RUGBY A INTERNATIONAL England Saxons 17 Ireland A 13:SHANE GERAGHTY inspired England Saxons to a stirring victory at a full-house Recreational Ground in Bath yesterday, recovering from a below-par performance for his club side in the Heineken Cup 12-9 defeat to Munster at Thomond Park last month.
The Northampton Saints outhalf scored 12 points in the win which brought to an end Michael Bradley’s team’s 18-month unbeaten run and gave the Saxons revenge for last summer’s Churchill Cup final thrashing.
Geraghty, unceremoniously dropped from Martin Johnson’s England squad following a disappointing autumn series outside Jonny Wilkinson at inside centre, was here playing in his preferred position, where many in England see him as the long-term replacement for Wilkinson, against an Ireland team that had over 300 caps between them.
At 10, former London Irish man Geraghty showed his class, standing flat, passing inventively, kicking well out of hand and tackling effectively – an aspect of his game that has caused concern in the past.
Ireland started confidently – unsurprising, after winning their last seven outings and trouncing England 49-22 in June – and Paddy Wallace drew first blood, lacing over a penalty after only two minutes.
Both sets of forwards scrapped well, but after 10 minutes inside centre Keith Matthews made the first telling break, evading the challenge of openside flanker Andy Saull. Though he was hauled down, England looked jittery.
Young fullback Alex Goode knocked on a high ball and Geraghty’s left-foot kick from hand arrowed into touch on the full.
Leicester Tigers’ scrumhalf Ben Youngs shook England from their lethargy. On 13 minutes he made a darting run in the Irish 22 and found David Strettle on his left. The Harlequins winger easily finished in the corner from 10 yards. Geraghty neatly converted with the touchline chalk on his boots.
Geraghty’s opposite man, Wallace, clawed his side back into the game with another penalty after Jerome Garces blew for England going over the top of a ruck.
With 13 minutes of the first half remaining, Youngs, again, impressed with a break and pass that released Dominic Waldouck. The outside centre found Noah Cato, but the Saracens winger was tackled into touch by Fionn Carr five metres out.
Ireland’s defence was found wanting three minutes later, however, when Cato blasted past Wallace and found Brad Barritt. The Richmond centre bulldozed his way through a tackle and found Geraghty on his inside, who only had to round referee Garces to touch down under the posts.
The 23-year-old added the extra two points, and on the stroke of half-time Wallace should have added another three for Ireland, but the Ulsterman missed his penalty – and it proved a costly error.
Ireland replaced skipper Mick O’Driscoll at the break with Ryan Caldwell – the huge lock had picked up a head injury – but it was another forward substitute who gave the visitors a chance with 15 minutes remaining. In a much tighter second half, Ulster’s Chris Henry crashed over from close quarters as the pressure applied by Ireland told. In the build-up, prop Paul Doran-Jones had been sinbinned for his misdemeanours in a ruck.
Wallace converted to take the score to 14-13 and Ireland’s tails were up. With only three minutes on the clock Ireland broke from their 22 and Ian Dowling thought he was thorough, but Geraghty foiled his efforts with a breath-taking tap tackle.
Geraghty dusted himself off to add a penalty with the last kick.
“As a team we have to be happy for the win, especially after the summer when we were given a hiding by them,” said Geraghty. “Personally, I was happy with some of the areas of my game – I thought there were a lot of positives.”
ENGLAND SAXONS: A Good (Saracens); D Strettle (Harlequins; M Benjamin 69), D Waldouck (Wasps), B Barritt (Richmond), N Cato (Saracens); S Geraghty (Northampton), B Youngs (Leicester; M Young 65); N Wood (Gloucester), D Paice (London Irish; R Webber 58), P Doran-Jones (Gloucester), D Attwood (Gloucester; G Parling 58), G Skivington (capt, Wasps), T Wood (Worcester; T Mercey 63), A Saull (Saracens; L Narraway 49), P Dowson (Bristol).
IRELAND A: G Duffy (Connacht); I Dowling (Munster), F McFadden (Leinster; I Humphries, Ulster 69), K Matthews (Connacht; D Cave, Ulster 55), F Carr (Connacht); P Wallace (Ulster), P Stringer (Munster; I Boss, Ulster 68); M Horan (Munster), R Best (Ulster; J Fogarty, Leinster h/t), T Buckley (Munster), M O'Driscoll (capt, Munster; R Caldwell, Ulster h/t), D Toner (Leinster), S O'Brien (Leinster), S Jennings (Leinster), J Muldoon (Connacht; C Henry, Ulster 55). Replacements not used: M Ross (Leinster), N Ronan (Munster).
Referee: Jerome Garces.
