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Belfast Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Records fall in Ireland's thrashing of Portugal, but Ulster stars have little to show for after tour
For all the positivity around this Ireland squad minus it's hefty British and Irish Lions contingent, the opposition for this two-game tour have not exactly been near the money with Portugal barely providing any form of opposition in this ridiculously one-sided affair in Lisbon. In fairness, Portugal were never likely to be equipped to put it up to Paul O'Connell's selection and so it proved, the visitors scoring with ease and managing to rack up a few new Irish Test records; the scoreline at 106-7, the winning margin of 99 points, along with Ireland's 16 tries and 12 conversions via Jack Crowley's boot.
Irish Times
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Ireland break scoring records as they pass the 100-point mark against Portugal
Summer Tour: Portugal 7 Ireland 106 A rout, plain and simple that doesn't serve any greater purpose from an Ireland perspective than ticking off milestones in terms of debuts, points and try-scoring feats. The only consolation was the majority of the Portuguese supporters had streamed away before a penalty try at the death took the visitors over the 100-point mark. The Irish records tumbled: most tries, 16 and most conversions in a match, Jack Crowley landed 12, breaking Ronan O'Gara's 10 against Japan in 2000. It was the most points scored by an Ireland team and they also eclipsed the previous biggest winning margin, an 83-3 victory over the USA in New Hampshire in 2000. All three debutants, Hugh Gavin (two), Shayne Bolton (two) and Alex Kendellen scored tries. Gavin and Bolton were excellent, particularly the young 21-year-old centre in terms of his carrying game. Ireland did as they pleased for the most part. The back three were sharp, the halfbacks put pace and width on the game and the pack, with Ryan Baird again in the van, gave their backs a perfect platform. This all must be said in the context of a game in which Portugal contributed massively to their downfall. Tommy O'Brien (two), Bolton (two), Gavin (two), Cian Prendergast (two), Stuart McCloskey, Thomas Clarkson, Craig Casey, Calvin Nash, Ciarán Frawley, Kendellen and a penalty try contributed 16 tries, Crowley 12 conversions and one that accompanies a penalty try. READ MORE The atmosphere from the get-go was one of gentle distraction, the decibel levels didn't rise one iota when the teams emerged on to the pitch, or when tries were scored. The chattering continued in the stands, Irish supporters understood that anything more than polite applause would seem a little crass in the context of the game. Portugal would have spoken about the need to be accurate and composed in the opening throes of the contest, to try and thwart Ireland for as long as possible. They gave up a try after 45-seconds to McCloskey and three more before some of the crowd had a chance to get their bearings and take their seats in a sun-drenched stadium. Portugal's Hugo Camacho takes a box kick during the game against Ireland. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho McCloskey's try was the product of good work by Bolton and Crowley's neatly judged grubber kick. Gavin's try was down to running a good line and a nice flat pass from his outhalf. Jimmy O'Brien was the architect of the third, a lovely break and perfect timing of the pass allowed Tommy O'Brien to outpace the cover. The fourth went to Bolton after he caught a high ball, fobbed off a couple of limp tackles and accelerated over under the posts. Crowley converted all four and also saved his side by winning a race to a kick through inside his 22 and demonstrated lovely poise to pick up and clear in the same fluid movement. Portuguese fullback Nuno Sousa Guedes had a smartly-taken try disallowed for forward pass, and the home side lost their captain Tomás Appleton to a leg injury. Portugal's