Emerging Ireland Score Six Tries In Opening Victory Over Pumas

Emerging Ireland started their South Africa tour with a 36-24 win over the Airlink Pumas, getting a good test from the Mbombela-based franchise in sunny Bloemfontein.

2024 EMERGING IRELAND TOUR – MATCH 1:

EMERGING IRELAND 36 AIRLINK PUMAS 24, Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Scorers: Emerging Ireland: Tries: Zac Ward, Darragh Murray, Cormac Izuchukwu, Stephen Smyth, Gus McCarthy, Penalty try; Cons: Sam Prendergast 2, Pen try con
Airlink Pumas: Tries: Lundi Msenge, Tino Swanepoel 2, Eduan Swart; Cons: Clinton Swart 2
HT: Emerging Ireland 19 Airlink Pumas 7

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Head coach Simon Easterby used all 23 players, including teenage prop Alex Usanov, as Emerging Ireland overcame the Pumas for the second time, having won 28-24 at the same venue two years ago.

Zac Ward’s slick 14th-minute finish from the left wing, coupled with close-range efforts from Darragh Murray and Cormac Izuchukwu, gave Easterby’s side a 19-7 half-time lead.

Sixth place finishers in the Currie Cup Premier Division, the Pumas showed the benefit of that recent game-time together, threatening through their forwards before winger Lundi Msenge was released for the try-line in the 32nd minute.

The teams shared out six tries during a pacy second half, with hookers Stephen Smyth and Gus McCarthy both crossing for the tourists who were also awarded a penalty try. Tino Swanepoel (2) and Eduan Swart hit back for the Pumas.

Emerging Ireland are back in action on Sunday, facing Super Rugby Pacific outfit Western Force (kick-off 1pm local time/12pm Irish time), before taking on the Toyota Cheetahs next Wednesday (kick-off 7pm local time/6pm Irish time).

Both matches will be available to watch live on irishrugby+, the new home of streaming which has already hosted Energia All-Ireland League clashes in the opening weeks. Sign up for free today at plus.irishrugby.ie.

Lively full-back Swanepoel threatened early on for the Pumas, but Easterby’s youngsters, for whom number 8 James Culhane impressed on both sides of the ball, were able to absorb the subsequent pressure.

Launched forward by a scrum penalty won by Jack Aungier, a long Sam Prendergast kick drew a knock-on from Swanepoel. A cross-field kick failed to work out inside the South Africans’ 22, and a subsequent Irish attack ended with Izuchukwu’s offload being intercepted.

Ward opened the scoring soon after, as Emerging Ireland exposed the narrow Pumas defence. Prendergast’s initial pullback pass set the backs in motion, and the Ireland Sevens star beat the first tackle, swept inside Swanepoel and handed off Msenge for a fine score.

Smyth ensured it remained 5-0 with an important turnover near the Irish try-line. Captain Alex Kendellen and Izuchukwu also battled hard at the breakdown, the latter earning a penalty to break up some decent momentum for the Pumas.

Emerging Ireland’s next visit to the opposition 22 resulted in their second try. Darren Adonis knocked on a Ben O’Connor kick, and the scrum decision went the tourists’ way, Matthew Devine going quickly and the forward carries resulted in Murray crossing from an Izuchukwu feed.

Prendergast topped it off with the conversion, but those seven points were cancelled out when tricky runner Swanepoel evaded Jude Postlethwaite’s tackle, breaking free to send Msenge over from 10 metres out. Clinton Swart converted.

The Pumas were unable to profit from a Theuns Pretorius turnover penalty, and that was also the case for Emerging Ireland when full-back O’Connor’s kick chase gave them a scrum platform. The Pumas scrambled to avoid conceding from a Prendergast kick out wide.

However, they were unable to prevent the Irish pack from gaining ground late on, a scrum and a couple of carries putting Ulster’s Izuchuwku in place to power over from five metres out. Prendergast converted with the final kick of the opening half.

The lead was extended 17 points early on the restart, as the ever-alert Harry Sheridan surged straight through from a ruck. He reached the 22 and combined with Devine who sent Smyth squeezing over in the right corner ahead of Swanepoel.

A couple of penalties had the Pumas hunting down a try in response, but Sean O’Brien did brilliantly to deny Ntsika Fisanti from a maul, forcing him into touch as Emerging Ireland’s defensive workload increased.

They continued to frustrate Pumas, with Sheridan disrupting their lineout, and a promising break from Fisanti was foiled by O’Connor. But the gap was down to 10 points soon after, as a first-phase move from a 55th-minute scrum delivered the goods.

Swart’s inviting pass put the jet-heeled Swanepoel darting through a gap to go over to the right of the posts. As space continued to open up, Pumas replacement Russwill Fredericks’ quick tap and kick chase needed the newly-introduced Sean Jansen to cover the danger.

Hurtling back downfield, Emerging Ireland gained good groung twice through Ward’s quick feet and strength in the carry. The Pumas coughed up a penalty, and a well-executed lineout drive put McCarthy over to make it 29-14.

