'I'm sure that says a lot about the next cab off the rank, so fingers crossed'
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell says Ronan Kelleher is “coming on a treat” at Test level following his record-equalling display in the 71-10 dismantling of the United States.
Leinster hooker Kelleher helped himself to four tries at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin as Farrell’s experimental side overcame a sloppy start to run riot against outclassed opposition.
The standout 23-year-old was making just his fifth international start on the occasion of his 13th cap and became the first Irishman since Denis Hickie in August 2003 to ground four times in one match, with Brian Robinson and Keith Wood the only other men to have achieved the feat in the green jersey.
“Ronan’s had one or two starts for us before in big games and we’ve obviously looked at (him) this window and rightly so because his form at the end of the season for Leinster was top notch,” said Farrell.
“He deserved to start and he’ll be all the better for those experiences. He’s growing, certainly at this level.
“His set-piece is getting better, we know how dynamic he is with the ball but his defence is a lot more aggressive and he’s coming on a treat as a top-class hooker.”
Robert Baloucoune and Nick Timoney – two of eight debutants selected by Farrell – were also on the scoresheet, along with Stuart McCloskey, Hugo Keenan, Gavin Coombes and Finlay Bealham.
A crowd of 6,000 – Ireland’s highest attendance since the outbreak of coronavirus – were treated to some free-flowing rugby which bordered on exhibition stuff in an increasingly one-sided encounter.
Joey Carbery, Harry Byrne and Will Addison completed an emphatic scoreline by kicking 13, six and two points respectively.
Kelleher, who touched down twice in either half, spent time training with the British and Irish Lions prior to Ireland’s summer series.
Farrell felt the player’s star performance on Saturday evening justified that recognition from Lions coach Warren Gatland.
“100 per cent because they see what we see,” said the coach.
“Him being called into the Lions and training with them for a few weeks, I’m sure that says a lot about the next cab off the rank, so fingers crossed for Ronan down the line.”
With a seven-man contingent on Lions duty and captain Johnny Sexton among those rested for the summer series, Farrell had been eager to grow competition looking forward to next season.
He made eight personnel changes to the team which began last weekend’s entertaining 39-31 victory over Japan.
Tom O’Toole and James Hume joined fellow Ulstermen Baloucoune and Timoney in making international bows, while Craig Casey, Ryan Baird and Coombes were afforded first Test starts before Paul Boyle, Caolin Blade, Fineen Wycherley and Byrne made debuts from the bench.
Kelleher, who was briefly floored by a challenge which yielded a second-half red card for American flanker Riekert Hattingh, was brought off in the aftermath of his fourth try, denying him a shot at a small piece of history.
Asked about the substitution, Farrell replied: “He certainly wasn’t frustrated – delighted with himself.
“It’s just about Ronan, everyone got opportunities tonight.
“I’m delighted for the new caps – to be able to do that as a coach is pretty special. I think to a man they all did extremely well and they should be proud of themselves.
“It doesn’t matter whether the scoreline is 71 points or not, the pressure that’s on them regarding their debut is always going to be there and they should be unbelievably proud of themselves at how they handled that.”
The overawed USA faded fast from a promising start and a first-half penalty from Ireland-born number 10 Luke Carty and a late converted Michael Baska try were scant consolation.
A gruelling experience for Gary Gold’s visitors – who were beaten 43-29 by England at Twickenham last weekend – was compounded by Hattingh’s 54th-minute dismissal.
MATCH REPORT:
You have to go back to 2003 to find the last Irishman who did what the Ireland hooker did versus the Americans on Saturday night #IREvUSA
https://t.co/reVAOlWt2M— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) July 10, 2021
USA head coach Gold admitted his side were taught a “proper lesson”.
“It was a completely unsatisfactory performance today. Absolutely not at all what we prepared for. No excuses whatsoever – it just wasn’t good enough,” the South African said.
“The intensity that we spoke about during the week, we didn’t bring today.
“We got taught a proper lesson, that’s what happens when you play a tier one team and you let them off the hook: you pay and you pay heavily, so a completely unsatisfactory, unacceptable performance.”
Comments on RugbyPass
The rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
75 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
9 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
9 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
9 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
9 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
9 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
2 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to comments