Ireland slams the US Eagles

Ulster winger Tommy Bowe scored a debut try as Ireland gradually ground down the US Eagles at Lansdowne Road on Saturday, claiming six of their seven tries in a pulsating second-half to end the game winners by 55-6.

Bowe's provincial colleague David Humphreys also added 20 points from his nine successes with the boot to break through the 500-points mark in international rugby.

Starting the day on 491, he converted efforts from Bowe and man of the match Eric Miller in the first-half and Geordan Murphy (two), Marcus Horan, Frankie Sheahan and Peter Stringer tries in the second-half.

The Americans, only seven points down at the interval, scored just two penalties from the boot of fly-half Mike Hercus, but tired nearing the hour-mark due to a four-month lay-off.

Having made nine changes to last Saturday's line-up, Ireland coach Eddie O'Sullivan watched his side go through the motions in the first-half, failing to hit the heights of their 17-12 defeat of South Africa in squally Dublin conditions.

A shoddy scrum and a series of knock-ons when on the attack saw an error-strewn first 40 minutes dominated by Scottish referee Rob Dickson's whistle.

Even the marked absence of the Americans' famed physicality and the sin-binning of flanker Brian Surgener on 27 minutes failed to see Ireland push clear ― with Hercus nonetheless managing a second penalty for the Eagles when down to 14 men.

Miller was central to Ireland's first points after six minutes, taking up an initial drive from debutante Denis Leamy drew an offside and offered Humphreys his first shot at the posts.

With Tom Billups' visitors not breaking into Irish territory until the 10th minute, Ireland were given a degree of latitude with both Paul O'Connell and the recalled Kevin Maggs prominent ball carriers.

Hercus failed to punish Leamy's high tackle after 13 minutes, missing his first penalty attempt to the left but the former Australia Under-21 did level with a second 30-metre effort four minutes later.

Humphreys smartly replied for 6-3 two minutes later, followed quickly by Hercus' wayward drop goal attempt, set up by burly centre Salesi Sika.

Then Bowe's collect from Hercus on the left touchline after 24 minutes finally opened up a stout American rearguard action.

With Murphy, returned to his favoured fullback position, used twice in subsequent drives, centre Shane Horgan eventually put Miller in past Treviso lock Gerhard Klerck ― one of only four European-based professionals in the Eagles side ― at the right corner.

Humphreys converted to push Ireland 13-3 clear but even with Surgener off the field for persistent offside, the visitors fronted up.

Brian O'Driscoll's neat chip and charge down the right flank saw David Fee retreating but crucially more unforced errors from the Irish attack with hands in the ruck coughed up great field position on the half-hour.

O'Driscoll fielded Humphreys' skip pass five minutes before the break but his pass to the right evaded Horgan's grasp.

Just 13-6 up at the break, an expansive Ireland opened the second-half with a try after 50 seconds through Murphy.  The Leicester Tiger danced easily around Francois Viljoen to set the try-fest rolling.

O'Driscoll set Murphy up again for a right-wing dash around Sika to the line after 55 minutes and three minutes later 20-year-old Bowe crowned his first start with a try ― darting past Al Lakomskis for the left corner.

Close-range drives from Munster duo Horan and Sheahan ― both notching their second international tries on rare starts ― tallied up the Irish points and substitute Stringer sniped over on the right in injury time to put a gloss on the scoreline.

Man of the match:  Left wing Tommy Bowe for his debut try that helped to ignite the Irish Backs for a second-half assault on the Americans line.

Moment of the match:  The start of the second-half when Ireland came out firing after a poor first-half that was dull and lacked imagination.

Villain of the match:  US flanker Brian Surgener for his yellow card in the 27th minute for persistent off-sides that was killing the game at rucks and mauls.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries:  Sheahan, Bowe, Miller, Murphy 2, Horan, Stringer
Cons:  Humphreys 7
Pens:  Humphreys 2

For USA:  Hercus 2

The teams:

Ireland:  15 Geordan Murphy, 14 Shane Horgan, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (captain), 12 Kevin Maggs, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 David Humphreys, 9 Guy Easterby, 8 Eric Miller, 7 Denis Leamy, 6 Simon Easterby, 5 Paul O'Connell, 4 Donccha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Frankie Sheahan, 1 Marcus Horan.
Replacements:  16 Shane Byrne, 17 Simon Best, 18 Leo Cullen, 19 Anthony Foley, 20 Peter Stringer, 21 Ronan O'Gara, 22 Girvan Dempsey.

USA:  15 Francois Viljoen, 14 Al Lakomskis, 13 Paul Emerick, 12 Salesi Sika, 11 David Fee, 10 Mike Hercus, 9 Mose Timoteo, 8 Kort Schubert (captain), 7 Tony Petruzzella, 6 Brian Surgener, 5 Gerhard Klerck, 4 Alec Parker, 3 Jacob Waasdorp, 2 Matt Wyatt, 1 Mike MacDonald.
Replacements:  16 Mike Hobson, 17 Chris Osentowski, 18 Jurie Gouws, 19 Fifita Mo'unga, 20 David Williams, 21 Matt Sherman, 22 Albert Tuipulotu.

Referee:  Rob Dickson (Scotland)