Paul pleased with win over Georgia despite conditions
- Updated: 06/07/2025
iT’S cerainly good to see Limerick rugby players staring at international level and Ireland captain, Craig Casey, winger Calvin Nash and interim coach Paul O’Connell surely enjoyed last night’s victory over Georgia. It wasn’t a very impressive performance all round but if the home side had any hopes of a second half shock result it was dampened by a sectacular try minutes after the interval by skipper Casey followed by a fourth from a Nick Timoney touchdown. Prendergast popped over the necessary points from the boot to make sure of a winning start to this mini summer tour.
The opening half saw Ireland go 14 early points ahead thanks to a brace of tries from Tommy O’Brien and converted by Prendergast, but in the last play of the half the home supporters went wild when Vano Karkadze forced his way over in the corner. O’Connell would not have been with that first hallf showing but the 5-34 result will have been pleasing: “We prepared for certain conditions. Unfortunately, it ended up with different conditions and that’s what’s most most pleasing Our half-backs and the leadership in the team were able to flick a switch and change the plan and deliver a really accurate plan given the conditions we had.”
Next up is a game against Portugal next Saturday in Lisbon, kick-off 6.30.
Georgia: Davit Niniashvili (Lyon); Aka Tabutsadze (Black Lion), Demur Tapladze (Black Lion), Giorgi Kveseladze (Grenoble), Sandro Todua (Black Lion); Luka Matkava (Castres Olympique), Vasil Lobzhanidze (Oyonnax); Giorgi Akhaladze (Clermont Auvergne), Vano Karkadze (Montpellier), Irakli Aptsiauri (Lyon); Mikheil Babunashvili (Black Lion), Lado Chachanidze (Black Lion); Luka Ivanishvili (Black Lion), Beka Saghinadze (Lyon) (capt), Tornike Jalagonia (Provence).
Replacements: Irakli Kvatadze (Black Lion), Giorgi Tetrashvili (Perpignan), Beka Gigashvili (Toulon), Guram Ganiashvili (Black Lion), Ilia Spalacknderashvili (Valence Romans), Mikheil Alania (Aurillac), Tedo Abzhandadze (Aurillac), Tornike Kakhoidze (Black Lion).
Ireland: Jimmy O’Brien; Tommy O’Brien, Jamie Osborne, Stuart McCloskey, Jacob Stockdale; Sam Prendergast, Craig Casey (capt); Jack Boyle, Gus McCarthy, Thomas Clarkson; Cormac Izuchukwu, Darragh Murray; Ryan Baird, Nick Timoney, Gavin Coombes.
Replacements: Tom Stewart, Michael Milne, Jack Aungier, Tom Ahern, Max Deegan, Ben Murphy, Jack Crowley, Calvin Nash.
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