Rugby videos of tackles, tries, funny incidents and more: Ireland A beat the England Saxons to win the Churchill Cup

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Ireland A beat the England Saxons to win the Churchill Cup

Ireland A won the Churchill Cup tournament with a convincing 49-22 final victory over England Saxons in Denver, Colorado this past weekend.

In the sweltering heat, Declan Kidneys side ran in six tries in total after they led 20-12 at halftime after Devon Toner and Isaac Boss crossed in the first half.

Sean Cronin increased Irealand’s lead just 24 seconds into the second half, followed by Felix Jones, Johne Murphy, and John Muldoon all notching up tries.

Jonathan Sexton kicked three penalties, slotted a drop goal, and converted three tries for the Irish, with Fergus McFadden converting another two.

The try of the match came when Jones collected a high ball superbly before bursting away, feeding McFadden, who then found Murphy.

Ben Woods and Tom Varndell scored for the Saxons, who also had four penalties kicked by Steven Myler. The Varndell try was a late consolation, but it was the Irish who had all to celebrate as they picked up the title of Churchill Cup winners for 2009.

Time: 07:27

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By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 4:06 pm
Just putting this out there but I didn't realize the majority of RD viewers were 5 year old comment whores who immaturely jump on a video to leave their mark with a "first comment lol lol".

Post something constructive next time and consider growing up while you're at it.

That said, a question: do rugby fans in the UK follow the Churchill Cup? How big is it?

By bigox, at June 23, 2009 4:12 pm
Great year for Irish rugby: 6 Nations Grand Slam, Heinieken Cup Champs, Magners Champs, Churchill Cup, solid Lions representation. Mcfadden , Jones and Muldoon looking good. Hope that an Irish province wins Heinieken Cup for 2010 so as Connacht can get the extra spot in tournament. Would love to see heienieken Cup rugby in Galway!!!!

By ConnachtFan, at June 23, 2009 4:12 pm
i agree with ConnachtFan, and even if the Lions lose the series (i'm not saying they will) we can blame the English, Welsh and Scots :).

By paddy2392, at June 23, 2009 4:25 pm
To Connachtfan...

in all honesty Connacht wouldnt stand a chance to bigger teams in the Heinieken cup...

we can barely hold are own in the Magners league and the Challenge cup...

we would get hammered in every single match if we went into H-cup in 2010!!

id give it a few more years though...the underage is great in connacht (i think it was 6 players on the under 18 irish squad last year)

keep hold of these players and i think connacht rugby would grow!!

oh and btw great game to watch really exciting stuff!!

ciprani was shocking (per usual)

great year for Ireland:D

By creggs08, at June 23, 2009 4:38 pm
looks like the irish finally have a second option at no.10 with sexton developing well :)

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 4:43 pm
Felix Jones...!!!!.... pure class... looking forward to seeing him play for Munster...

its been a great year for irish rugby.. just need the lions win next.

By da man, at June 23, 2009 4:45 pm
Cronin's try there looks like an even better example than Vickery's (for Monye) of which hand to carry the ball in! Especially given he transfers it to fend off on the other side

By Donogh, at June 23, 2009 4:50 pm
ConnachtFan, does it work like that? There are only 3 places available to Irish teams in the HC, and one extra goes to whoever is highest in the ML that didn't already qualify(normally Dragons and Connacht). I don't think winning it makes a difference. After all it was won this year and last year by Irish teams but Connacht were not and will not be in it.

By Kearney for tests, at June 23, 2009 5:05 pm
Well done Ireland, the future is looking rosy. Also looks like you've got another O'Driscoll in that 13.

Good year for you, now all you have to do is maintain it. And beat a few of the SH teams.

By Andy, at June 23, 2009 5:08 pm
in all honesty if the likes of Johnny Sexton, Keith Earls and Cian Healy don't get started in this years Autumn Internationals and in the 6N next year for the Irish team i think we can kiss are WC chances good bye again!!

By creggs08, at June 23, 2009 5:36 pm
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By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 5:38 pm
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By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 5:41 pm
Holy....how many lines were there on that field. Looked like they tried to hide a gridiron field and a soccer field to get the rugby pitch LOL.