head coach Simon Mannix asked one of his players to draw the referee Adam Leal's attention to a croc-roll but the comms to the TMO, Matteo Liperini, had stopped working. They did manage to relay a message and confirm that there was no foul play. Tommy O'Brien got his second of the match and fourth on the summer tour, before Clarkson crossed for a first Irish try on his eighth appearance, with Gavin doing the legwork. Crowley continued to be faultless from the tee. Portugal compounded their misery with loose kicking, gifting Ireland possession, but the visitors, too, were guilty of some sloppy moments in their handling, kicking and tackling. Gavin was again prominent with a build-up in the seventh try after Tom Ahern turned over ball. Casey's decision to kick didn't look the right one but Bolton's pace turned it into one as the ball stopped rolling kindly in the in-goal area. Crowley missed for a first time from the touchline but had an altogether easier time when Gavin grabbed a second try, after a maul and powerful surge from hooker Gus McCarthy. Ireland's Shayne Bolton scores his side's seventh try. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho When the dust settled, Ireland led 54-0 at half-time, eight tries, seven conversions. It was brutal for the home side who also lost two players to injury. They'd have to take some culpability for the scoreline, kicking ball away, which was especially clueless given that their back three Nuno Sousa Guedes, Simao Bento and Manuel Pinto were dangerous, even off scraps. The second half started in similar fashion, Bolton's break finished off by Casey and Crowley converted. The points tally like the temperature was soon going to be in the 80s, and the potential for records to tumble. They did before the 60th minute as Ireland eclipsed the 83 points they scored against the USA in 2000. To reach that mark, Nash, Frawley and Prendergast's second, added to Ireland's try tally, Crowley tagging on two conversions. Portugal did break their duck in the midst of the avalanche of green points, with a try from their best player Nicolas Martins, converted by Hugo Aubry. When Kendellen scored, it ensured a record points tally. Ben Murphy and a penalty try brought Ireland's tally to 106 points. SCORING SEQUENCE – 1 min: McCloskey try, Crowley conn, 0-7; 8: Gavin try, Crowley con, 0-14; 9: T O'Brien try, Crowley con, 0-21; 11: Bolton try, Crowley con, 0-28; 22: T O'Brien try, Cowley con, 0-35; 29: Clarkson try, Crowley con, 0-42; 33: Bolton try, 0-47; 38: Gavin try, Crowley con, 0-54. Half-time: 0-54 . 41: Casey try, Crowley con; 0-61; 51: Prendergast try, 0-66; 52: Martins try, Aubry con, 7-66; 55: Nash try, 7-71; 56: Frawley try, Crowley con, 7-78; 58: Prendergast try, Crowley con, 7-85; 70: Kendellen try, Crowley con, 7-92; 76: Murphy try, Crowley con, 7-99; 80 (+1): penalty try 7-106. PORTUGAL: N Sousa Guedes; S Bento; V Pinto, T Appleton, M C Pinto; H Aubry, H Camacho; D Costa, L Begic, D H Ferreira; A R Andrade, P Ferreira; D Wallis, N Martins, D Pinheiro. Replacements: G Aviragnet for Appleton (20 mins); F Almeida for Aviragnet (32); F Almeida for Andrade, A Cunha for Begic, P S Lopes for Costa (all 50 mins); A Campos for Camacho (54); M Souto for Costa (55); G Costa for DH Ferreira (56); Andrade for P Ferreira (59); V Baptista for Pinheiro (62). IRELAND: J O'Brien (Leinster); T O'Brien (Leinster), H Gavin (Connacht), S McCloskey (Bangor), S Bolton (Connacht); J Crowley (Munster), C Casey (Munster, capt); J Boyle (Leinster), G McCarthy (Leinster), T Clarkson (Leinster); T Ahern (Munster), D Murray (Connacht); R Baird (Leinster), A Kendellen (Munster), C Prendergast (Connacht). Replacements: T Stewart (Ulster) for McCarthy, M Milne (Munster) for Boyle, T O'Toole (Ulster) for Clarkson, M Deegan (Leinster) for Baird (all 50 mins); C Frawley (Leinster) for McCloskey, C Nash (Munster) for T O'Brien (both 52); C Izuchukwu (Ulster) for Murray (59); B Murphy (Connacht) for Casey (60). Referee: A Leal (England).
