The Republic of Ireland secured a maiden victory over New Zealand last night, with Mick McCarthy's youthful side coming from behind to win 3-1 at the Aviva Stadium. On a bitterly cold night in Dublin, Callum McCowatt gave the visitors the lead against the run of play, before Derrick Williams equalised with a booming header, off a Robbie Brady corner, on the stroke of half-time. Ireland opened up after the break with Sean Maguire and substitute Callum Robinson - who replaced Troy Parrott just after the hour mark - both scoring fine maiden international goals. Parrott and Celtic's Lee O'Connor were among those to impress on debut, although afterwards McCarthy suggested victory over the All Whites had done little to change his plans for Monday's crunch Euro 2020 qualifier at home to Denmark. He said: "Four full debuts, four new players who have all been involved with a win. Three players have scored the first international goals . . . Will it have any impact on the way we play against Denmark I'm not sure. But I think it will make a difference to the way that people will perceive the team and any positivity can only be good."
Earlier in the day Ireland Under-21s extended their lead at the top of Euro 2021 Qualifying Group One, after they finally broke Armenia's resistance in Yerevan. Stephen Kenny's side dominated proceedings but had to wait until the 62nd minute for the crucial goal - Zack Elbouzedi's smart finish giving his side all three points. Elsewhere England have booked their place at Euro 2020 after they routed Montenegro 7-0 at Wembley last night. Harry Kane scored a hat-trick in his side's 1000th international fixture, with Marcus Rashford and Tammy Abraham also among the scorers. In Group B, Cristiano Ronaldo helped himself to his latest international hat-trick as Portugal routed Luthuania 6-0 - he now has 98 goals for his country.
In his column this morning, Matt Williams has looked ahead to the 2019-20 Heineken Cup, which gets underway this weekend. And he has suggested we don't need to look too far afield to find the champions elect, given the uncertainties hanging over current holders Saracens. He writes: "This season's Heineken Cup winners are sitting under our noses, hiding in full sight. Leinster's form has been nothing short of awesome. Week after week they have played exciting, entertaining, winning rugby. They have constantly blooded younger players, managing their retuning internationals with individual care, while all the time fighting to maintain the highest of playing standards." All four provinces will name their sides for this weekend's opening round of matches at midday today.
And Douvan made a dominant return to action yesterday, after an absence of 569 days. Willie Mullins' two-time Cheltenham winner impressed as he eased to victory in the Grade Two Clonmel Oil Chase under Paul Townend and afterwards, his trainer said: "Paul thought he idled in front, but was very happy getting off him, I was very happy and visually what I saw, I liked. It didn't look that he needed to go up in trip - I would have thought to come back in trip. To me he looks to have a lot of the speed that he had before." Meanwhile, today's opening day of Cheltenham's November meeting has been cancelled due to heavy rainfall.