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 5:46 pm
Agreed with ^ANDY^

Looks like a new O'Drico has evolved, didn't think we were going to see an O'Drico for quite a while. But that No.13 looked just like Brian.

By ArranR, at June 23, 2009 6:11 pm
Healy needs to be exposed to top level internationals now, still only 22 which is stupidly young for a prop! But good enough old enough. He's already a better player than marcus horan. Shame for neil best he got banned for that "eye-gouge" on haskell(total plank, horrible attitude)he seemed to be back near his mental best lol Sexton needs a bit more time with lenister i reckon before being ready for test level. Give him the fiji game, and a run off the bench in the other 2. I could never understand why varndell was so low in the england mix now, after this match i wouldnt put him on leicester's bench, his defense was awful and he really didnt look like he wanted to be there. Is it just me or does ireland have an embarrassing number of backrow options. For long time ireland were looking screwed after the "golden" generation! There wasnt anyone who really stood out for england that i could see making the step up. Cipriani was being pretty hopefully thinking he could be on the lions

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 6:12 pm
Some exciting prospects in Irish rugby then - gotta admit that result took me by surprise. I thought the Saxons had looked the strongest side out there by some distance before the final.

But if those young Englishmen think that's how you defend in top flight rugby they're in for a few more Churchill Cups - Tom Varndell should be in hiding, shocking that a player of his calibre could tackle (or attempt to) so poorly.

And I'm with bigox here - RD how about removing the pointless "anonymous" posts as you once threatened to do? And the "first" thing is beyond stupid.

By Hackney Griffin, at June 23, 2009 6:25 pm
This is really encouraging to see some new blood coming through. I know it's a while away, but I think when O'Connell and O'Callaghan retire, there won't be anyone to take their places. Toner isn't great, and Donncha Ryan barely ever gets his game. Openside flanker is a big issue as well, but aside from those, there's someone to take every other posistion really.

By Kearney for tests, at June 23, 2009 6:38 pm
Where was Cipriani? Did he play in this game??! PLEASE ANSWER!

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 6:58 pm
Cipriani was on the bench. game was won when he came on the field

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 7:34 pm
"Bigdick.....

take a pill and lighten up.

I think the first post thing is hilarious."

Says the person too dimwitted to know how to leave a name on his post.

By Marcus, at June 23, 2009 8:32 pm
Goddamnit, Colorado...for being the center of the USA rugby organization, that looked like a pretty shitty attendance.

By Elliot, at June 23, 2009 8:40 pm
Looked like a nice day. I hope the Irish and English boys were using factor 50 otherwise the fans could smell the bacon sizzlin.

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 9:04 pm
Kearney for tests, in response to your prediction, the main reason you think there'll be no-one to replace them is coz no one has been good enough so far. Donnacha Ryan is a very good 2nd row, and once Tomer builds himself up, he'll be outstanding. Ryan Caldwell too. Leinster's O'Brien at opensiide looks the deal as well. Then there's always the young unknowns.

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 9:53 pm
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By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 9:59 pm
Flix Jones and the 13 Macfadden i think look to be quality players for the futrue,
but dont forgert that they got rob kearney and jordan murphy at 15 and BOD and keith Earls who are both on a lions tour at 13.
be good see them get there chance tho.
Ireland futrue looking good, with tsome talent coming through.

By Anonymous, at June 23, 2009 10:09 pm
Great win for the lads, true, for the first time ever there is ridiculously unreal rugby talent sprouting up all over Ireland, and let it continue!

great to see Sean Cronin doing so well to take his try, he was relatively unknown (outside of Limerick) before joining Connacht, and now he is taking strides for the biggest stage.

On the Second row matter, how come nobody is throwing Andrew Browne and possibly Dave Nolan into the mix? - Im an opptimistic Connacht fan, but is there any other kind!!

.. nearly forgot . . 27th comment. . . NICE!!!

