Wales v Ireland saw the first part of the Perth double header for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup, and the Irish signed off from the World Cup with another win. Wales exited without a win, and three big losses.
We’re covering the game with the Who, What, Where, When and How of the final Pool C match which Ireland need to win with a decent margin to make the quarter finals and hope PNG lose to USA.
The 2017 Rugby League World Cup is a big deal for us, being huge rugby league fans and love a minnow or two, and we’ll be covering all of the games throughout.
So visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Now onto the Wales v Ireland game.
IRELAND v WALES MATCH REVIEW
RESULT – Who Won?
IRELAND 34
Tries: A. Pewhairangi (8), O. Roberts (31), J. Philbin (34), L. Finn (39), O. Roberts (66), L. Kay (74)
Goals: L. Finn 5 Conv
WALES 6
Tries: B. Morris (58)
Goals: C Davies 1 Conv
What did we learn?
Ireland were surely (and not to be sure) the best minnow of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and if not for a dropped ball with 10 minutes to go against PNG in their second game in Port Moresby would be playing in the quarter final against England. A quirk in the scheduling of Pool C and Pool D meant that PNG and Ireland only lost 1 game out of their combined 6, but PNG went through to the knockout phase.
Liam Finn has been Ireland’s best, and a quality hard working halfback.
Wales’ performances were not great for the tournament, although their best was was saved until last against Ireland and even then they were eventually soundly beaten. Perhaps the next World Cup in England will be friendlier.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
5 POINTS – Liam Kay
4 POINTS – Api Pewhairangi
3 POINTS – Liam Finn
2 POINTS – Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook
1 POINT – Scott Grix
WALES v IRELAND MATCH PREVIEW
Who: WALES v IRELAND
Where and When: LIVE Sunday 12th Nov – Perth
When is it on TV? Channel 7Mate @ 4pm
What’s the Story?
Ireland are still mathematically in the running for the top of Pool C, needing a decent win over Wales and a PNG loss at home for the Kumuls. Whilst the win against Wales looks a sure thing, it is hard to see PNG losing by any margin in Port Moresby.
Ireland have been quite impressive, easily the best European team apart from England, although with Brexit is it only out of Ireland and Italy? Doesn’t matter as Ireland have been better than Italy, seen by their comfortable victory on the first weekend of the Rugby League World Cup.
Wales have been disappointing, and currently sit bottom of Pool C with no wins and a points difference of -110 from just 2 games. You could argue that there is not much between the two sides on paper, but you get the feeling that it will be all Ireland in the final game of Pool C.
This is the first game of a double header in Perth, a good opportunity for Western Australian rugby league fans and interest seekers to watch some good Rugby League World Cup. With talk of expansion always just around the corner, it could be a way to show the West is ready for rugby league every weekend.
Who Will Win and Why?
Some of the hits put on by the Irish forwards last weekend is the recipe to shock the Welsh team, it certainly rattled the Kumuls in Port Moresby, and led to an error or two, problem was the Irish couldn’t quite capitalise.
You only have to compare the two sides efforts against PNG in the pressure cooker atmosphere of Port Moresby to see who will triumph.
Ireland by 26
Who to watch for?
Their halfback Liam Finn has been quite impressive, and has led the Irish around well. Not afraid of the tough stuff either, as he put in last weekend against PNG.
Forwards Michael McIllorum and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook have also been very good for the Irish.
Two of the three listed above almost combined for the match winner, with Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook not quite being able to hang onto the for a grubber kick that hit him on the chest and he was unopposed.
TEAMS
Who’s in the Teams?
WALES
1 Elliot Kear 2 Rhys Williams 3 Michael Channing 4 Christiaan Roets 5 Regan Grace 6 Courtney Davies 7 Danny Ansell 8 Craig Kopczak (c) 9 Steve Parry 10 Philip Joseph 11 Rhodri Lloyd 12 Joe Burke 13 Morgan Knowles 14 Matty Fozard 15 Matthew Barron 16 Ben Evans 17 Dalton Grant 18 Josh Ralph 19 Ben Morris 20 Gavin Bennion 21 Andrew Gay
IRELAND
1 Scott Grix 2 Shannon McDonnell 3 Ed Chamberlain 4 Api Pewhairangi 5 Liam Kay 6 Joe Keyes 7 Liam Finn (c) 8 Anthony Mullaly 9 Michael McIllorum 10 Kyle Amor 11 Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook 12 Will Hope 13 Brad Singleton 14 George King 15 Matty Hadden 16 Joe Philbin 17 Oliver Roberts 18 James Hasson 19 Tyrone McCarthy 20 Casey Dunne 21 Jack Higginson
MATCH REVIEW
Coming soon.
THE DOWLING-TAMATI #RLWC2017 PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT
We’ve decided that a tournament as big as the 2017 Rugby League World Cup needs a Player of the tournament, and who better than International relations specialists Kevin Tamati and Greg Dowling to name our award.
We award points on a 5-4-3-2-1 scale every match, and the results for this game is below. For the running total from all of the games visit our 2017 RUGBY LEAGUE WORLD CUP MATCH CENTRE
Points coming after the match.
