February 16, 2011
By Staff Reporter
Ireland 63
Georgia 14
Three recent tests against the minnows of the game — Romania and Russia were also beaten — haven’t exactly taxed the Irish, but then they haven’t exactly performed at 100 percent either.
As a penance for failing to make the quarterfinals of the competition in 1999, Ireland have had to endure this qualifying series and essentially, one half of sustained pressure against the Georgians proved to be sufficient.
By the interval, the home team had run in 42-0 unanswered points, with tries coming from Denis Hickie, Kevin Maggs, Brian O’Driscoll and Girvan Dempsey. But, typically, Ireland failed to ram home that advantage during the second half, allowing the Georgians to score two tries themselves. If the qualification was ensured, there is no doubt that this side lack a killer instinct.
Meanwhile, Connacht booked their place in the quarterfinals of the Celtic League thanks to an impressive 24-23 victory over Welsh club Bridgend. Trailing by 17-0, Connacht staged a marvellous comeback and clinched victory with a late try by full-back Mark McHugh.