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BBC News
12-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Portugal v Ireland: Visitors score four early tries in Lisbon
Update: Date: 19:17 BST Title: Post Content: Portugal 0-28 Ireland Credit to Portugal as they win a penalty in the Irish 22 for an offside. They kick into the corner and are five metres from the line. Update: Date: 19:13 BST Title: Converted Try Portugal 0-28 Ireland Content: Shayne Bolton (con Crowley) This is getting ugly... It's another Connacht debut try as the winger breaks the line and sprints away. 14 minutes gone and Ireland have four converted tries in the bag. You feel for the hosts already but Ireland have been so dominant and clinical early on. Update: Date: 19:11 BST Title: Converted Try Portugal 0-21 Ireland Content: Tommy O'Brien (con Crowley) I can barely keep up here! The O'Brien brothers scythe their way through the red shirts as full back Jimmy makes space for his brother who sears away down the right wing and over for a try that Crowley converts. Update: Date: 19:09 BST Title: Converted try - Portugal 0-14 Ireland Content: Hugh Gavin (con Crowley) A debut try for the Connacht man! Ireland go to the corner and from the lineout, the centre punctures a hole in the Portuguese defence to go over for a seven-pointer! Update: Date: 19:08 BST Title: Post Content: Portugal 0-7 Ireland Portugal respond well with some good running from full back Nuno Guedes causing Ireland trouble. Cian Prendergast makes a big line break but debutant Alex Kendellen forces a pass that is intercepted by Manuel Pinto. Seven minutes gone and Ireland win a ruck penalty in midfield. Update: Date: 19:01 BST Title: Converted try - Portugal 0-7 Ireland Content: Stuart McCloskey (con Crowley) What a start as the Ulster man is over in the corner! A perfect kick from the side line from Jack Crowley too. Jimmy O'Brien makes a break off the kick-off and they work it wide left and the big centre is over in the corner after less than a minute. Update: Date: 19:00 BST Title: Kick-off Content: Portugal 0-0 Ireland Jack Crowley get us underway kicking left to right on English referee Adam Leal's whistle! Update: Date: 19:00 BST Title: Starting soon Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) The teams are out and the anthems have been belted out at a rather sparsely-populated Estadio Nacional do Jamor! This is the first ever test between these two and the 21st new side Ireland have awarded caps against. The last new side Ireland faced was Russia in Siberia way back in 2002! The conditions here are certainly not Siberia-esque as it is a hot sunny night in the Portuguese capital. Similar temperatures to home with the mercury in the low 20s. Much different to the pouring rain in Tbilisi last week! Update: Date: 18:55 BST Title: 'Endless competition' at Leinster driving McCarthy Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) Ireland hooker Gus McCarthy believes competition for places at Leinster is helping him develop as a player as he prepares for his sixth cap in Lisbon tonight. The 21-year-old also started his side's 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last week having made his debut against Fiji in November. With British and Irish Lions Dan Sheehan and Ronan Kelleher ahead of him in the pecking order at Leinster, McCarthy played just three times for his province between the end of the Six Nations and conclusion of the domestic season in June. "I haven't played a huge amount. I didn't really get involved in the URC knock-out matches or the latter end of the Champions Cup," said McCarthy. Read more here 'Endless competition' at Leinster driving McCarthy Update: Date: 18:50 BST Title: Portugal Test 'to be taken very seriously' - Tucker Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) Ireland interim forwards coach Cullie Tucker says tonight's Test match is one that will provide a "significant" challenge for his side. While pleased with their performance in the victory in Tbilisi last week, Tucker believes Portugal - under former Racing 92 and Munster assistant Simon Mannix - will provide another stern test. "They're a very good rugby team and it is a game that needs to be taken very seriously," he said. "We're here to win two games and they're going to provide a different challenge to Georgia and a significant one with the heat on top of that. Read more here Portugal Test 'to be taken very seriously' - Tucker Update: Date: 18:45 BST Title: Crowley can follow 'excellent' Prendergast display Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) 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 tonight'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 the 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. Read more here Crowley can follow 'excellent' Prendergast display Update: Date: 18:40 BST Title: O'Brien keen to make most of Ireland chance Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) Versatile back Jimmy O'Brien says he is keen to make the most of his chance with Ireland while the bulk of the squad are on British and Irish Lions duty. O'Brien made his Test debut against South Africa in 2022, but has been in and out of the squad since, with injuries playing their part. The 28-year-old, who can operate at full-back, centre and on either wing, has been retained for tonight's game, having played 80 minutes of last weekend's 34-5 win over Georgia in the 15 jersey. "It's about taking the opportunity," said O'Brien, who was a key part of