Emerging Ireland made their intentions clear with a comprehensive 36-24 win against the Airlink Pumas in the first match of the 2024 Toyota Challenge play in Bloemfontein.
The teams were evenly matched, however, several slips of concentration by the Pumas and clinical finishing by Ireland were the difference between them.
The first points were only scored after ten minutes of play when sub-standard defence made it easy for Ireland winger Zac Ward to score the first try of the out wide. Ten minutes later Darragh Murray bulldozed his way over the Pumas' tryline whereafter great work by Tino Swanepoel put Lundi Msenge in space to score in the corner.
With a minute to go, Ireland flanker Cormac Izuchukwu bulldozed his way over for Ireland's third try to extend their lead to 19-07 at the halftime break.
After just two minutes of play, Ireland's hooker Stephen Smyth was unstoppable on his way to scoring their fourth try to extend Ireland's lead to 24-07.
Brilliance by Tino Swanepoel led to his try after eleven minutes of play in the first half. Thereafter, Ireland stepped up their attack and hooker Gus McCarthy finishes at the back of a powerful rolling maul, extending Ireland's lead to 29-14 and twenty minutes to play in the second half.
With seven minutes to go and Ireland starting to puff a bit, the Pumas started to dominate and Eduan Swart bulldozed his way over the tryline to cut Ireland's lead to 19-29.
A silly penalty conceded by the Pumas with Ireland on the attack led to a penalty try for Ireland and a yellow card against the Pumas. Ireland led 36-19 with four minutes to play.
With time up on the clock great play by the backline of the Pumas put Tino Swanepoel in space to score his second try to cut Ireland's lead to 36-24 which was the final score.
Scorers:
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Lundi Msenge, Tino Swanepoel (2), Eduan Swart. Conversions: Clinton Swart (2).
Emerging Ireland: Tries: Zac Ward, Darragh Murray, Cormac Izuchukwu, Stephen Smyth, Gus McCarthy, Penalty Try. Conversions: Sam Prendergast (2).
Teams
Airlink Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Theuns Pretorius, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Kwanda, Dimaza (c), 7 Andre Fouche, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Tiaan de Klerk, 20 Marvelous Mashimbyi, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Phiko Sobahle.
Emerging Ireland: 15 Ben O’Connor, 14 Rob Russell, 13 Sean O’Brien, 12 Hugh Gavin, 11 Zac Ward, 10 Sam Prendergast, 9 Matthew Devine, 8 James Culhane, 7 Alex Kendellen (c), 6 Cormac Izuchukwu, 5 Darragh Murray, 4 Harry Sheridan, 3 Jack Aungier, 2 Stephen Smyth, 1 Mark Donnelly. Replacements: 16 Gus McCarthy, 17 Alex Usanov, 18 Ronan Foxe, 19 Evan O’Connell, 20 Sean Jansen, 21 Ethan Coughlan, 22 Jack Murphy, 23 Jude Postlethwaite.
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