Ireland XV v England A, Thomond Park, Limerick
Ireland XV (14) 14
Tries: Gleeson, Kenny Cons: Frawley 2
England A (24) 52
Tries: Roots 2, Searle, Hassell-Collins 2, Randall, Kloske, Murley Cons: Searle 5, Atkinson
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England A scored eight tries as they steamrollered an Ireland XV to run out comprehensive 52-14 winners at Thomond Park on Friday night.
The visitors looked well organised and well drilled throughout as they produced a cohesive performance marked by power, pace, skill and intensity.
Skipper Ethan Roots and Ollie Hassell-Collins scored two tries apiece, with Billy Searle, Harry Randall, George Kloska and Cadan Murley all crossing.
While several England players may have put their hand up for contention for Steve Borthwick’s senior side, watching Ireland head coach will have taken little encouragement from the Irish display.
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First-half scores from Brian Gleeson and Joshua Kenny proved mere consolation for the under-par hosts.
England dominate in Limerick
England asserted their authority in the early stages in Limerick and were rewarded for their early dominance when captain Roots powered over the line after spotting space on the blind-side.
His side had put together a couple of phases after a five-metre scrum before the Exeter Chiefs flanker managed to cross the whitewash, Searle adding the first of his five conversions.
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England extended their lead when the ball was fed wide to Searle after a maul and the fly-half dived over to put 12 between the sides.
Ireland responded soon after the midway point of the first half when Gleeson barged over from close range and Ciaran Frawley contributed the extras.
England were superior in their precision passing and line running and looked much more dangerous with ball in hand, these factors to the fore when Leicester wing Hassell-Collins took advantage of some porous Irish defending to run in a score relatively unchallenged.
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Bristol scrum-half Randall sold a dummy and darted through a space to dot down under the posts but the hosts reduced their deficit when Kenny picked up a loose ball and raced clear and grounded between the sticks.
Within minutes of the restart Fineen Wycherley was sent to the bin and England capitalised on their numerical advantage as they increased their lead when prop George Kloska thundered over.
Soon after Hassell-Collins went over in the corner for his second of the game after the ball went quickly through the English hands.
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Cathal Forde crossed for the home team but the score was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up after consultation with the Television Match Official.
Harlequins wing Murley applied the finishing touch to another well-executed team try by going over in the corner, with a converted touchdown from Roots completing the scoring.
Ireland XV: Daly; Kenny, Hume, Kelly, Z Ward; Frawley, Gunne; Bohan, McCarthy, Wilson, Irvine, Wycherley, Deegan (capt), B Ward, Gleeson.
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Replacements: Barron, Crean, Aungier, Sheridan, Boyle, Jansen, Devine, Forde.
England A: Carpenter; Murley, Northmore, Bailey, Hassell-Collins; Searle, Randall; Haffar, Blamire, Kloska; Bamber, Batley; Roots, Kenningham, Dombrandt.
Replacements: Tuipulotu, van der Flier, Fasogbon, Tizard, Harding, Quirke, Atkinson, Hendy.
