing like the outfit that impressed at the 2023 World Cup.
The final score read 106-7 to the visitors, who led 54-0 at the break, with debutants Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton scoring twice each, and fellow new cap Alex Kendellen getting on the scoresheet.
Leinster wing Tommy O'Brien added another two on his second cap, while Stuart McCloskey, Thomas Clarkson, Craig Casey, Cian Prendergast (2), Calvin Nash, Ciarán Frawley and Ben Murphy also crossed with the final score coming from a penalty try to break the tonne for the first time ever.
Out-half Jack Crowley landed 12 conversions on the night.
After passing a relatively stiff test in difficult conditions against Georgia in Tbilisi last weekend, Ireland would have hoped for more of a challenge from Os Lobos, ranked 18th in the world, as the sides met for the first time.
But it was more akin to a middle of the road training session than a full-blooded contest as Ireland scored off their first possession through Ulster centre McCloskey.
The tries came thick and fast at the sun-kissed Estádio Nacional do Jamo, the venue where Celtic won the 1967 European Cup, with Portugal, who lost captain Tomás Appleton to a nasty leg injury in the 21st minute, outclassed throughout.
By that point the score was 28-0 with Connacht's Gavin scoring after a lineout move in the 22, with Tommy O'Brien and Shayne Bolton running in tries that started in the Irish half.
Portugal full-back Nuno Sousa Guedes had a try disallowed for a forward pass before Ireland crossed again, this time O'Brien coming off his wing to take a pop pass from Crowley.
Leinster prop Clarkson ran over for another moments later after Casey tapped a quick penalty in midfield and Bolton grabbed his second following up on a hopeful punt with two Portugese defenders falling asleep in the backfield.
With the TMO communications failing midway through the half, there was some confusion with the match clock but there was still time for Gavin, who was promoted to the starting XV when Jamie Osborne was called up by Lions coach Andy Farrell on Friday, to bash over for his second.
It was more of the same on the resumption with captain Casey finishing off good work by Bolton and Munster flanker Kendellen, one of three debutants.
Prendergast, who missed out last weekend due to a stomach bug, got Ireland's tenth try, taking Tom Ahern's pop pass on the short side after a smart lineout switch between Gus McCarthy and Jack Boyle.
Simon Mannix's charges did manage to avoid a whitewash when flanker Nicolas Martins took advantage of a break by winger Manuel Cardoso Pinto to score, out-half Hugo Aubry converted.
Ireland emptied the bench but there was no let-up for the hosts, who beat Fiji and drew with Georgia less than two years ago.
Nash finished off in the corner when Ireland moved the ball quickly from a scrum, while he turned provider for Frawley moments later.
Prendergast added a second with a fine assist from Casey, while Kendellen powered over for his debut try soon after.
Portugal brought down a tryline-bound maul in overtime with referee Adam Leal awarding a penalty try to bring a miserable evening for the hosts to an end.
The winning margin surpassed the 83-3 victory over USA in New Hampshire back in 2000 with 106 points and 16 tries also records for the senior team.
Ireland next return to the Test arena when they take on New Zealand in Chicago on 1 November.
Portugal: Nuno Sousa Guedes; Simão Bento, Vincent Pinto, Tomás Appleton (capt), Manuel Cardoso Pint; Hugo Aubry, Hugo Camacho; David Costa, Luka Begic, Diogo Hasse Ferreira; Antonio Rebolo de Andrade, Pedro Ferreira; David Wallis, Nicolas Martins, Diego Pinheiro.
Replacements: Abel Cunha, Pedro Santiago Lopes, Martim Souto, Guilherme Costa, Francisco Almeida, Vasco Baptista, António Campos, Gabriel Aviragnet.
Ireland: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Hugh Gavin, Stuart McCloskey, Shayne Bolton; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey (capt); Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Tom Ahern, Darragh Murray; Ryan Baird, Alex Kendellen, Cian Prendergast.
Replacements: Tom Stewart (for McCarthy 52), Michael Milne (Boyle 52), Tom O'Toole (Clarkson 52), Cormac Izuchukwu (Murray 60), Max Deegan (Baird 52), Ben Murphy (Casey 60), Ciarán Frawley (McCloskey 52), Calvin Nash (O'Brien 52).