LIMERICK, Ireland, 31 August 2003 — Winger Denis Hickie scored four of Ireland’s eight tries in an emphatic 61-6 victory over Italy in a World Cup warm-up match at Thomond Park yesterday. If there were any doubts whether Hickie would make the World Cup squad, he banished them with a scintillating display to become Ireland’s all-time leading try scorer with 19 and equal the Irish record for most tries in a test.
Two of Hickie’s scores came in a four-try burst either side of halftime which put Ireland firmly in control, with his fellow winger John Kelly and hooker Shane Byrne also crossing the Italian line.
Fullback Girvan Dempsey and flyhalf David Humphreys also scored tries as the Irish ran rampant late on, while Humphreys converted all but two of the tries after giving his side an early lead with three penalties.
The first half had been a close affair with fullback Gert Peens kicking two penalties to keep Italy in sight at 9-6 until two late Irish tries. But no sooner had Peens scored his second penalty, than Ireland for the first time moved the ball with real zest across the backline and Kelly scored out wide.
Hickie then got in on the act with the first of his tries coming from a rehearsed move from a scrum on halfway following a cheeky inside pass from scrumhalf Guy Easterby. At 23-6 going into the break, Ireland’s tally looked a lot more respectable.
“We played 40 minutes of good football and 40 minutes of average football,” said Italy coach John Kirwin. Hickie equaled the Irish record of scoring four tries in a match held by Keith Wood — against the US in the 1999 World Cup — and Brian Robinson — against Zimbabwe in the World Cup of 1991.
In Cardiff, center Iestyn Harris all but cemented his place in the Wales World Cup squad after leading his country to a 23-9 victory over Scotland in their final buildup match yesterday. The former rugby league player, who has struggled to secure a regular starting role in the Wales side since switching codes, kicked five penalties and also impressed with some strong running, tactical kicking and attempts to spark his backline.
Lock Michael Owen scored the only try of a error-ridden match in which both sides committed far too many basic mistakes at the breakdown and in handling. Wales flyhalf Ceri Sweeney added a drop goal in the final minute of regulation time to secure his country’s second successive win after a run of 10 defeats.
Brendan Laney kicked three penalties for a Scotland side who looked labored and seemed to be merely going through their paces at times. They had the lion’s share of possession throughout the match, but Wales were content to kick for position and feed off Scottish mistakes.
