Emerging Ireland power past Pumas in tour opener

Pumas (7) 24

Tries: Msenge, Swanepoel 2, E Swart Cons: C Swart 2

Emerging Ireland (19) 36

Tries: Ward, Murray, Izuchukwu, Smyth, McCarthy, punishment try Cons: Prendergast 2

Emerging Ireland started their circuit of South Africa pinch a beardown 36-24 triumph complete nan Pumas successful Bloemfontein.

Sevens prima Zac Ward, who is transitioning backmost into nan 15s crippled aft impressing astatine nan Paris Olympics, showed gait and powerfulness to people Ireland's first effort successful nan 15th minute.

Darragh Murray crossed for a 2nd Irish score, but nan Pumas grew into nan crippled and deed backmost erstwhile Lundi Msenge darted over.

Ulster guardant Cormac Izuchukwu powered complete successful nan last play of nan half to springiness Ireland a 19-7 lead astatine nan break.

Hooker Stephen Smyth collapsed complete and extended their lead successful nan opening stages of nan 2nd half aft a superb break by Ulster's Harry Sheridan, but nan South Africans kept successful touch erstwhile nan awesome Tino Swanepoel sprinted complete successful nan corner.

Front rows Gus McCarthy and Eduan Swart exchanged scores, but nan crippled was decided erstwhile a punishment effort was awarded pinch six minutes to play.

Phiko Sobahle was sent to nan sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on erstwhile Ireland had 3 players queuing up to score, and that gave nan visitors nan daylight required to spot retired nan lucifer contempt a precocious consolation effort by full-back Swanepoel.

Simon Easterby's broadside are backmost successful action connected Sunday against Western Force, and decorativeness their circuit against nan Cheetahs connected Wednesday, 9 October.