I was the Aviva Stadium for the Ireland (up and coming) v Canada match, and it was a great family evening out, with a stack of kids running around. And everyone got their moneys worth, 11 tries, 8 new caps, and fireworks before and during the match, and even at half time!
It was a scratch team, quite a lot of new combinations, so there were a few rough edges. we shot out to a 14 point lead, let them back into the game and then pulled away in the second half. There was a few guys trying too hard - POM and SOB are still a few games short of reaching their old sharpness. A few guys were probably playing slightly above their level, but they must have learnt a lot. You feel like Joe Schmidt has used this game to pick his 2019 World Cup squad.
Some guys are showing great progress, Tiernan O'Halloran is an awesome player, Ultan Dillane is already there, and Ringrose is just flying. Marshall made one mistake, but he is just such a competitor, he's always going to be in the frame.
Absolutely fair play to Canada too, for coming and playing their hearts out.
I also got my son a Green is the new Black T-shirt at the match, €15 its for free, with all proceeds to the Dublin Simon community, you can also get them online at dublinerdoodles.com
On Friday, Munster so turned up, really putting the Maori All Blacks to the sword. How sound were the Maoris making a special jersey for the match as well, and presenting to Anthony Foley's kids?
In the other matches, South Africa were very poor against England... they are in all sorts of problems. Scotland were unlucky to lose to the Wallabies, and Wales came up with a close victory against Argentina. Alwyn Jones is worth about 10 points to them.
Munster 27 Maori All Blacks 14
Saturday 12th November
International Match
Italy 10 68 New Zealand FT
Scotland 22 23 Australia FT
England 37 21 South Africa FT
France 52 8 Samoa FT
Wales 24 20 Argentina FT
Ireland 52 21 Canada FT
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