Hong Kong Sevens: Ireland aiming to ‘inspire people at home’, as season’s surprise packages claim third
- Men in green lose their semi-final to France, but hit back with a convincing third-place playoff victory over Australia
- Irish close gap on series leaders Argentina to eight points, with one regular leg remaining, and target Olympic glory
Ireland celebrated the five-year anniversary of earning their core world series status by slaying traditional heavyweights Australia 14-5 at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens to bank a third bronze finish of the season.
Hugo Lennox scored two tries, which he converted himself, in two first-half minutes, as Australia struggled to contain an Irish side smarting from an off-colour display in their semi-final meeting with France.
Henry Palmer’s score at the end gave the scoreline a respectability that earlier seemed beyond the Aussies, shell-shocked following a heavy beating at the hands of eventual champions New Zealand in their last-four encounter.
Ireland overcame Hong Kong at the same venue five years previously to the day to gain their elite stripes. While the hosts were celebrating success in the Melrose Claymore tournament on Sunday, the Irish were cementing their position as one of the stories of this season.
The 16 points they gained in Hong Kong moved them to eight behind series leaders Argentina, who stumbled here, ahead of next month’s closing regular-season leg in Singapore.
