Limp Ireland A suffer record Thomond Park defeat

Ireland A  14, England A 52

THE IRFU will have to go into conclave after this embarassing result. It is probably the highest defeat at this level in the history of Thomond Park. From the kick-off it was clear that this England A team were going to enjoy their visit to Limerick. The went ahead 0-12 in the first fifteen minutes and while Brian Gleeson pulled the lead back to 12-7 on 23 minutes, Ciarán Frawley adding the etras, there were further scores from England A from Ollie Hassell-Collins and Harry Randall to bring the score to 7-24. Ireland had a few phases  and they were rewarded when Joshua Kenny  sprinted over and Frawley added the two points from the kicking tee.

Four minutes into the second half England A added to their ten point lead with a try from George Kloska and from there to the final whistle England A had scored eight tries before the final whistle.It is difficult to fathom the difference between the sides and there will surely be an enquiry. In fairness the boys in the green shirts worked hard but they were totally out-in every aspect of play by the slick visitors.

IRELAND XV: Shane Daly (Cork Constitution FC/Munster); Joshua Kenny (Terenure College RFC/Leinster), James Hume (Instonians RFC/Ulster), Dan Kelly (Munster), Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster); Ciarán Frawley (UCD RFC/Leinster), Fintan Gunne (Terenure College RFC/Leinster); Billy Bohan (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster), Scott Wilson (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Charlie Irvine (Queen’s University Belfast RFC/Ulster), Fineen Wycherley (Young Munster RFC/Munster), Max Deegan (Lansdowne FC/Leinster) (capt), Bryn Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Brian Gleeson (Garryowen FC/Munster).

Replacements: Diarmuid Barron (Garryowen FC/Munster), Sam Crean (Ulster), Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht), Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster), Paul Boyle (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Matthew Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Cathal Forde (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht), Sean Jansen (Connacht).

ENGLAND ‘A’: Joe Carpenter (Sale Sharks); Cadan Murley (Harlequins), Luke Northmore (Harlequins), Orlando Bailey (Leicester Tigers), Ollie Hassell-Collins (Leicester Tigers); Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers), Harry Randall (Bristol Bears); Tarek Haffar (Leicester Tigers), Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers), George Kloska (Bristol Bears), Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks), Joe Batley (Bristol Bears), Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs) (capt), Jack Kenningham (Harlequins), Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins).

Replacements: Kepueli Tuipulotu (Bath), Archie van der Flier (Leicester Tigers), Afolabi Fasogbon (Gloucester), Hugh Tizard (Saracens), Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears), Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks), Charlie Atkinson (Gloucester), George Hendy (Northampton Saints).

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