There was no let-up from the Pumas, and quick-witted scrum half Fredericks in particular. Irish indiscipline allowed Jimmy Stonehouse’s men to ramp up the pressure again, only for a Jansen tackle, and a Ronan Foxe turnover, to thwart them.

With the benches emptied, Ireland Under-20 prop Usanov really threw himself about, landing a big hit on Darnell Osuagwu which led to an Irish lineout. Nonetheless, the Pumas continued to look dangerous on the counter attack.

Their beefy forwards brought it back to a 10-point deficit, replacement prop Swart driving in low out of Evan O’Connell’s tackle to make the line, out wide on the right.

Emerging Ireland replied with 76 minutes on the clock, O’Connor making sure he was first to a well-placed garryowen from Jack Murphy. The supporting Culhane darted through into space, and his pass, intended for Jansen, was knocked on by Phiko Sobahle.

It was 30 metres out from the whitewash, but the tourists had a clear two-man overlap. Referee Stephan Geldenhuys duly signalled for the penalty try and sent Pumas replacement Sobahle to the sin bin for the remainder.

The 14-man Pumas managed to have the final say, though, as Emerging Ireland again gave too much space for Clinton Swart to set up speedster Swanepoel. Off the last restart, Sheridan won a turnover penalty to seal the result.

TIME LINE: 14 minutes – Emerging Ireland try: Zac Ward – 5-0; conversion: missed by Sam Prendergast – 5-0; 28 mins – Emerging Ireland try: Darragh Murray – 10-0; conversion: Sam Prendergast – 12-0; 32 mins – Airlink Pumas try: Lundi Msenge – 12-5; conversion: Clinton Swart – 12-7; 39 mins – Emerging Ireland try: Cormac Izuchukwu – 17-7; conversion: Sam Prendergast – 19-7; Half-time – Emerging Ireland 19 Airlink Pumas 7; 42 mins – Emerging Ireland try: Stephen Smyth – 24-7; conversion: missed by Sam Prendergast – 24-7; 55 mins – Airlink Pumas try: Tino Swanepoel – 24-12; conversion: Clinton Swart – 24-14; 61 mins – Emerging Ireland try: Gus McCarthy – 29-14; conversion: missed by Jack Murphy – 29-14; 73 mins – Airlink Pumas try: Eduan Swart – 29-19; conversion: missed by Clinton Swart – 29-19; 76 mins – Emerging Ireland penalty try & con – 36-19; Airlink Pumas yellow card: Phiko Sobahle; 80 mins – Airlink Pumas try: Tino Swanepoel – 36-24; conversion: missed by Clinton Swart – 36-24; Full-time – Emerging Ireland 36 Airlink Pumas 24

EMERGING IRELAND: Ben O’Connor (UCC RFC/Munster); Rob Russell (Dublin University FC/Leinster), Sean O’Brien (Clontarf FC/Munster), Hugh Gavin (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Zac Ward (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster/Ireland Sevens); Sam Prendergast (Lansdowne FC/Leinster), Matthew Devine (Galway Corinthians RFC/Connacht); Mark Donnelly (Cork Constitution FC/Munster), Stephen Smyth (Old Wesley RFC/Leinster), Jack Aungier (Clontarf FC/Connacht), Harry Sheridan (Dublin University FC/Ulster), Darragh Murray (Buccaneers RFC/Connacht), Cormac Izuchukwu (Ballynahinch RFC/Ulster), Alex Kendellen (UCC RFC/Munster) (capt), James Culhane (UCD RFC/Leinster).

Replacements used: Jude Postlethwaite (City of Armagh RFC/Ulster) for Russell (12 mins), Ronan Foxe (Garryowen FC/Munster) for Aungier (46), Gus McCarthy (UCD RFC/Leinster) for Smyth, Alex Usanov (Clontarf FC/Leinster) for Donnelly, Evan O’Connell (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster) for Izuchukwu, Sean Jansen (Connacht) for Kendellen (all 50), Jack Murphy (Clontarf FC/Ulster) for Prendergast (52), Ethan Coughlan (Shannon RFC/Munster) for Gavin (69).

AIRLINK PUMAS: Tino Swanepoel; Lundi Msenge, Theuns Pretorius, Clinton Swart, Darren Adonis; Danrich Visagie, Richman Gora; Etienne Janeke, Jan-Henning Campher, Sampie Swiegers, Hanno Theunissen, Deon Slabbert, Ntsika Fisanti, Andre Fouche, Kwanda Dimaza (capt).

Replacements used: Dewald Maritz for Janeke, Darnell Osuagwu for Campher, Russwill Fredericks for Gora (all 46 mins), Eduan Swart for Swiegers (53), Tiaan de Klerk for Theunissen, Marvelous Mashimbyi for Dimaza, Phiko Sobahle for Pretorius, Wian van Niekerk for Visagie (all 62).

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys (South Africa)