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.

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.