Ireland and Lebanon had a Sunday afternoon encounter in a shootout for who would join New Zealand in the final eight. Ireland already had one win and would secure second spot with a victory before they face New Zealand next weekend, Lebanon are without a win so far but a win today and an almost certain win against Jamaica next weekend would put them into the Quarter Finals.
Lebanon made just one change to the starting side which started against New Zealand, Adam Douehi replaced by Khaled Rajeb after he was dismissed in last weekend’s game. Ireland had O´Hagan for Cook in the front row and both sides made a couple of changes on the bench.
The bookies had Ireland as slight favourites, but on paper it promised to be a close game.
Lebanon had the brighter start as they set out to take the game to Ireland. Ireland managed to survive the early onslaught and started to make a little ground on the attack.
A high tackle from Ireland resulted in the first points of the game as Mitchell Moses kicked a twenty-metre goal from in front of the sticks.
A quarter of the game had passed before the first try was registered in a tight game. Following a one-on-one ball steal Lebanon kept the ball alive before it was floated wide by Moses to Reece Robinson to score in the corner. Moses was on target with the touchline conversion to edge his side into an 8-0 lead.
Four minutes later and Lebanon were in again with Jacob Kiraz taking an inside pass from Moses to crash through a gap and go over from eight metres. Moses had a simple conversion for 14-0, clear daylight between the sides.
A mass grapple on twenty-eight resulted in a warning for both captains but referee Gee kept his cards in his pocket.
On thirty Lebanon extended the lead after Lebanon took a short drop-out by the Irish and a catch and pass from Josh Mansour went to Brandon Morkos to round the defensive line and score. Moses added a fourth goal of the half for 20-0, the game drifting from Ireland.
A comedy of errors in the Lebanese defence on thirty-six almost gifted Ireland a try but was ruled out for a double knock-on. From the resulting scrum the ball was given plenty of air by Luke Keary and went into the hands of Louis Senior who scored one-handed with a dive to the corner. Ed Chamberlain was unable to add the extras, some hope for Ireland right at the end of the half.
On the hooter tempers flared again after a Lebanese player was dragged into touch. Gee did go for the cards this time with Robbie Mulhern and Jalal Bazzaz put in the sin bin for their part.
The two twelve men sides took the field for the opening ten minutes of the second half.
It was back-to-back tries for Ireland and Louis Senior on forty-seven when he took a floated Joe Keyes pass fifteen from the line and feigned to go left before darting right to score again in the corner. Chamberlain hit the target from wide, despite the wind, and Ireland were back within ten of Lebanon.
Five minutes after grabbing a handful of hope, the Irish were again up against it as Elie El-Zakhem took a Moses pass to go in on the overlap. Moses added the conversion for 26-10, Ireland back with a mountain to climb.
In fifty-seven the win was sealed by Lebanon as Abbas Miski managed to ground in the left corner despite the last-ditch effort from two Irish tacklers. Moses pulled his conversion wide of the left upright but with a twenty-point lead and just over twenty left on the clock, the Irish were out of the game.
Liam Byrne was sin-binned on sixty-nine after a late challenge on the kicker, making the challenge even more difficult for Ireland. Moses kicked the resulting penalty for a twenty-two point lead.
Two minutes from time Ireland reduced the arrears when Chamberlain went over in the right corner after feigning a pass to the winger and coming inside. He couldn´t add the extras to his own try, Ireland disappointed to go down by 32-14.
Lebanon are now in the box seat to join New Zealand as the qualifiers from Pool C and they know that a win against Jamaica should be enough unless the Irish spring the shock of the competition and defeat the number one ranked side in their last outing. Lebanon were good value for their win, but Ireland got it all wrong on the day, focussing on unchanneled aggression at the expense of building position and possession. Lebanon are likely to face Australia in the quarter finals, another mouth-watering prospect.
Lebanon: Kiraz (T), Mansour, Morkos (T), Robinson (T), Miski (T), Rajeb, Moses (6G), Kalache, Kazzi, Rahme, El-Zakhem (T), Tasipale, Roumanos. Subs: Bazzaz (SB on 40), Layou, Maarbani, Rahme.
Ireland: Myler; I Senior, T King, Chamberlain (T, G), L Senior (2T), Keary, Keyes, Byrne (SB on 69), O´Hagan, Jolliffe, Bentley, Halton, G King. Subs: Cook, Hasson, Rushton, Mulhern (SB on 40).
Half-Time: 20-4.
Full-Time: 32-14.
Score Progression: 2-0, 6-0, 8-0, 12-0, 14-0, 18-0, 20-0, 20-4, (SB), (SB) : HT : 20-8, 20-10, 24-10, 26-10, 30-10, (SB), 32-10, 32-14 : FT .
Lead Exchanges: Lebanon.
Referee: Adam Gee.
Attendance: 6,057 at Leigh Sports Village, Leigh.
