By Will Gupwell
England………………..31
Tries: Wright 24, Allen 30, Kerr 41
Conversions: Kerr 25, 31,
Penalties: Kerr 37, 51, 57, 80
Yellow Playing cards:0
England Match Stats:
Penalties Conceded- 9
Lineouts Received- 11
Lineouts Misplaced- 3
Scrums Received- 6
Scrums Misplaced- 3
Eire……………….20
Tries: Coffey 1, Ward 34
Conversions: Murphy 1, 35
Penalties: Murphy 29, 38
Yellow Playing cards: 0
Eire Match Stats:
Penalties Conceded- 14
Lineouts Received- 10
Lineouts Misplaced- 0
Scrums Received- 6
Scrums Misplaced-5
Half-time rating: England 22-20 Eire
Referee- Morne Ferreria
Attendance- 520
Star Man- Sean Kerr
On the DHL stadium, residence of the Stormers, England and Eire cooked up a stormer of a traditional battle as England took the win, securing a spot in subsequent week’s last.
It was pure pleasure for the English aspect at full-time, led valiantly by their captain Finn Carnduff, who stated at full-time, “I’m misplaced for phrases. Congratulations to Eire. It was a fantastic sport for the complete 80. They actually examined us, however I’m so pleased with the boys.
“We discuss this being a brotherhood, and stuff did go flawed right this moment. It may have been straightforward to slide into our shell, however we caught in it.
“The set piece had day for us, however credit score as properly to our again line, who’ve been nice all event, taking alternatives and scoring tries. It was a full staff efficiency that bought us over the road.”
Eire took an early seven-point lead within the opening trade with Hugh Gavin chopping a tough line off a lineout on the England 22’ breaking by means of the defence. He bought an out-the-back-hand offload to his trailing scrum-half Oliver Coffey, who went in beneath the sticks.
England responded properly by getting downfield and confirmed their ahead dominance with an early scrum that demolished the Irish pack, pushing them again over their very own line.
The Irish launched one other set play from a harmful lineout peeling spherical on the entrance. Nonetheless, the determined effort in defence from Ben Redshaw and Craig Wright denied them a second try-scoring alternative.
England tried to attain their first factors from a penalty kick, however Sean Kerr uncharacteristically missed the goal.
Fortunately, England lastly bought their attempt after a pleasant set of part play. The ball got here vast to Ben Redhsaw, who selected the appropriate possibility giving it to a free-wheeling hooker on the wing in, Craig Wright, who completed the try-off.
The Irish responded shortly, taking again the lead by choosing the protected possibility of three factors from Jack Murphy’s boot after England conceded an offside penalty.
The lead didn’t final lengthy, with England getting into straight again into the Irish half, and a spellbinding line by fullback Ioan Jones despatched Ollie Allen by means of for the rating.
The sport went backwards and forwards, with sides buying and selling scores. Eire labored their means downfield and saved the ball shut, going by means of the phases till flanker Bryn Ward finally went over.
The Irish conceded a coach killer of a penalty straight on the kick-off for crossing, which Sean Kerr made essentially the most of this time slotting the three.
The ping pong penalties continued; this time, England conceded one off the kick-off, going off their toes on the breakdown, and Jack Murphy as soon as once more was flawless from the tee.
England completed the half with a attempt after a busy backwards and forwards, with Allen throwing a missed move over to Sean Kerr, who dove in shut on the wing, permitting the English to go in on the break with a two-point lead.
The second half began with simply as a lot tempo as the primary ended, with either side popping out of the sheds with a scary ferocity.
Irish captain Brian Gleeson was issued an early warning for his aspect because of constant penalties for not rolling away. Sean Kerr took the a lot of the alternative to increase England’s slim lead, slotting one other penalty.
Eire shortly received a turnover penalty simply in need of the midway line contained in the England half. Fly-half Jack Murphy backed himself however pushed it simply to the appropriate, permitting England to exit.
The English labored their means again downfield and earned one more scrum. The second shove as soon as once more proved far too highly effective, driving Eire’s pack and profitable a penalty. Sean Kerr remained true once more and pushed their lead past a transformed attempt.
Even with the replacements on, the English scrum dominance continued smashing again the Irish as soon as once more. This time, Kerr put the ball to the nook as an alternative of taking the factors. The driving maul was halted simply quick, however they continued their physicality till the Irish escaped, conceding extra factors after a neck roll.
England managed the sport properly because it entered the closing levels. Time began slipping away for Eire to have any likelihood of coming again and profitable the sport.
Junior Kpoku received a turnover within the 79th minute, injuring himself within the course of, however Kerr went for the posts to shut the sport out, working the clock down earlier than taking his kick and slotting it within the course of to ship them to the ultimate.
It was a giant disappointment for the Irish aspect who narrowly misplaced out to the Six Nations title to England earlier this yr. Captain Brian Gleeson stated at full-time, “We’re very disillusioned. I’m very pleased with my staff. It was a really powerful sport, however credit score to England.
“Clearly, they bought on high of us on the set piece, however our lads gave every part we may.”
A day of future awaits England in Cape City subsequent week as they attain a last because of spectacular performances from their pack and the boot of Sean Kerr.
England:
Jones, Redshaw, Corridor, Kerr, Wills, Coen, Allan; Opoku-Fordjour, Wright, Fasogbon, Bailey, Kpoku, Cardiff (c), Pollock, Michelow.
Replacements: Isaacs, Miell, Halliwell, Sodeke, James, Friday, Bellamy, Cousins.
Eire:
O’Connor, Treacy, De Klerk, Gavin, McLaughlin, Murphy, Coffey; Howard, Sheahan, Bell, Spicer, Mckillop, Edogbo, Gleeson (c)
Replacements: Smyth, Calvey, Bell, Corrigan, Murphy, Brophy, Naughton, Berman