Leinster's 2024-25 United Rugby Championship win. "Obviously some of the lads are away with Lions and there's a lot of lads, myself included, who have been waiting for an opportunity to play over the last couple of years. Read more here Update: Date: 18:35 BST Title: Team News Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell has included three new caps in a team showing six changes for from last week's win in Tbilisi. Connacht wing Shayne Bolton and Munster back row Kendellen were originally named in O'Connell's line-up, while Connacht centre Hugh Gavin was promoted to the starting team after Jamie Osborne's call-up to the British and Irish Lions squad. Munster wing Calvin Nash takes Gavin's place on the Ireland bench. Bolton replaces Ulster wing Jacob Stockdale, who injured his shoulder in the 34-5 win over Georgia in Tbilisi last week, while Kendellen comes in at open-side flanker for Nick Timoney, who drops out of the squad. Connacht's Cian Prendergast, who was forced to withdraw from last week's game because of illness, starts at number eight. "I have been really pleased with the attitude of the players over the last number of weeks," said O'Connell. "The dedication and diligence of the squad in testing conditions over in Tbilisi demonstrated the players' willingness to embrace challenges and hopefully that bodes well again this weekend." Portugal Head Coach Simon Mannix names his first test team since a 21-7 defeat to Romania in the Rugby Europe Championship in March. The former All Black was Rob Penney's assistant at Munster from 2012-2014. Ireland: J O'Brien; T O'Brien, H Gavin, S McCloskey, S Bolton; J Crowley, C Casey (capt); J Boyle, G McCarthy, T Clarkson; T Ahern, D Murray; R Baird, A Kendellen, C Prendergast. Replacements: T Stewart, M Milne, T O'Toole, C Izuchukwu, M Deegan, B Murphy, C Frawley, C Nash. Portugal: Guedes, Bento, V. Pinto, Appleton, M. Pinto, Aubry, Camacho, D. Costa, Begic, D. Ferreira, de Andrade, P. Ferreira, de Carvalho, Martins, Ruiz Replacements: da Cunha, Lopes. Souto, G. Costa, Almeida, Baptista, Campos, Avriagnet Update: Date: 18:25 BST Title: Welcome to Lisbon! Content: Portugal v Ireland (19:00 BST) Good evening and welcome to the Estadio Nacional do Jamor in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon. Sporting CP defeated rivals Benfica 3-1 here in the Portuguese Cup final 48 days ago with Arsenal target Viktor Gyokeres scoring a goal. But never mind the Gunners, it's Ireland's young guns who take on Portugal this evening in their second summer Test under interim head coach Paul O'Connell. Can they build on last week's victory over Georgia in Tbilisi and give Andy Farrell some selection headaches when he returns from British and Irish Lions duty for the Autumn internationals? Stick with us for all of the action. Glad you could join us this evening. A general view of Estádio Nacional do Jamor ahead of the game
Irish Times
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Ireland's six debutants against Georgia: What they said and what song they sang
Ireland 's six debutants were presented with their caps in the dressingroom where Ireland's interim head coach Paul O'Connell did the honours before IRFU president Declan Madden repeated the gesture in the more formal setting of the post-match dinner with the Georgia team looked on as the players had to sing. Tommy O'Brien 'It was a crazy good start. I have to thank Sammy [Prendergast] for them [the two tries], he helped me out. Listen, when it comes like that you just grab it with both hands. I was actually okay. I played a good few big games recently for Leinster, so the nerves were okay. 'I was a bit emotional listening to the anthem now all right. I guess I was just thinking back to the people at home that were watching, probably seeing me up on the screen and stuff. I was just delighted to give them a great day out.' Song: Firework (Katie Perry) READ MORE Darragh Murray Ireland's Darragh Murray after the game with his first cap. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 'It was unbelievable, the lads made it such a special week for us. We had full licence to go out there and be ourselves. Calling the lineout, it was a bit of added pressure, but all the lads got behind me. Paulie made it very easy for us on options, and it was such an enjoyable week. 'The highlight is just getting out and wearing a green jersey. It was so special. I tried to take it in and not get ahead of myself, which is something that can happen. A lineout steal is always an added plus, to disrupt them and their set piece. 'We knew that the Georgian team are a big, physical side. That's what we wanted to bring especially in our tackling, get off the line. The most nerve racking ... the singing, that's what I was most worried about, not the game.' Song: Country Roads (John Denver). Jack Aungier Ireland's Jack Aungier after the game with his first cap. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 'That first scrum is something I won't forget, when I got up and saw that we had won a penalty. I think it was all Michael Milne, but we won't give him that credit. It was a frontrow effort. It was great. Set piece was solid, I was happy enough with the way it went. It was a proud day. 'I am very easy going and I tried to keep it as normal as possible until Friday night when Craig [Casey] sat down and said it's not normal to play for Ireland. It is an incredible privilege to wear an international jersey; not many people get to do it. My [nerves] kicked in when he said that, when you think about it in that way. 