The frustration of their 38-36 injury-time loss to Wales at Donnybrook a fortnight ago might just have eased as this juncture for Ciarán Fitzgerald's Ireland as they prepare for today's under-21 international against England at Coventry RFC (8.0). The manner of defeat, however, will probably still rankle.
Ireland led 36-33 in injury time and appeared to have survived what seemed a certain try for Wales centre Hal Luscombe; the ball was knocked from his grasp over the try line as he prematurely celebrated.
Unfortunately from the ensuing scrum, the Welsh took a strike against the head and outhalf Gavin Henson squeezed over in the corner to break Irish hearts.
It was a scant reward for an Irish side that played some great rugby in defeat against a physical and much larger Welsh team.
Centres Barry Lynn, and especially Conrad O'Sullivan, excelled but for different reasons. Lynn's footwork opened up the Welsh time and again while O'Sullivan was less circumspect in breaking tackles on numerous occasions.
Ian Humphreys, one or two aberrations with the placed ball aside, had a fine game, always eager to counter-attack and exploit space.
His halfback partner Brian O'Riordan proved a handful for the Welsh back row. The work of the Irish eight in broken play was excellent, the handling and offloading exceptional.
UCC's Denis Leamy claimed a brace of tries, his work-rate and effectiveness matched by his back-row colleagues, Roger Wilson of Dublin University, and Ballymena's Neil McMillan.
Captain Matt McCullough was equally effective as the primary source of possession in the lineout and around the pitch while his second-row partner Stephen Keogh made several tackle-breaking surges; his mobility resembling a back-row rather than second-row forward.
Fitzgerald makes one change for this match, Lansdowne's John Lyne replacing Seán Phillips (Saracens) at loosehead prop.
Ireland will once again line out as the smaller side and will have to rely on improvisation and the speed of thought and deed to overcome any shortcomings bulk-wise.
England beat Scotland 31-16 in their first outing.
Elsewhere, the Ireland under-19s take on their English counterparts buoyed by a 34-0 victory over Italy. That match takes place in Broadstreet RFC (7.30) tonight while England host Ireland in a Students international at Bournemouth (7.15).
ENGLAND U-21: A Winnan (Saracens); J Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester), A Billing (Leicester), A Crockett (Bath), T Voyce (Bath); O Barkley (Bath), H Ellis (Leicester); N Cox (Gloucester), J Roddam (Harlequins), M Irish (Gloucester); S Hooper (Saracens), M Purdy (Wasps); J Forrester (Gloucester), M Soden (Northampton, capt), J Scaysbrook (Bath). Replacements (from): J Buckland (Northampton), I Clarke (Leeds), J Goodridge (Gloucester), S Green (Wasps), M Holford (Leicester), A McKenzie (Wasps), A Page (Wasps), E Thrower (London Irish).
IRELAND U-21: S Young (Ballymena); M McPhail (UL Bohemian), B Lynn (St Mary's), C O'Sullivan (UCC), C McPhillips (St Mary's); I Humphreys (Dungannon), B O'Riordan (UCD); J Lyne (Lansdowne), K Corrigan (UCD), B Young (Ballymena); S Keogh (UCC), M McCullough (Ballymena, capt); D Leamy (UCC), R Wilson (Dublin University), N McMillan (Ballymena). Replacements: R Best (Newcastle), S Phillips (Saracens), M Carroll (Blackrock), C Hartigan (Garryowen), F Murphy (UCC), P Devlin (Sale), J Norton (St Mary's).
