Rugby League World Cup rolls on with Pool C action featuring New Zealand v Ireland, which would be an interesting clash if it were rugby union, as this rugby league contest will be as one sided as they get.
Our Pool C – New Zealand v Ireland Match Centre has a preview, stats, team lists before the game and a summary of the match afterwards. More than you could ever need or want.
If you want more information on all the squads – follow this link here.
New Zealand 48 Ireland 10 Match Summary
New Zealand have finished the group stage undefeated with a hard fought 48-10 win over Ireland
For all the firepower and NRL experience on offer for the full strength New Zealand side, Ireland held their own early. The Irish made the first line break of the game only to be harshly called back for a forward pass. And they held off the Kiwis well in defence close to their line, and forced a few mistakes and penalties out of them early too.
The second penalty awarded to Ireland was close enough to the posts and Ed Chamberlain duly converted the chance for a very surprising 2-0 lead to Ireland. Perhaps the Irish’s recent dominance in rugby union is wearing off onto their league team.
Ireland even stepped it up a notch after taking the lead.
But it couldn’t last and didn’t when Jahrome Hughes crossed for New Zealand in the 14th minute. The try was set up by Brandon Smith a few plays before where his bustling 20 metres run in the Irish half must have broken 10 tackles in one go. A few tackles later Jahrome Hughes did a mini version of it from 10 metres out, breaking about five tackles before scoring next to the posts. The easy conversion slotted and the Kiwis were in front 6-2.
Not long after New Zealand broke through for their second after a determined Irish defence on their line. Jahrome Hughes made this one look easy as his cross field kick to an unmarked Jordan Rapana was perfect, and the winger needed only to bend down and place the ball. Rapana missed the conversion.
Jahrome Hughes was certainly making up for lost time on his RLWC 2021 debut as he laid on the third try for the Kiwis, his third try scoring involvement. His deft grubber on the run was met with perfect timing by Peter Hiku. Jordan Rapana added the two extra points and New Zealand were 16-2 in front with just over ten minutes until half time.
Ireland’s Louis Senior then lit up the crowd with an intercept try. It was a really sharp gather from the Briton Nikora pass, and there was no doubt the Irish winger’s speed wouldn’t carry him the 40 metres he needed to score. he conversion was missed, but Ireland deserved that try on the balance of the first half and trailed now by just 16-6.
The joy didn’t last long for Ireland, as Jahrome Hughes set up another try. Hughes broke through the line from 30 metres out, and his angled run found a flying Peter Hiku as the pair combined for their second try in a row. The conversion out wide was missed and the score remained 20-6.
Big moment just before half time as Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was sent to the sin bin for a high tackle. The sin binning was probably right, as it was a reckless swinging arm that bounced off the Irish player but was still high contact. He may have more to think about if the match reviewers have a closer look.
Sadly Ireland couldn’t take advantage as New Zealand scored almost immediately afterwards. Ireland lost the ball on just the second tackle from the penalty, of course Jahrome Hughes was on hand to scoop up the ball and he found Dylan Brown who threw a sharp pass to Ronaldo Mulitalo who powered home to score. Dylan Brown took over goal kicking from Rapana but was no more successful.
New Zealand took a lead to the break, but Ireland had given them plenty to think about in the first forty minutes, matching the Kiwis for aggression, if not the quality attack.
HALF TIME – NEW ZEALAND 24 IRELAND 6
It took seven second half minutes, and some more Irish aggression, but New Zealand extended their lead through Jordan Rapana. The winger had plenty to do at the end of the ball going through the hands to the right, but Rapana broke the tackles and got the ball down with a few millimetres to spare from the sideline. Dylan Brown continued the Kiwis unhappy night with the boot. It was 2/6 at this stage.
James Fisher-Harris got a rich reward for his efforts in the 55th minute as he charged over to score from a 10 metres run, there was no way the Irish defence could have stopped him. Thankfully the try was scored next to the post but it made no difference to Dylan Brown who shanked it for his third miss in a row. The score remained 32-6.
Jahrome Hughes scored his second try of the game a few sets later, this try coming after a massive step off his right left the Irish defence gazing as the Kiwi halfback slid in under the posts. Surely Dylan Brown couldn’t miss this kick, and to the ironic cheers of the crowd added the two points. It was 38-6 to New Zealand and a masterclass from Jahrome Hughes.
The very next set New Zealand went further in front, when Kenny Bromwich has on hand to pick up the crumbs after Ireland spilled a cross field kick from Kieran Foran. The set up was from a James Fisher-Harris charge fresh from his recent try. Dylan Brown converted for a 44-6 lead.
Ireland hit back though with a try to Louis Senior. It was set up with an early kick into space by Irish halfback Joe Keyes, and the Irish chasing defence made life very difficult for Ronaldo Mulitalo who eventually lost the ball in the struggle as he was being pushed in the in goal, and Louis Senior reacted first to score. Ireland had pegged back the score to 44-10.
Joey Manu sealed the Kiwis win with a try with two minutes to go. Standing one pass from dummy half he simply skipped through some very tired Irish defence to score beside the posts. Dylan Brown missed the conversion and chance for the 50 point mark for New Zealand.
