Rugby World Cup TV View: Former internationals Jamie Heaslip and Brian O’Driscoll try hard to keep a lid on things after Tonga win
So, the champagne was put back on its ice, there being, after all, the small matter of a meeting with the reigning world champions next weekend. And after that, Scotland and then three more knock-out games before Johnny Sexton tucks Webb into his luggage.
“I bet you’re relieved you’re sitting here having a cup of tea and a biscuit and not playing against them,” Mark Pougatch said to Rory Best back on ITV. Rory nodded enthusiastically before reaching for his Coconut Cream. “Average is the enemy of success,” Jamie continued, suggesting that the team’s current form wouldn’t be good enough to cope with South Africa in their third pool game, so he wanted to see a considerable step-up against Tonga. By half-time, he allowed himself a hint of a smile, a handsome enough 31-13 the lead.
The highlight – in a quirky sense – of the second half was when the stadium DJ blasted out Gloria Gaynor’s ‘I Will Survive’ when Ireland went 52-16 up, prompting a disco to break out in the stands where men in Leprechaun hats bopped to their hearts’ content. It was a kind of magic mushroom moment. Man of the match Bundee Aki joined in on that effort – “We’ve a lot of things to work on ... we’re still not happy with the way we performed” – while Stephen suggested that if Ireland gave away as many penalties against South Africa as they did against Tonga, they’d be, in so many words, mullered.
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