Canada provides stiff challenge for Ireland in rugby test
Men's team travels overseas for Autumn International
Canada ultimately fell 52-21 to Ireland, but it was a scrappy effort for the Canucks at the Autumn International rugby match at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on Saturday.
The Canadian men, ranked 18th in the world, dropped to 0-7-1 all-time against fourth-ranked Ireland.
Fullback Tiernan O'Halloran scored two tries for the home side.
Keith Earls, Luke Marshall, Ultan Dillane, Kieran Marmion and James Tracy also had tries for the Irish in front of a sold-out crowd that included the Irish and Canadian women's rugby teams.
Veterans DTH van der Merwe, Taylor Paris, and Matt Evans scored tries for Canada while Gordon McRorie was successful on all three conversions.
The fifth-ranked Irish side (as of Nov. 6) jumped out to a 14-0 lead, but Canada, ranked 18th, fought back with consecutive tries to tie the match by the 29th minute.
It doesn't always have to be pretty as Canada grinds out a 2nd try and ties the game: <a href="https://t.co/zrRBXnFOrI">https://t.co/zrRBXnFOrI</a> <a href="https://t.co/NEXbzzXubs">https://t.co/NEXbzzXubs</a>
—@cbcsportsThe home side regained the lead heading into halftime.
With just minutes to go until the half, Ireland is back on top. Watch <a href="https://twitter.com/RugbyCanada">@RugbyCanada</a> live: <a href="https://t.co/zrRBXnFOrI">https://t.co/zrRBXnFOrI</a> <a href="https://t.co/8XF2iFqnFY">https://t.co/8XF2iFqnFY</a>
—@cbcsportsCanada was able to keep the score close, pulling within seven points earlier in the second half.
It takes a suspenseful television review, but <a href="https://twitter.com/RugbyCanada">@RugbyCanada</a> is awarded the try! Now 28-21 after the long convert. <a href="https://t.co/4XKW7w6cPC">https://t.co/4XKW7w6cPC</a>
—@cbcsportsIreland eventually took control of the match and pulled away.
Ireland puts an exclamation point on their dominant performance today, scoring another try as the clock winds down. <a href="https://t.co/mmEYxhn8uk">https://t.co/mmEYxhn8uk</a>
—@cbcsportsVan der Merwe moved to within three tries of tying Winston Stanley's all-time record of 24 for Canada.
With files from The Canadian Press