Eire ran in a record-breaking 16 tries in a one-sided 106-7 rout of Portugal in Lisbon to register their greatest Take a look at win within the first encounter between the 2 nations.
Connacht pair Hugh Gavin and Shayne Bolton went over twice on their debuts and there was additionally two every for membership team-mate and flanker Cian Prendergast and Leinster wing Tommy O’Brien.
With fly-half Jack Crowley touchdown 12 of his 15 conversion makes an attempt – Eire have been additionally awarded a penalty strive – the margin of victory eclipsed their earlier greatest win after they scored 13 tries in an 83-3 defeat of the USA in 2000.
Eire’s interim head coach Paul O’Connell was with out 17 gamers, who’re all on tour with the British and Irish Lions, however his new-look facet ruthlessly uncovered the chasm between them and their hosts.
O’Connell made six adjustments following final week’s 34-5 win towards Georgia in Tbilisi and the Irish went over for 4 transformed tries within the opening 14 minutes.
Centre Stuart McCloskey touched down within the nook after full-back Jimmy O’Brien’s break straight from the kick off and fellow centre Gavin stormed over for his first debut strive within the ninth minute.
Tommy O’Brien completed off one other scything break within the nook and reverse wing Bolton sprinted in after breaking clear for a strive on his debut, with Crowley including his fourth conversion.
Portugal full-back Nuno Guedes had a strive disallowed for a ahead move earlier than the hosts have been dealt one other blow when captain Tomas Appleton was carried off on a stretcher attributable to an ankle damage.
Crowley despatched Tommy O’Brien in for his second attempt to prop Tom Clarkson bulldozed via a drained sort out for Eire’s sixth rating within the thirty third minute.
Ciaran Frawley of Eire is tackled by Nuno Sousa Guedes of Portugal
Bolton out-sprinted Portugal’s defence to the touch down Craig Casey’s kick forward and the latter’s miss move after hooker Gus McCarthy’s break despatched Gavin over for his second rating.
Crowley landed his seventh conversion to place Eire 54-0 forward on the interval.
Scrum-half Casey adopted up Bolton’s break to attain beneath the posts 90 seconds after the restart and Prendergast barged over for an unconverted rating to increase Eire’s result in 66-0 within the 51st minute.
Portugal got some respite when centre Vincent Pinto’s offload arrange flanker Nicolas Martins for a transformed rating however Eire hit straight again.
Replacements Calvin Nash and Cian Frawley touched down quickly after stepping off the bench and Prendergast then notched his second strive.
When debutant flanker Alex Kendellen went over for an additional transformed rating within the 73rd minute, Eire moved 92-7 forward.
Substitute scrum-half Ben Murphy’s strive nudged Eire nearer to triple figures and Portugal’s distress was full after they conceded a penalty strive within the last play of the sport for bringing down a maul.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Scotsman and Hollywood hero Gerard Butler offers a chilling speech to advertise the British and Irish Lions’ tour of Australia, which you’ll watch stay on Sky Sports activities
What they stated
Eire interim head coach Paul O’Connell advised Virgin Sports activities: “I feel sorry for Portugal, but we were very clinical and took our chances.
“It’s a distinctive summer season tour given the Lions tour is on on the similar time, however I’m very pleased with how our squad utilized themselves.
“It is great to get some guys capped and scoring tries and training in an international environment.”
Eire captain Craig Casey advised Virgin Sports activities: “Our major takeaway from today is our mentality. We were very professional and played our game to get the result.
“It is a disgrace the stadium wasn’t full, however seeing the quantity of Irish followers right here was particular to get the consequence for them.”
