Ireland have secured their place in the World Cup after destroying Georgia 63-14 at Lansdowne Road. Ireland were less than impressive in last week's fortunate win over Russia in Siberia but today Georgia proved easier opponents as the Irish touched down eight times in the match to seal qualification for next year's World Cup in Australia.
Ireland took less than two minutes to get their first try of the afternoon through Denis Hickie after he finished off a well-worked set-piece move from a Shane Byrne lineout. After good work from Simon Easterby, Peter Stringer, Brian O'Driscoll and Kevin Maggs, the ball found Hickie on the left touchline and he rounded a Georgian defender before touching down for his 14th try of his international career.
Ronan O'Gara converted with ease and he then increased Ireland's advantage with two penalties inside the opening 11 minutes to give the home side a 13-0 lead. In the 14th minute Maggs touched down after collecting a wonderful pass from O'Gara and the supplier kept up his 100% record with the conversion. Another penalty left Ireland 23-0 ahead with 21 minutes on the clock.
O'Driscoll then scored a simple try when he pounced on a bad clearance from full-back Bessik Khamashuridze and again O'Gara converted. However, he lost his 100% record with a penalty miss in the 27th minute.
Ireland were in complete control and once again they stormed through the Georigan defence with O'Driscoll adding to his tally when he raced over the line after receiving a pass on the right. O'Gara converted and the score was now 37-0 in Ireland's favour. Full-back Girvan Dempsey added his name to the try sheet in injury time although O'Gara missed the subsequent conversion.
Ireland increased their advantage just two minutes after the break when Simon Easterby raced over the line and the conversion was put away by O'Gara. However, Georgia reminded the Irish that this was a competitive match when they launched their first real attack of the afternoon four minutes later and Vassil Katsadze broke the visitors' duck when he touched down before Badri Khekhelashvili converted to make it 49-7.
On 60 minutes, coach Eddie O'Sullivan put on David Humphreys for O'Gara, meaning the Ulsterman had now equalled Jack Kyle's record as most capped Irish fly-half with his 46th cap.
Although the victory was secured, O'Sullivan will still be concerned at just how easily Ireland allowed Georgia through once they took their foot off the pedal. Scrum-half Irakli Abusseridze set up Khamashuridze with a quickly taken penalty and he easily ran through under the posts. Khekvelashvili then converted again to push the score to 49-14.
In the dying minutes, Alan Quinlan and Guy Easterby touched down and Humphreys converted both tries to leave Ireland with a 63-14 winning margin.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
