EAGLE TRIES
Ruthless Ireland blast USA with 10 scores...& hooker Kelleher claims four of them
RONAN KELLEHER claimed a recordequalling four tries and debutant Robert Baloucoune conjured a stunning solo score as an experimental Ireland team romped to victory win over the USA.
Leinster hooker Kelleher became the first Irishman since Denis Hickie in August 2003 to ground four times in one match, with Brian Robinson and Keith Wood the only other men to achieve the feat in the green jersey.
Ulster wing Baloucoune, one of eight Test newcomers to feature for Andy Farrell’s men, set the hosts on course to a comfortable 10-try Dublin success after bursting clear with a mesmerising run from halfway.
Provincial team-mate and fellow debutant Nick Timoney was also on the scoresheet at the
Aviva Stadium, along with Stuart Mccloskey, Hugo Keenan, Gavin Coombes and Finlay Bealham, while Joey Carbery, Harry Byrne and Will Addison kicked 13, six and two points respectively.
The overawed Eagles faded fast from a promising start and a penalty from Ireland-born No.10 Luke Carty and a late converted Michael Baska try were scant consolation.
A gruelling experience for Gary Gold’s visitors was compounded by a 54th-minute red card for flanker Riekert Hattingh for ploughing his shoulder into Kelleher’s chin.
Having weathered a Japanese attacking blitz last week, Farrell’s men were equally lethal going forward this time out, in particular with four tries in 13 first half minutes. The US, who scored four tries in last week’s 43-29 loss to England, were in attacking mode again with Carty, brother of Ireland international Jack, passing up three shots at goal to no avail during a bright start. However, the hosts took complete control when fastest man in the squad Baloucoune looked like he was back playing for the sevens team as he snaked past the US defence to score with virtually his first touch in green. After their lineout started off sloppily again, as it had against Japan, Ireland quickly sorted it out with Leinster’s Kelleher and Ulster flanker Timoney scoring off moves within three minutes of each other. It only took another three minutes for
Kelleher to add a second try after great work from the returning Andrew Conway and Keenan.
The difference in quality gave Ireland the opportunity to really express themselves in attack with Munster No.8 Coombes (inset), making his first Irish start, involved at almost every turn with some eye catching offloads.
Flanker Hattingh’s red card for a high tackle on Kelleher minutes earlier inevitably opened the floodgates further with Mccloskey, Keenan, Coombes and Bealham bringing the try count to 10. IRELAND SCORES: Tries – Baloucoune, Kelleher 4, Timoney, Mccloskey, Keenan, Coombes, Bealham; Cons – Carbery 5, H Byrne 2, Addison; Pen – Carbery. USA: Try – Baska; Con – Magie; Pen – Carty