Paul O'Connell content with how Irish went about their businss in Georgia
Two tries from Tommy O'Brien — one of half a dozen debuts on a rainy night in Georgia — and one apiece from stand-in skipper Craig Casey and flanker Nick Timoney, recalled for the first time in three years, was enough to ensure Ireland made it six wins from six in a real banana skin fixture.
'It was a very important game, a lot of players away with the Lions,' said O'Connell after his first game in charge of his country. 'We had a load of guys who were just dying for an opportunity and you wonder how they will take that opportunity, particularly some of them hadn't played games in a while.
'I'm very happy with how they went about their business. They had a load of intent in what they did and they were really accurate with that intent,' said O'Connell before his side departs to Lisbon on Sunday for their clash with Portugal next Saturday.
Skipper Casey crowned his first game as captain with a try and the scrum-half from Limerick, who was in constant and concise communication with Italian referee Andrea Piardi (no stranger to Munster fans after the Bulls debacle last season) was understandably pleased with how it all went in difficult conditions at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi.
'Obviously, very happy,' said Casey. 'It was a bit wetter than we expected during the week and we had to adapt our game. I thought we managed the game fairly well. Our forwards were top class tonight so we have a lot to owe to them.
'The feeling in the group is awesome. It's a great start to the summer tour. There were a few lads making their first caps and we wanted to make it special for them and their families and thankfully we did that.'
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