Rugby: Geordan Murphy and Fergus McFadden stated their case for inclusion in the World Cup squad when they both touched down in a 38-3 win over Connacht in Donnybrook. The evening didn't begin well for Declan Kidney with the news that flanker David Wallace is an injury doubt for the World Cup warm-up against France on Saturday after suffering a hamstring strain in training.
The Munster backrow may yet play the game but the injury prompted Declan Kidney to withdraw Shane Jennings from the Connacht game as back up. Jennings was replaced in the starting pack by Munster’s Niall Ronan and it was the engine room that laid the foundation for a win in Dublin.
Locks Mick O'Driscoll and captain Leo Cullen, who led Ireland in their two Test defeats so far this month, both scored tries for the internationalists to lead 14-3 at halftime. Paddy Wallace’s boot added the extras, while Niall O'Connor got Connacht’s score of the night.
Long-term absentee Murphy put his hands up for selection ahead of the journey to New Zealand by crossing for the third try after the break, before McFadden, who is most likely in a battle for Wallace for a place on the plane added another.
Ian Keatley and Denis Hurley added further tries, with Wallace missing two conversions in the second half but impressing on the night and landing four from the touchline.
However, there were was one major area of concern for Kidney - the scrum.
Tony Buckley at loosehead and John Hayes were found wanting in each of the eight first half scrum, as Dylan Rogers and Rodney Ah You both impressed. The Irish scrum was shunted every which way by the pair before the break but was steadied by the introduction of Marcus Horan, which saw Buckley revert to his more effective tighthead role.
Immediately the Irish scrum was going forward.
Scrumhalf hopeful Isaac Boss won’t have been pleased to have been replaced by Conor Murray just seven minutes in the second half.
The young Munster halfback could yet slip into the reckoning after an impressive cameo against France last weekend and he picked up where he left off against Connacht, with nice rhythm on his passing. His defence was also noticeably strong.
Murphy, McFadden and Darren Cave all showed neat hands and interplay as Ireland found more coherence. One such move saw Cave through and Murphy scored with a trademark inside trailer.
The try of the night came when Murphy released Cave, who in turn linked with McFadden and though he was collared by Mark McCrea, he offloaded for Keatley to touch down.
Hurley got his score after a series of carries from Buckley, Donncha Ryan and Denis Leamy.
Scoring sequence:14 mins O'Driscoll try, Wallace con 7-0; 17 mins Cullen try, Wallace con 14-0; 47 mins G Murphy try 19-3; 63 mins McFadden try, Wallace con 26-3; 65 mins Keatley try, Wallace con 33-3, 77 mins Hurley try 38-3.
Ireland:G Murphy (Leicester); J Murphy (Munster), D Cave (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), I Keatley (Munster), F McFadden (Old Belvedere/Leinster); P Wallace (Ballymena/Ulster), I Boss (Terenure College/Leinster); T Buckley (Sale), S Cronin (Leinster), J Hayes (Bruff/Munster), M O'Driscoll (Cork Constitution/Munster), L Cullen (Blackrock College/Leinster), K McLaughlin (St.Mary's College/Leinster), N Ronan (Shannon/Munster), D Leamy (Cork Constitution/Leinster).
