(picture http://bit.ly/1aAIY47)
The Irish Wolfhounds picked up a decent little win against the English Saxons at Welford Rd on Saturday. Ireland had a lot more experience than their hosts, but at home, with the depth that English rugby has to offer, I was still expecting England to probably win.
The Saxons, however, looked flat – Freddie Burns had a match to forget, and they had no penetration, against a superbly well organised Irish defense. They were out muscled in the scrum, and all England had to show for their efforts was a lot of ball, a lot of territory, a penalty, and a gift of a try. Boss was totally in command of the game, and behind him Madigan ran a tidy game. Boss scored an embarrasingly easytry, and then Madigan, who’s lethal from 5m out, added his own – he could run through a steel door at that distance.
The only thing Madigan needs to work on is his territorial play – he should have kept Ireland down in the Saxons 25 with the wind behind him in the first half. Apart from that, him and Boss were a class above Keatley and Marmion, who in the last 2 minutes each gave the Saxons pressure free ball to gave the watertight Irish defense another frenzied workout.
The pack was as solid as a rock, the tight five effective and physical, and the loose trio cleaned up the Saxons at the break down. That pack could be the Ireland pack one day. I thought Henshaw really looked the part of an international, and Fergus Mc Fadden is just invaluable for his speed of decision and deftness of touch
For the Saxons, Joe Simpson was the standout player.
International Match
Saturday , January 25
England Saxons 8 - 14 Irish Wolfhounds
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