Irish breeze past Baa-baas
Wed, 28 May 2008 08:51
Despite captain Brian O'Driscoll's late withdrawal, Ireland thrashed the Barbarians 39-14 at Gloucester on Tuesday, before leaving for their tour of New Zealand and Australia.
O'Driscoll returned to Dublin after news of the death of a close friend, and it wasn't certain whether he will rejoin his teammates in time when they leave on Friday for New Zealand.
In his absence, stand-in captain Shane Horgan racked a pair of tries, No.8 Jamie Heaslip also bagged two, and wing Tommy Bowe scored in a surge of 24 points in the first 23 minutes which left Ireland in control.
Paddy Wallace, among 12 starters heading to New Zealand, kicked over 14 points.
Ireland, defeating the Baa-baas for the first time in three attempts, did not include any players from Munster, who won the Heineken Cup at the weekend.
The Barbarians were limited to converted tries by New Zealand flank Craig Newby and South African No.8 Pedrie Wannenburg.
All Black Newby, who has left Otago to join Leicester next season, was injured scoring the try and taken to hospital for X-rays on his neck.
Ireland play the All Blacks on June 7 in Wellington, and Australia a week later in Melbourne.
The Barbarians meet England at Twickenham on Sunday.
The scorers:
For Ireland:
Tries: Bowe, Horgan 2, Heaslip 2
Cons: Kearney, Wallace 3
Pens: Wallace 2
For Barbarians:
Tries: Newby, Wannenburg
Cons: Hewat 2
Teams:
Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Luke Fitzgerald, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Paddy Wallace, 9 Isaac Boss, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Shane Jennings, 6 Stephen Ferris, 5 Mal O'Kelly, 4 Bob Casey, 3 Mike Ross, 2 Rory Best, 1 Bryan Young.
Replacements: 16 Bernard Jackman, 17 Tom
Court, 18 Ryan Caldwell, 19 Neil Best, 20 Frank Murphy, 21 Jonny Sexton, 22 Girvan Dempsey.
Barbarians: 15 Peter Hewat, 14 Sosene Anesi, 13 Morgan Turinui (captain), 12 Jaco Pretorius, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Stephen Larkham, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 David Croft, 6 Craig Newby, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Kris Chesney, 3 Cobus Visagie, 2 Sebastien Bruno, 1 Ollie le Roux.
Replacements: 16 Mark Regan, 17 Patrice Collazo, 18 Santiago Dellape, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Andy Gomarsall, 21 Glen Jackson, 22 Tyrone Smith.
Referee: Andrew Small (England)
Touch judges: Chris White and Tony Spreadbury (both England)
SAPA
