Match Reaction: Ireland Club XV 20 England Counties 17
See below from reaction from Ireland’s management and players following Friday’s 20-17 AIB Club International victory over England Counties at Donnybrook.
NUMBER 8 AND CAPTAIN DAVID QUINLAN:
“It was a good performance. We played well, tackled well and held on well at the end when England are pressing us, so it was a good win overall.
“We can take a lot from this going into the game against Scotland.
“They got in for two tries but it was just when it got loose at the end – with the few changes (we made) and tired legs – that we let them back into it. That was disappointing but the positives outweighed the negatives.”
COACH GEOFF MOYLAN:
“I’m absolutely delighted with the win. The players performed really well and I can’t praise them enough. They came in, gelled quickly and picked up the patterns quickly and that’s what you get with good players.
“We haven’t had long with them this week, one training session on Wednesday and two light sessions on Thursday. We had six of the pack back from last year which was crucial, I felt.”
SCRUM HALF FIACH O’LOUGHLIN:
“I’m very pleased with the win and the overall performance. We knew that they would come out all fired up but we made a splendid start with Matt Crockett’s try.
“We knew that we needed a big performance while it was a little scrappy at times, had we been able to move the ball quicker we might have had one or two more tries.
“It was a very fast game, at times.
“(Commenting on his kick that led to Niall O’Brien’s try) I had that kick thought out to the very inch – the minute I gained possession I knew what I wanted to do!
“(On playing with his brother-in-law Andrew Thompson in the half-backs) It’s always a pleasure to play with him and he makes my job a lot easier.”