"It's just two over two years since these two teams produced one of the greatest games in Rugby World Cup history and it was staggering to see how far from that level they've both fallen for long stages of last night's game."
"They were a few weeks early for Thanksgiving, but the invited guests served up a bit of a turkey of a first half in Chicago, one that can't have sold too many locals on the idea of all of these international rugby matches planned for the next few seasons."
Two years after producing one of the greatest Rugby World Cup games, both teams showed a significant drop in standard for long periods of the Chicago match. Ireland suffered from awful lineout returns that repeatedly undermined possession and disrupted attacking rhythm. Play in the opening half was disjointed and error-ridden, depriving fans of the fluid, high-quality rugby expected at international level. The visiting side delivered a particularly uninspiring first half that failed to engage local supporters. The performance raises concerns about the appeal of forthcoming international fixtures scheduled in the area.
Read at Independent
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