Rugby Union: Ireland outclassed in 'horrendous display': Campese leads rout of Irish

New South Wales. . .55

Ireland. . . . . . .18

IRELAND were overrun in the second match of their Australian tour yesterday as New South Wales scored eight tries against them. The tourists, who face the national side in a two-Test series on 5 and 11 June, gave a lack-lustre display at Waratah stadium.

After beating a weak Western Australia side 64-8 on Wednesday, they were overpowered. The game was summed up succinctly and honestly by Gerry Murphy, the Irish coach. 'That was a horrendous display from start to finish.'

Murphy said New South Wales had an edge after already playing several matches this season, including three in the Super 10 tournament. 'Probably the fact they had played more games had a bearing, but not as big a bearing as the mistakes we made,' Murphy said.

'A national side simply shouldn't play like that. New South Wales are a good team, efficient and technically proficient, and you certainly can't afford to make mistakes against them of the magnitude we did.'

The incomparable David Campese scored two tries and rather more surprisingly consistently forced Ireland back with some accurate kicking. His try- count was matched by Richard Tombs and Sam Payne while

Michael Brial and Warwick Waugh also crossed for tries. Tim Wallace added to Ireland's misery by converting six of the eight tries and landing a penalty.

Ireland were restricted to two consolation tries from Neil Francis and Jonathan Bell, with Eric Elwood converting one and adding two penalties.

The New South Wales and Australian captain, Phil Kearns, was at his diplomatic best when he warned against complacency in the first Test in Brisbane on 5 June. 'This was only their second game on tour and they won't have their fitness at the level they will want just yet,' he said. 'I am sure they will improve with a few more matches. It is going to be much tougher in the Tests than the score would suggest.'

Greg Smith, the New South Wales coach, said Matthew Burke and Tombs had staked strong claims to replace the injured Test centres Tim Horan and Jason Little. 'It will take good players to keep them out,' Smith said.

New South Wales: Tries Campese 2, Payne 2, Tombs 2, Brial, Waugh; Conversions Wallace 6; Penalty Wallace. Ireland: Tries Bell, Francis; Conversion Elwood; Penalties Elwood 2.

NEW SOUTH WALES: T Kelaher; D Junee, M Burke, R Tombs, D Campese; T Wallace, S Payne; T Daly, P Kearns (capt), M Hartill, T Dempsey, T Kava, M Brial, S Domoni, W Waugh.

IRELAND: J Staples; S Geoghegan, J Bell, P Danaher, N Woods; E Elwood, M Bradley (capt); P Soden, T Kingston, G Halpin, N Francis, G Fulcher, R Wilson, D McBride, B Robinson.