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Crowley has chance to follow 'excellent' Prendergast display
Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell says Jack Crowley has the opportunity to "follow up" on Sam Prendergast's "excellent" performance in the win over Georgia in Saturday's Test against Portugal. With Crowley having started Ireland's final Six Nations game, Prendergast shone on his return to the line-up in Tbilisi, converting all six of his kicks off the tee in a 34-5 Irish win in tough conditions. The 22-year-old, who also had what would have been his first international try ruled out, is not included in the matchday squad for this weekend's contest at Estadio Nacional do Jamor in Lisbon. "It's a very important position, out-half, I think more and more important in the game than it's ever been," said O'Connell, who has led Ireland's summer tour while head coach Andy Farrell is away with the British and Irish Lions. "They probably don't touch the ball as much as the nines, but they probably make more decisions than anyone else on the field and they really decide how we play the game. Having two guys that are confident, that we believe in, that get to get in and play our way and make mistakes and learn and get it right and learn from that as well is really important. "It's just an opportunity for Jack to own the week and run it and get after it. It's great for us, the two of them are quite supportive of each other, they learn a lot from each other, so it's just a brilliant opportunity for us to give more experience to Jack." O'Connell praised Leinster out-half Prendergast's performance and kicking accuracy in the win over Georgia. "When you get a lead of more than two scores in those conditions, it's very tough to come from behind we were able to keep them at arm's length with our kicking game and his kicking made a big contribution to it. "He also added a layer of unpredictability to our attack in tough conditions and led the group really well. The feedback from [forwards coach] Colm Tucker and the guys that were bringing the water on was he was leading the group really well. We're delighted with him and it's an opportunity to Jack to follow up."O'Connell has handed debuts to Shayne Bolton, Alex Kendellen and Hugh Gavin in a team showing six changes as Ireland prepare for their last game until they face the All Blacks in Chicago on 1 are ranked 18th in the world, seven places below Georgia, but they scored three tries in a 64-21 loss to world champions South Africa last year and that has not escaped O'Connell's notice. "They take a lot of quick taps, a lot of quick lie-outs, they want to play quickly, they've very good backs, nippy backs," said O'Connell."I was on to [South Africa defence coach] Jerry Flannery there, they conceded three tries when they played against South Africa. "Their backs are quite a threat, so the ball will get more air from both sides. We want to play with the ball more than we did with Georgia, but we're happy enough not to play with it if it's conditions like last week."
Belfast Telegraph
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Belfast Telegraph
Ulster stars have done themselves no harm with displays against Georgia
This was an important game for Ireland players in the bubbling under category – albeit a few such as Cian Prendergast and Jack Crowley are hardly in that bracket – or for those who just get the occasional caps such as where we find the Ulster contingent these days. With so many of the front liners currently wearing the red of the British and Irish Lions, this Irish side naturally had a very different look about it and gave rare enough chances to Jacob Stockdale, Stuart McCloskey, Nick Timoney and Cormac Izuchukwu to be handed starts to take on Georgia, who had former Ulster assistant coach Roddy Grant in their backroom team.
The 42
05-07-2025
- Sport
- The 42
New-look Ireland team look to seize their chance in Georgia
IRELAND'S MEETING WITH Georgia today [KO 6pm, Virgin Media] is unlikely to make or break any international careers, but it's a valuable opportunity for those on the fringes of the regular squad to push their way up the queue, or at the very least ensure they remain part of the conversation. Summer 'development' Tests tend to balance youth with experience, with the scales tipping more toward the latter in a Lions year. Yet never has an Ireland squad been so heavily impacted by a Lions tour, with Andy Farrell bringing 16 Irish tourists to Australia, along with a handful of his coaching staff. As a result, interim head coach Paul O'Connell has been left with a very different group to work with. Ulster's Jacob Stockdale, capped three times in the last two years, is by a distance the most experienced Test player in the squad. The 29-year-old wins his 39th cap this evening. Next best is Ryan Baird on 27 caps, with Jack Crowley (24 caps) the only other player in the 33-man squad with 20-plus caps to his name. Even as the more experienced members of the group, those players will hope to make a statement across this game and next Saturday's clash with Portugal in Lisbon. With Peter O'Mahony now retired, Baird, 25, must be looking to make himself a mainstay in the starting team. Three of his four Six Nations appearances this season came off the bench, but on his best days he's suggested he can hold a more central role. Crowley has seen the 10 shirt whipped from his hands by Sam Prendergast, and while the Leinster player starts here, the Munster out-half ended the season in stronger form. Prendergast has been Farrell's preferred option but Crowley needs to keep the heat on in that battle. Jack Crowley during Friday's Captain's Run. