What's happening
Ireland - Namibia

October 19 Match

WHAT'S HAPPENING? (posted 20th October 2003)
It was a convincing win for Ireland over Namibia at Aussie Stadium in Sydney last night with the Irish taking the flag 10 tries to 1 - final score 64-7! That's two easy wins in a row for Ireland taking them to a maximum of 10 points on the ladder for their 2 games. We can expect that that sailing won't be quite so easy for Ireland in the next games when they face Argentina and then Australia.

The weather in Sydney last night was wet and windy which was difficult for both teams. The Irish got off to a flying start and scored two tries within the first ten minutes with Quinland and Dempsey both crossing the line. Hickie wasn't far behind them scoring a few minutes later. Aussie ref Peter Cole then sin binned Namibia's Senekal for collapsing the maul. When he returned ten minutes later, Horan and Miller both scored tries for Ireland. Ack! Things weren't going well for Namibia at all, but finally with two minutes left on the first half clock, Namibia's Corne Powell bunged on a try to bring the half time score 33-7 in Ireland's favour.

The second half saw the Irish players put on another five tries - well balanced lot huh? with Quinland and Miller both scoring again for the men in green, Horgan, Easterby, and Kelly also adding their five points worth each! Final score 64-7.

An after match aftermath however, has seen Ireland's O'Connell cited by the Namibian coach for illegal rucking when towards teh end of the match O'Connell was penalised by Andrew Cole for his play on Namibia's Archie Graham. Obviously the Irish team will be hoping that O'Connell doesn't have to face the IRB tribunal, and that if so he won't be found guilty as the penalty - if he is found guilty of stamping/trampling Graham's body he could be suspended for four weeks, and if he were to be found guilty of stamping/trampling O'Connell's head he could be saying bye bye for 18 weeks! I guess we'll have to wait and see how the saga unfolds.