TBILISI, June 7 (Xinhua) — South Africa and Ireland on Friday took their respective opening matches at the inaugual IRB Tbilisi Cup rugby tournament.
The SA President’s XV trounced Uruguay 37-9 while Emerging Ireland came from behind to down hosts Georgia 20-15.
The Uruguayans were forced to hold their own for just half of Friday’s match as they were trailing at 15-9 and could not keep up with the South Africans at all in the second half.
The International Rugby Board (IRB) has created the Tbilisi Cup tourney for world second tier rugby nations in the tune-up toward the 2015 World Rugby Cup.
The South Africans, pre-tournament favorites, scored six tries in their opening match. They next play Ireland on Tuesday next week when hosts Georgia entertain Uruguay.
The Tbilisi Cup is the first time ever for the South Caucasus country of Georgia to host as an IRB event for senior players.
Tbilisi played host to an IRB junior World Cup event in 2011.
This new annual international tournament consists part of IRB’s efforts to increase competition for second tier rugby nations of the world.
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Article source: http://www.nswrl.com.au/default.aspx?s=article-display&id=76036&title=blues-in-focus---james-tamou
SA, Ireland take Tbilisi Cup rugby openers
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