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO Looking at the fresher faces, there are points of interest right across the team. Tommy O'Brien and Darragh Murray are the two starting debutants in a matchday 23 which contains six uncapped players – Munster pair Michael Milne and Tom Ahern and Connacht duo Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy are set to debut off the bench. Advertisement Leinster winger O'Brien was outstanding across the province's run to URC success, while 24-year-old Murray is an athletic presence at lock. The Connacht player will be just the second Roscommon man to represent Ireland at Test level, joining his provincial teammate Jack Carty. Jamie Osborne wins his eighth cap and his first start at centre, the position which may well prove to be his long-term home. Munster's Craig Casey held Lions ambitions but will recognise the opportunity to captain his country as a real show of faith from the Ireland coaches. An all-Leinster front row of Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson will be tested against a powerful Georgian pack, but all three will take confidence from the significant steps they have taken over the past 12 months. Cormac Izuchukwu starts in the second row. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO In the second row Ulster's Cormac Izuchukwu will look to showcase his rich athletic talents by getting his hands on the ball, but prioritising the dirty work needs to be first and foremost on his mind. Back-rowers Nick Timoney and Gavin Coombes have both been frustrated with selections over the years so need to use this tour to show what they can offer the squad. Timoney is a powerful ball-carrier while Coombes has grown into an increasingly important player for Munster, and his ability to power through and score tries from close range might be just what Ireland need at the 27,000-capacity Mikheil Meskhi Stadium. With heavy rain battering Tbilisi this week and more showers anticipated today, this has the potential to be a scrappy encounter where the much-anticipated battle up front proves decisive. Paul O'Connell has highlighted the quality of forwards like Mikheil Babunashvili and Luka Ivanishvili, two of seven Black Lion players in the Georgia 23. The Tbilisi-based club are in the same Challenge Cup pool as Connacht next season. Fullback Davit Niniashvili, a Challenge Cup winner with Lyon in 2022, is a standout talent who will join Ronan O'Gara at La Rochelle next season. Former Connacht scrum-half Conor McPhillips is part of Richard Cockerill's backroom team. Lyon's Davit Niniashvili. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO Georgia see this game as a chance to show what they can offer on the Test stage. The hosts are currently ranked 11th in the world, one place ahead of Wales and one short of Italy. Georgia believe they are now at the stage where they should be getting the same opportunities as their rankings neighbours. Even with so many changes, Ireland's job today is to avoid giving the hosts a scalp to celebrate. That said, a win alone won't be enough to satisfy Farrell, who has had a say in selection and will be keeping a close eye from Australia. He wants to see a win, but he'll be just as keen to see a performance. It's a tough ask for a new-look group who have only been together for two weeks, but such are the demands of Test rugby. The challenge for this new-look group is to show they belong here. GEORGIA: Davit Niniashvili; Aka Tabutsadze, Demur Tapladze, Giorgi Kveseladze, Sandro Todua; Luka Matkava, Vasil Lobzhanidze; Giorgi Akhaladze, Vano Karkadze, Irakli Aptsiauri; Mikheil Babunashvili, Lado Chachanidze; Luka Ivanishvili, Beka Saginadze, Tornike Jalagonia. Replacements: Irakli Kvatadze, Giorgi Tetrashvili, Beka Gigashvili, Giorgi Javakhia, Ilia Spanderashvili, Mikheil Alania, Tedo Abzhandadze, Tornike Kakhoidze. IRELAND: Jimmy O'Brien; Tommy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey; Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Cormac Izuchukwu, Darragh Murray; Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes. Replacements: Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, Cian Prendergast, Ben Murphy, Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash.
