NO CAUSE FOR LARM Ireland’s second string still too good for Italians as Jordan grabs hat-trick of tries
AUTUMN INTERNATIONALS
NGANI LAUMAPE ran in a hat-trick as a second string All Blacks side crushed Japan in Tokyo. Laumape (below) starred while fly-half Richie Mo’unga scored one of 10 New Zealand tries and kicked a penalty and seven conversions as they taught next year’s World Cup hosts a lesson in front of Japan’s record rugby crowd of 43,751. All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said: “People keep asking us how we keep finding the talent. It’s the programmes back home and also because we give them opportunities. “We have learnt a lot about people this week.” Leinster’s 21-year-old sensation finished off an eight-try rout with a brilliant solo effort, beating three Italians to complete the scoring in the closing seconds. Like Larmour, Tadhg Beirne was also making his first Test start and the Munster lock bagged a brace of tries while Ross Byrne and Will Addison got 20 minutes for their debuts in Chicago. It was another Windy City win for Joe Schmidt, though the circumstances couldn’t have been much different to the historic first-ever defeat of the All Blacks in 2016. A sell-out 61,000 fans had packed into the Chicago Bears’ home ground then to watch an electrifying display against the world champions.
This time around, the ground was less than half full with most of the big names on both sides not even making the trip.
Jack Mcgrath was the only starter from two years earlier for Ireland while Joey Carbery, who made his debut off the bench against the Kiwis, had a mixed afternoon after getting the nod from the off against the Italians.
Schmidt left nearly all of his frontliners at Carton House, working with them himself this week before arriving in Chicago on Thursday.
Conor O’shea did something similar with the Azzurri with both head coaches looking at bigger fish to fry later in the month. But Ireland’s early intent was clear as Jacob Stockdale gathered Carlo Canna’s kick-off, crashed through Luca Bigi and made 40 metres.
Almost three minutes later Garry Ringrose spilled the ball as he tried to touch down for the first try – a critical ankle tap did the damage.
But the first try arrived in the fifth minute. Carbery kicked the game’s opening penalty to the corner and Beirne, who won lineout ball, stretched successfully for the line.
Carbery kicked the conversion but then missed a tackle on Renato Giammarioli and was run over by Michele Campagnaro.
The 23-year-old responded with a charge down on full-back Luca Sperandio to keep Ireland on the front foot, only to shoot himself in the foot by throwing a pass that was intercepted by Giulio Bisegni.
That gave the Italians a much-