Ireland Men Beat Blitzboks To Make Winning Start In Paris

Tries from Jordan Conroy and Terry Kennedy propelled the Ireland Men’s Sevens team to an opening 10-5 win over South Africa at the Olympic Games in Paris.

Match Photos – Ireland Men 10 South Africa 5

Ireland dominated possession during the first half at the Stade de France. Kennedy and Conroy both went close to breaking the deadlock before Zac Ward put Conroy over past the half-time hooter, making it 5-0.

South Africa, who qualified for the Olympics just last month as Repechage winners, lost Ryan Oosthuizen to the sin bin for a high tackle on Gavin Mullin.

James Topping’s charges retained possession from the resulting 11th-minute lineout, and replacement Jack Kelly carried well before Kennedy broke decisively from the ruck. He darted down the left touchline to cut inside Shaun Williams and double Ireland’s tally.

There was still time for the Blitzboks to hit back, and despite Selvyn Davids crossing with 20 seconds left, the South African captain miscued his restart kick. That allowed Hugo Lennox to tap and kick the ball dead, sealing a deserved victory.

Giving his reaction afterwards, head coach Topping said: “It’s a really important win for us to start the tournament as we’ve had some incredible battles with South Africa over the last season and there’s nothing between the sides.

“We were excited to get the Games under way for Team Ireland and wanted to deliver a performance that reflected our ambitions in this tournament, so we’re pleased with the win.

“We now need to turn the page quickly, rest, recover, and prepare for another big challenge against Japan this evening, as there are improvements to be made across the board.

“It is a positive start but it’s only that, and we’ll work hard now to ensure we step up again this evening.”

The Ireland Men will play their second Pool A match against Japan at 9pm local time/8pm Irish time (live on RTÉ 2/BBC iPlayer & Red Button/Eurosport 2). The Japanese team fell to a 40-12 defeat in their first game against New Zealand.

South African ran out 33-14 winners when they played Ireland at the start of the Tokyo Olympics, but Topping’s side were confident of turning the tables having won five of their six meetings during this season’s HSBC SVNS Series.

Led by Harry McNulty, one of seven double Olympians in the squad, Ireland made early inroads with a lineout launch off a penalty. Ward made a half break, and the ball just beat Kennedy over the end line from his own kick through.

South Africa swiftly handed back possession, though, as Mark Roche forced a knock-on at the scrum. Ward was prominent again with another powerful run, but a tackled Conroy narrowly missed out on a try when he knocked on in the act of scoring.

Ireland’s patient work with ball in hand paid off when the South African defence was worn down just before the interval. Niall Comerford cut back to the left, and Hugo Keenan and Ward both got their hands free in contact, releasing Conroy for a straightforward finish.

Roche’s missed conversion from out wide left five points in it, and the match officials adjudged that a penalty was sufficient punishment for Tristan Leyds’ high tackle on Keeenan during the build-up to Conroy’s score.

Comerford repelled the Blitzboks, early in the second period, with a well-won penalty at the breakdown. Ireland lost the subsequent lineout, and were relieved when Quewin Nortje knocked on near the try-line after Davids had treaded a kick through.

Ireland regained control after Oostuizen’s yellow card, with Kelly carrying strongly to drive the South African defence backwards. Kennedy spotted his opportunity, scooting down the blindside and evading Williams to extend the lead to 10 points.

Following Lennox’s missed conversion from the left, South Africa rallied with the experienced Specman showing quick feet and clever thinking to play in his skipper for an unconverted try.

Davids’ restart failed to go 10 metres though, meaning McNulty and his team-mates could celebrate a job well done as they provided Team Ireland with an early boost in Saint-Denis.

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Squad (Olympic Games – Paris 2024, Stade de France, July 24, 25, 27):

Niall Comerford (UCD RFC)
Jordan Conroy (Buccaneers RFC)
Hugo Keenan (UCD RFC/Leinster)
Jack Kelly (Dublin University FC)
Terry Kennedy (St. Mary’s College RFC)
Hugo Lennox (Skerries RFC)
Harry McNulty (UCD RFC) (capt)
Gavin Mullin (UCD RFC)
Chay Mullins (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht/IQ Rugby)
Mark Roche (Lansdowne FC)
Andrew Smith (Clontarf FC/Connacht)
Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC)

Travelling Reserves:

Sean Cribbin (Suttonians RFC)
Bryan Mollen (UCD RFC)

IRELAND MEN’S SEVENS Schedule – Olympic Games, Paris 2024:

Wednesday, July 24 –

POOL A:

IRELAND 10 SOUTH AFRICA 5, Stade de France
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Jordan Conroy, Terry Kennedy
South Africa: Try: Selvyn Davids
HT: Ireland 5 South Africa 0

Match Photos

Time Line: 7+1 minutes – Ireland try: Jordan Conroy – 5-0; conversion: missed by Mark Roche – 5-0; Half-time – Ireland 5 South Africa 0; 11 mins – South Africa yellow card: Ryan Oosthuizen; 12 mins – Ireland try: Terry Kennedy – 10-0; conversion: missed by Hugo Lennox – 10-0; 14 mins – South Africa try: Selvyn Davids – 10-5; conversion: missed by Shaun Williams – 10-5; Full-time – Ireland 10 South Africa 5

Team: Harry McNulty (capt), Niall Comerford, Zac Ward, Mark Roche, Hugo Keenan, Terry Kennedy, Jordan Conroy.

Replacements used: Hugo Lennox for Roche (half-time), Jack Kelly for Ward (8 minutes), Gavin Mullin for Keenan (10), Andrew Smith for Comerford (11), Chay Mullins for Kennedy (14).

IRELAND v JAPAN, Stade de France, 9pm local time/8pm Irish time

Thursday, July 25 –

POOL A:

NEW ZEALAND v IRELAND, Stade de France, 4.30pm local time/3.30pm Irish time

RANKING & QUARTER-FINAL MATCHES

Saturday, July 27 –

RANKING, SEMI-FINAL & MEDAL MATCHES