'I saw the lads [Michael Milne and Tom Stewart] go on at 56 or 57 minutes and I knew it would be soon after that. It's actually a bit nerve racking watching, when you get on it's the same as any other game to be honest, a bit more physical and faster. Song: Piano Man (Billy Joel) Michael Milne Ireland's Michael Milne after the game with his first cap. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 'I think before the match the highlight when I got a bit of time to reflect a little was to be the first international from Birr rugby club. It means an awful lot to me and my family. It is a club that has done an awful lot for me, and I am proud to represent them. 'On the pitch it was the first scrum and winning the penalty. Me and Jack Aungier just got up and looked at each other. We smiled and gave each other a nod. It was a great moment. 'I suppose it is something that you dream of as a kid but when you are playing Under-10s and 11s for Birr you never think that you are going to play for Ireland. When you get to represent your country at the highest level it's an unbelievable feeling. It's everything.' Song: Sweet Caroline (Neil Diamond). Tom Ahern Ireland's Tom Ahern after the game with his first cap. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 'It feels amazing, a dream come true. It's something I have wanted for a long time, so it's a very special feeling. 'No, I wasn't too nervous. There was a lot of excitement to be honest. I was just absolutely buzzing to get an opportunity to play for this team. It's a special group of players and I'm delighted to get a chance to play with them. 'Yeah, my parents, Anthony and Jessie came over, so that made it a lot more special. They sacrificed a lot for me when I was younger, so to have them over here means the world to me. Obviously, there's not too much rugby played down in Waterford, so they were driving me all across the province for training sessions and matches. I owe a lot to them and to have them here is absolutely brilliant. 'Growing up, I was looking up to Jack O'Donoghue. He got the opportunity to do it as well, so it was always something that I saw and I strived for.' Song: The Gambler Ben Murphy Ireland's Ben Murphy after the game with his first cap. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho 'It was challenging playing in a game with so much emotion on it, trying to keep them in check and focus on the game. I was pretty calm this week, we had a nice presentation on Thursday, and it was good to let a couple of emotions out. 'I got a video from home from my parents, my brother and my dog, which was very nice and a video of highlights throughout the years from school all the way up. It was emotional seeing all the journey back, but it made me hungrier. 'We haven't been together very long, but we got around each other over the last few weeks. It was a big challenge set to us when we came into camp whether we could do this. We answered a lot of questions tonight. I think we can grow again next weekend. Song: Angels (Robbie Williams)
Yahoo
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
O'Connell 'loved' Ireland's 'hunger and intent'
Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell said he "loved" the "intent" and "hunger" his players showed in Saturday's 34-5 Test win over Georgia in Tbilisi. An inexperienced Ireland squad, which featured six debutants, proved too strong for their hosts thanks to Tommy O'Brien's early double and second-half tries from first-time captain Craig Casey and Nick Timoney. Advertisement O'Connell, who will also lead Ireland in next week's encounter with Portugal in Lisbon while head coach Andy Farrell is with the British and Irish Lions, was buoyed by how his side adapted to the rainy conditions. The former Ireland captain said: "We prepared for a certain type of conditions. "Unfortunately, today, it ended up with different conditions and that's what's most most pleasing: our half-backs and the leadership in the team were able to flick a switch and change the plan and deliver a really accurate plan given the conditions we had. "I loved the intent the players played with, I loved the hunger they played with, I loved how tough they were and how accurate they were." Advertisement O'Brien was one of two Ireland debutants in the starting line-up, with Michael Milne, Tom Ahern, Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy earning their first caps off the bench. "In terms of our new caps, it's exciting because we actually haven't had a massive amount of injuries in the past few years," added O'Connell. "Sometimes you need someone to have an injury to get a chance, so for the team to have done so well to allow so many players to go on the Lions and give these players an opportunity is brilliant for us. "They all have a story to tell. Tommy O'Brien played against Georgia in 2018 as an under-20 player, he's been through a lot of stuff with injuries. Other guys have had to move province to try and get game time. They've been through a lot to get their opportunity." Advertisement Casey, whose early second-half try dented Georgia's hopes of launching a fightback, said captaining his country is "certainly up there" with the best moments of his career. "Very nice feeling feeling in that dressing room afterwards," said the Munster scrum-half, 26. "Building all week, winning is the most important especially as the captain and it's certainly a nice feeling, so it ranks highly."
