Paul O’Connell secured victory in his debut as Ireland’s interim head coach.
Ireland’s interim head coach, Paul O’Connell, expressed his admiration for the “intent” and “hunger” displayed by his players during Saturday’s 34-5 Test victory over Georgia in Tbilisi.
An Ireland squad, relatively inexperienced and featuring six debutants, proved too formidable for their hosts. Tommy O’Brien’s early tries, coupled with second-half scores from first-time captain Craig Casey and Nick Timoney, sealed the win.
O’Connell, who will also lead Ireland in their upcoming match against Portugal in Lisbon while head coach Andy Farrell is with the British and Irish Lions, was encouraged by his team’s adaptability to the wet conditions.
The former Ireland captain commented: “We prepared for a certain type of conditions.”
“However, the conditions changed on the day, and what was most pleasing was the ability of our half-backs and the team’s leadership to adapt. They switched gears, altered the plan, and executed it accurately, considering the conditions we faced.”
“I was impressed by the players’ intent, their hunger, their toughness, and their accuracy.”
O’Brien was one of two Ireland debutants in the starting lineup, alongside Michael Milne. Tom Ahern, Jack Aungier, and Ben Murphy earned their first caps off the bench.
“Regarding our new caps, it’s exciting because we haven’t had a significant number of injuries in recent years,” O’Connell added.
“Opportunities often arise from injuries, so for the team to perform well enough to allow several players to join the Lions and give these players a chance is fantastic for us.”
“Each player has a unique story. Tommy O’Brien played against Georgia in 2018 as an under-20 player and has overcome numerous injuries. Others have had to switch provinces to gain playing time. They’ve all worked hard to earn their opportunity.”
Casey, whose early second-half try diminished Georgia’s comeback hopes, described captaining his country as “certainly up there” among his career highlights.
“The atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards was very positive,” said the 26-year-old Munster scrum-half.
“We’ve been building all week, and winning is paramount, especially as captain. It’s a great feeling and ranks highly.”