New Zealand did enough to win, they did score 10 tries, but were made to earn victory against a resilient Ireland side. The difference in the end was Jahrome Hughes who was outstanding. Was it a performance which says tournament winner? Perhaps not.
New Zealand v Ireland Scores
NEW ZEALAND 48
Tries: Jahrome Hughes 14 Jordan Rapana 19 Peter Hiku 26 Peter Hiku 32 Ronaldo Mulitalo 38 Jordan Rapana 47 James Fisher-Harris 55 Jahrome Hughes 59 Kenneath Bromwich 62 Joey Manu 78
Goals: Jordan Rapana 2 (16, 27) Dylan Brown 2 (60, 63)
IRELAND 10
Tries: Louis Senior 29 Louis Senior 65
Goals: Ed Chamberlain 1 (11 pen)
New Zealand v Ireland Player of the Match
3 Pts Jahrome Hughes
2 Pts James Fisher Harris
1 Pt Dylan Brown
New Zealand v Ireland Points of Interest
- Ireland should be praised for how much they matched the Kiwis, especially in the first half as they held off the Kiwis well in defence, and stood up to New Zealand with plenty of aggression. With a lot of talk about lop sided scorelines and unbalanced pools, Ireland gave a blue print on how smaller sides can compete.
- Jahrome Hughes has been kept on ice before tonight’s game v Ireland and he made up for lost time with a match best performance. His running and kicking game were spot on and he will be the key for New Zealand as they head towards a semi final appointment with Australia.
- Talking of the Australian game, the margins will be fine in that match, so looking at the New Zealand goal kicking, that could be a worry. The Kiwis had multiple goal kickers and there were a number of misses. As they games get tight those extra two point could be crucial.
- Big fans of Louis Senior from Ireland. Not just because he scored two tries tonight, but his aggression and passion and a few big hits for a winger through the Ireland games has caught our eye.
- The stats certainly say different, but it felt like Joey Manu had probably his quietest game in recent years when paying from fullback. Not sure if there’s anything to read into that for other teams ahead.
New Zealand v Ireland Stats
New Zealand v Ireland Teams
NEW ZEALAND
1 Joseph Manu
2 Ronaldo Mulitalo
4 Peta Hiku
17 Briton Nikora
5 Jordan Rapana
6 Dylan Brown
7 Jahrome Hughes
8 Jesse Bromwich
9 Brandon Smith
10 James Fisher-Harris
12 Kenneath Bromwich
16 Nelson Asofa-Solomona
13 Joseph Tapine
11 Isaiah Papali’i
14 Kieran Foran
18 Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
20 Isaac Liu
IRELAND
1 Richie Myler
5 Innes Senior
3 Ed Chamberlain
4 Toby King
20 Louis Senior
6 Luke Keary
7 Joe Keyes
13 George King
9 Joshua Cook
22 James Hasson
11 James Bentley
12 Frankie Halton
21 Ronan Michael
15 Harry Rushton
16 Brendan O’Hagan
17 Dan Norman
18 Henry O’Kane
New Zealand v Ireland Preview
Table: W/D/L/F/A/FA/Pts
| New Zealand | 2 | 0 | 0 | 102 | 18 | 84 | 4 |
| Ireland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 34 | 28 | 2 |
| Lebanon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 44 | 48 | -4 | 2 |
| Jamaica | 0 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 116 | -108 | 0 |
Well this should be a pretty one sided after, with New Zealand coming into the far on two wins from two and the last win was by over 60 points to Jamaica.
New Zealand have done the job so far in this World Cup with all the hype of the Pacific nations have gone under the under a fair bit. They’re still on tack for semi finals at least. In fact, the traditional big three for all world cups are the only team who have scored 100 points or more in their first two games.
The often maligned Dallin Watene-Zelezniak managed to score four tries against Jamaica and was fourth best for all run metres, so surely he’ll get another crack.
Ireland haven’t been the worst minnow of the rugby league, a comprehensive win over Jamaica in round one the highlight, and there weren’t too bad against Lebanon. But getting close to New Zealand is another story.
New Zealand should win by 50+, anything else and their main competitors may take notice.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
With top spot already sealed in Group C already for the Kiwis, they could have named any old squad, but instead they have gone with full strength. That means Jahrome Hughes makes his tournament debut, and what a frightful thought for Ireland that New Zeland will be even stronger than they have been.
Joey Manu is as ever the New Zealand player to watch, he is currently 7th best for run metres of all the players and second for tackle breaks. With Dylan Brown and Jahrome Hughes returning to the halves, that leaves Manu to move back to fullback where he does his best work.
With a bit of room to move playing a minnow like Ireland perhaps this is just the kind of game where Brandon Smith carves up around the ruck and scores a double and sets up plenty.
For Ireland Louis Senior has caught our eye. He gives it plenty during the matches, and puts on a couple of big hits in defence.
PREDICTION
New Zealand 62 Ireland 10
New Zealand v Ireland Pre Match Stats
Average per game stats for both teams so far.
New Zealand v Ireland Stats