By Westerner, at June 23, 2009 10:26 pm
jesus what a performance

yeahhh rugbydump delete stupid "first!" comments pleaaaase

By bD, at June 23, 2009 10:29 pm
On the openside matter, I believe O'Brien is better option for No. 8, not a ground hog in the trad sense. Ronan is great footballer but too light for top level, although delighted he got some caps over there. Can see why Eddie O'Sullivan tried to mould Best into openside, but it did cost him a couple of years and caps as he is a natural 6. He put Myler, his Saints clubmate under serious pressure.

Also Mcfadden has been around for 2 years now (commentators didn't realise that, Mark bloody Robson again) and has handful of HCup apps, he looks identical to D'Arcy on charge which isn't bad thing.

Thanks to Leinster for letting Felix Jones join us. Glad to see Johne Murphy get some games, Ire back 3 are all full backs by choice. Vey strong in certain areas. 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, and all back pos.

By Huh!! the 3rd, at June 23, 2009 11:03 pm
KearneyForTests,

in response to your answer about connacht in the heineken cup, a new ruling has been passed which will mean that if an irish provinces wins next year, they will be in the heineken cup.
if they also manage to finish high enough in the magners league anyway the final HCup place will go to the next highest qualifier, but im not sure who that is

Its just a shame that this ruling wasnt brought in earlier.

also the irish under 18s that are coming through are rumoured to be the best group for years and the likes of andrew conway at fullback are said to be even more promising than kearney, fitzgerald or earls were

By Anonymous, at June 24, 2009 1:27 am
Plenty of openside options, ronan, o'brien, david pollock, hell ferris would be more than capable to play 7, ferris, leamy and heaslip sounds like a pretty good unit. I could never understand the decline of johnny o'connor for a while he looked like he was making the irish 7 shirt is own, any thoughts?

By Anonymous, at June 24, 2009 1:36 am
Wow!!! What an outstanding performance! Well done Ireland A!!! I take it this is a different team from the one Scotland A put 60 points on last year? Looking at that and Scotland poor performance in the Nations Cup (i know they won it but they weren't exactly good or playing good opp), i'm guessing it must be!

Great to watch! Well done again!!!

By Anonymous, at June 24, 2009 6:03 pm
Directed to Anonymous 2 comments up,

O'Connor is playing great rugby with Connacht, the neck injury a few years back, brought him away from the ireland No.7 shirt, would be kind of hard for anybody to move Wallace off that position after that. Cant understand how he was never really given much of a chance over the last while though. Im sure that he would have been on the summer tour if he decided to hold off his surgery.

By Westerner, at June 24, 2009 8:24 pm
O connor is a great rugby player and is probably the best Irish Flanker at the moment at stealing and securing ball at ruck time (one of the primary rolls of a flanker) so I'm very surprised he hasn't been given much of a chance since he returned from injury..

By themull, at June 25, 2009 12:53 am
From a lackluster start in the competition Ireland have progressed nicely in the competition under Kidney. Some very strong performances thought the squad, which bodes very nicely for the future. Well done Ireland and Kidney's midas touch.

By Brendan, at June 25, 2009 1:55 am
Varndell as multidimensional as ever I see.

By ed, at June 26, 2009 12:59 pm
Embarassing. The Saxons defence was non existant. Seriously miss last lot of the Saxons completely brushed everyone aside. Those who made it to the England senior really flourished. Varndell was not bothered about the defence at all and the mid field was cut to pieces.
Well play Ireland A, players like Saxton and Neil Best will make no doubt make the senior grade.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 5:15 am
I don't care which side you put him, but a back row of Ferris/ Best/ Heslip is going to beat the crap out of any opposition.
On an unrelated note, my dream Babss's back row will look like
Neil BEst/ Lewis Moody/ Schalk Burgar, and those players are picked for their insanity.

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 5:19 am
that was an awful performance from the saxons and a very good one from ireland a looks bright for ireland, might i add that the english sides for the future are looking solid beating south africa twice in two years in the u20 world cup sa and aus don't have alot to look forward to i have to say could see nh dominance in about 7 years

By Anonymous, at June 27, 2009 7:31 pm
To the above, wishful thinking, but I like it.

By Kearney for tests, at June 28, 2009 3:57 am