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What It Said In The Newspapers.

What It Said In The Newspapers.

Reaction to Ireland’s performance in the newspapers.

This was gimp rugby. Ireland were tied up and put in their box for a whole 40 minutes and a third world rugby nation managed to dominate position and possession. – Neil Francis, The Sunday Tribune.

The decision to kick it (the final penalty) came because not much else was working. That summed up Ireland’s day. – Brendan Fanning, The Sunday Independent.

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Ireland should sweep aside Russia and Georgia especially if they produce the smooth passages of play that brought them those 25 (?) points in a first half that demonstrated the importance of Brian O’Driscoll. – Rob Wildman, The Sunday Telegraph.

As for the second period. – Forget it. There should have been a refund for everybody such was the appalling rugby served up. Ireland won it 7-5 and were fortunate to do so. – Barry O’Keeffe, The Sunday Times.

Despite rustiness in their first game since June’s tour of New Zealand, Ireland dominated the first half in Limerick to lead 32-3 at the interval. But after losing centre Brian O’Driscoll, late in the first period, the home side lost their way and Romania more than held their own after the break. – Martin Palmer, The Observer.

There was little inventiveness on show and while Ireland did manage to shade the second-half 7-5 on the scoreboard, there was little comfort for them such was the lethargy and sense of frustration that crept in. – Liam Heagney, Ireland on Sunday.

Eddie O’Sullivan got the win but not the performance as Ireland struggled to impose themselves on a courageous Romanian side. – Barry Coughlan, The Irish Examiner.

For sure this was a worryingly flat performance, but in the greater scheme of things this fixture won’t amount to a hill of beans. – Gerry Thornley, The Irish Times.

At best, it represented a comfortable win against an improving if limited rugby nation operating off meagre resources. At worst, it was a dismal disintegrating effort against a side growing visibly in confidence as the game progressed. – Tony Ward, The Irish Independent.

This match was not about winning. It was not even about delivering a century of points like England. It was about starting the longest international run in Irish rugby history with some level of competence and expertise. Against those limited targets yesterday was a qualified success. – George Hook, The Sunday Independent.