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
O'Connell 'loved' Ireland's 'hunger and intent'
Ireland interim head coach Paul O'Connell said he "loved" the "intent" and "hunger" his players showed in Saturday's 34-5 Test win over Georgia in Tbilisi. An inexperienced Ireland squad, which featured six debutants, proved too strong for their hosts thanks to Tommy O'Brien's early double and second-half tries from first-time captain Craig Casey and Nick Timoney.O'Connell, who will also lead Ireland in next week's encounter with Portugal in Lisbon while head coach Andy Farrell is with the British and Irish Lions, was buoyed by how his side adapted to the rainy conditions. The former Ireland captain said: "We prepared for a certain type of conditions. "Unfortunately, today, it ended up with different conditions and that's what's most most pleasing: our half-backs and the leadership in the team were able to flick a switch and change the plan and deliver a really accurate plan given the conditions we had."I loved the intent the players played with, I loved the hunger they played with, I loved how tough they were and how accurate they were."O'Brien was one of two Ireland debutants in the starting line-up, with Michael Milne, Tom Ahern, Jack Aungier and Ben Murphy earning their first caps off the bench. "In terms of our new caps, it's exciting because we actually haven't had a massive amount of injuries in the past few years," added O'Connell. "Sometimes you need someone to have an injury to get a chance, so for the team to have done so well to allow so many players to go on the Lions and give these players an opportunity is brilliant for us."They all have a story to tell. Tommy O'Brien played against Georgia in 2018 as an under-20 player, he's been through a lot of stuff with injuries. Other guys have had to move province to try and get game time. They've been through a lot to get their opportunity."Casey, whose early second-half try dented Georgia's hopes of launching a fightback, said captaining his country is "certainly up there" with the best moments of his career."Very nice feeling feeling in that dressing room afterwards," said the Munster scrum-half, 26."Building all week, winning is the most important especially as the captain and it's certainly a nice feeling, so it ranks highly."
Irish Times
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Times
Paul O'Connell happy with hard-fought Ireland triumph against Georgia
Paul O'Connell expressed a quiet satisfaction following Ireland 's 34-5 victory over Georgia, a hard fought, but thoroughly merited victory for the young squad, with six debutants in the match day 23. The hugely challenging weather conditions, lashing rain and wind, could have fed into a potentially hazardous night, but instead the visitors managed the game better than their hosts with a hard-nosed focus and, at times, a lovely clarity of execution in finding and exploiting space. [ Tommy O'Brien makes impressive debut as Ireland weather biblical conditions to beat Georgia Opens in new window ] 'I'm happy with how they played,' said O'Connell after the win. 'It was potentially a banana skin on a bone-dry day. Then, when the heavens opened, it became even more of a banana skin. 'I was really impressed with the way the halfbacks handled the game, the way all the lads handled the game, really. I was really impressed with the lads' intent, the accuracy of their intent and their hunger. READ MORE 'When they didn't have the ball, they really enjoyed not having the ball and keep chasing because it was one of those days. You know, some days you play a game where you're better off not having the ball. Today was one of those days. 'One of the things that this team has really spoken a lot about is the tackle. I thought that came through really well from 1-15 and the bench. That was a really pleasing part of the game.' O'Connell paid tribute to the impact of the six debutants, Tommy O'Brien with his brace of tries, Darragh Murray, who called the lineout, and Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern and Ben Murphy, who were summoned from the bench. Who needs to make an impact on Ireland's summer tour? Listen | 36:20 'In terms of our new caps, you know, it's exciting because we actually haven't had a massive amount of injuries with Ireland in the last year. Sometimes you need an injury for someone to get a chance, so for the team to have done so well to allow so many players to go on the Lions, to give these players an opportunity is brilliant for us. 'They all have a story to tell. Tommy O'Brien played against Georgia, I think it was 2018 as an under-20 player. He's been through a lot of stuff with injuries. Other guys have had to move province to try and get game time, they've been through a lot to try and get their opportunity, so all the playing group were delighted for them. 'Other guys I suppose have had a chance to flourish maybe as leaders because some of the other, more established leaders have been gone, so from that point of view it's been a great development opportunity for us.' O'Connell added: 'We started well, got 14-0 up, and that's a big advantage in those conditions. I thought Georgia did really well through their scrum, through a few penalties to get back down, they scored a maul try against us, and at half-time it was very tight. Luckily for us we scored a fantastic try after half-time, and I think it really steadied the ship for us and we were able to pull away from there.' He also confirmed Jacob Stockdale, forced off after 36 minutes, suffered a shoulder injury. 'He's not great. I think he's damaged his AC joint, so he'll go to get an X-ray, but I don't think he's great. It sums up the last while for him, unfortunately. 'His last three games at Ireland now he's got an injury. Every time he's come in, you're really excited to see him have a go and get going. Even you saw him there today when he got the ball in his hand, he looks like he can create from anything, so he just needs a break.' Ireland fly to Portugal on Sunday to prepare for next Saturday's Test in Lisbon.
