Ireland defeated a lackluster Romania at Lansdowne Road this evening to ensure their position as the second placed side in Pool E. In a performance much improved over the display produced against Australia Ireland took the game to the Romanians from the start with captain Dion O’Cuinneagain leading by example. Granted Romania are a different class of opposition to the likes of Australia but improvements in control over line out and set piece play laid the platform for some good running rugby the likes of is all too infrequent in an Irish shirt.
Both Justin Bishop and Peter Clohessy cried off before the game with niggling injuries and were replaced by Matt Mostyn and Paul Wallace. The changes didn’t seem to have any detrimental effect on the side though despite the fact that Romania were presented with the first scoring opportunity within 2 minutes. Scrum half Mitu shoved his penalty right and Ireland took up the challenge from there. O’Cuinneagain was the man to finish Ireland’s first try after 7 minutes after a good break by the impressive Eric Elwood in midfield. Elwood put over the first of his seven kicks with ease in a 100% shooting display. Further tries from Andy Ward after 14 minutes and full-back Conor O’Shea eight minutes before half time,. Romania could only manage two Mitu penalties in the half and Ireland went in 27 – 6 ahead at the break.
The second half produced much of the same and O’Shea was in again after a skip pass from Elwood within 4 minutes. Mitu reduced the deficit again but Ireland came back as Tom Tierney went on to score his first International try and Elwood finished his kicking display. Romania did get a consolation try through wing Sauan towards the end but it was Brian O’Driscoll who wrapped up the scoring with a drop goal from out-half when he replaced the injured Eric Elwood near the finish to leave it 44 – 14.
All in all the Irish will be pleased but it must be said that Romania never really threatened. The side can now look forward to a quarter-final play-off against the best third placed team – most likely Argentina – in Lens next Wednesday. The injuries to Elwood and O’Cuinneagain, who went off holding his arm in the final minute of normanl time, may cause some concern, but on the bright side the game proved to widen the options for the management and that can’t be a bad thing.
