England Saxons overturned a 10-point half-time deficit to run out 14-10 winners over the Ireland Wolfhounds in Galway on Friday.
A try for Leinster's Kevin McLaughlin from close range and a conversion for Paddy Jackson inside the opening 10 minutes gave the hosts a 10-0 half-time lead.
But the Saxons fought back in the second period and and scraped to victory thanks to a try from Saracens flanker Will Fraser and nine points from the boot of George Ford.
Ford and man-of-the-match Graham Kitchener sparked the break that eventually led to Fraser's score after Ford's 50th-minute penalty got the Saxons off the mark.
The win was sealed by a late penalty from Ford, who used the breeze at his back to find the mark from near halfway.
The scorers:
For Ireland Wolfhounds:
Try: McLaughlin
Con: Jackson
Pen: Jackson
For Saxons:
Try: Fraser
Pens: Ford 3
Ireland Wolfhounds:15 Robbie Henshaw, 14 Andrew Trimble, 13 Darren Cave, 12 David McSharry, 11 Luke Fitzgerald, 10 Paddy Jackson, 9 Paul Marshall, 8 James Coughlan, 7 Tommy O'Donnell, 6 Kevin McLaughlin, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Lewis Stevenson, 3 Michael Bent, 2 Mike Sherry, 1 Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: 16 Damien Varley, 17 Tom Court, 18 Declan Fitzpatrick, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Rhys Ruddock, 21 Isaac Boss, 22 Ian Madigan, 23 Ian Keatley
England Saxons: 15 Elliot Daly, 14 Christian Wade, 13 Joel Tomkins, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Tom Biggs, 10 George Ford, 9 Richard Wigglesworth, 8 Jordan Crane (capt), 7 Will Fraser, 6 George Kruis, 5 George Robson, 4 Graham Kitchener, 3 Paul Doran-Jones, 2 Joe Gray, 1 Nick Wood.
Replacements: 16 Rob Buchanan, 17 Matt Mullan, 18 Shaun Knight, 19 Ed Slater, 20 Jamie Gibson, 21 Joe Simpson, 22 George Lowe, 23 Kyle Eastmond.
Comments
TVaddict says...
@Gleek
Excellent point, you have to give players time to develop.
Posted 21:51 29th January 2013
Gleek says...
Lads, calm down. Crikes. 'A' games are primarily about development, not winning. If Bent learns and improves from this experience then it will be well worth it. In 2011 Mike Ross took Alex Corbisero to school in Dublin, 12 months later Corbisero was credited with dismantling the Irish scrum.
Bent may not be test ready now but we are thin on options so the Irish management need to do all they can to develop his game.
Interestingly he seemed to do ok against South Africa so perhaps he is struggling with the stubble differences between NH and SH scrummaging.
Posted 19:59 27th January 2013
connaughtabu says...
Although Galway based, I missed the game. All the reports I rad indicate that the Irihs frontrow, in whatever combination, could not live with the English - Kilcoyne and Bent or Court and Fitzpatrick.Bent, ok, he is new on the block and may not yet be in the groove, but the other 3 or our leading contenders after Healy & Ross. The game on Saturday will show us where we are - the Welsh will always put together a good pack of forwards.
Bring it on!
:-))
Posted 15:26 27th January 2013
GCP_JONES says...
@ Ferdie....
Up -date on Bent. He could'nt Prop up a Bar. We have to go with Fitzpatrick on the bench next week and pray Ross stays fit. Can any one explain how we have 3 great options at loosehead and 1 at tighthead?. and whats worse nothing seems to be done about it
Posted 21:38 26th January 2013
rugby_rockstar says...
A great result for the England camp's confidence. 10 - 0 down at half time too!!! I wonder how strong that wind was?
Posted 16:34 26th January 2013
BiggyFint says...
Arragh sh**e I meant Ross
Posted 16:14 26th January 2013
BiggyFint says...
If Bent gets injured at any stage Ireland are doomed. Worst performance I have ever seen from a tighthead. On his own he handed the saxons the game. We have no cover what so ever!
Posted 16:13 26th January 2013
ciaran1792 says...
people forget that at one time Mike Ross was useless his skill came with age and game time but he has not had much game time. Give the lad time to find his feet tight head's don't usually hit their prime till there about 25, 26 years old he just needs practice and game time and to learn from more experienced players.
Posted 14:41 26th January 2013
Warrior7 says...
Graham Kitchener, another product of the Worcester Warriors academy.
One wonders why we put any money into it at all.
Posted 10:35 26th January 2013
dodgyrog says...
heaven help us if Mike Ross gets injured, Bent was useless, needs shipped back to NZ.
Posted 09:56 26th January 2013
paddy91317 says...
Irfu have a youtube channel normally post highlights after games but you will prib have to wait untill monday before they upload it.
Posted 08:29 26th January 2013
Tvaddict says...
Yeah, I only managed to get the second half. I enjoyed the game as the result didn't really matter so it was great just watching some good rugby.
However it didn't really change any of my opinions of anyone except Biggs. He really impressed me and he deserves a call up based on the performance. Ford looked like a player lacking in game time. Kirchener was solid and mobile. Simpson, Wade and Daly looked exciting whenever they were on the ball, but Wade did miss some big tackles. Turner-hall was terrible, shouldn't have been starting. Front row was solid, but the ref didn't have a clue at scrim time (what's new?). Robson looked out of his depth and inadequate. Fraser was good and it was a hell of a try!
Posted 08:12 26th January 2013
Qkram79 says...
Michael Bent > superstar
Posted 07:48 26th January 2013
redcoat2806 says...
Yes where the link went was very strange. Literally vanished when the game was due to start. If anyone gets a link to highlights please share!
Posted 23:35 25th January 2013
melkdave says...
Well thats a great result for the Saxons considering the experianced players in the wolfhounds ect,but no BOD thought he was going to play ,guess his still not 100%.But every game he misses his chances of getting on the Lions tour diminishes imo.Would have been nice to have actually see the match,but not on TV ,and for some reason no online links even thoughit was listed ,strange .Anyway looking good for England long term .Now just need the EPS squad to do the biz.
Posted 22:49 25th January 2013