Ireland WC exit confirmed as Cheika’s Lebanon advance

Eire’s Rugby League World Cup exit has been confirmed after Lebanon defeated Jamaica 74-12 on the Leigh Sports activities Village in Better Manchester.

A 48-10 defeat to New Zealand at Headingley on Friday had left the Irish facet’s destiny out of their palms and a Lebanese victory over Jamaica would see them exit the match.

And so it proved, that means Lebanon will go up towards Australia within the World Cup knockout phases.

The Cedars’ 13-try romp, highlighted by a hat-trick of tries from former Australia winger Josh Mansour, earned them a spot in Friday’s first quarter-final at Huddersfield’s John Smith’s Stadium and means Eire end third in Group C with a file of 1 win and two defeats.

Former Leinster head coach Michael Cheika, who guided the Wallabies to the 2015 Rugby Union World Cup remaining, combines his Lebanese duties with being head coach of Argentina’s rugby union facet and now faces a busy weekend, along with his Pumas enjoying Eddie Jones’ England in an autumn worldwide at Twickenham subsequent Sunday.

Cheika’s staff, boosted by the presence of NRL stars Mitchell Moses and Adam Doueihi, had far an excessive amount of class for the Reggae Warriors within the first assembly between the 2 groups as they secured their last-eight berth for the second successive World Cup.

It additionally clinched computerized qualification for the 2025 World Cup in France.

Jamaica ended their first World Cup with out a win however, like fellow debutants Greece, they will really feel happy with the steps they’ve taken to ascertain rugby league of their nation.

In addition they acquired the most important cheer of the afternoon when Keighley winger Mo Agoro scored a breakaway strive early within the second half which was transformed by James Woodburn-Corridor, whereas substitute Jordan Andrade added a second after 66 minutes.

The Reggae Warriors had all of the early strain and second rower Keenan Tomlinson reached the Lebanon tryline within the second minute after accumulating Kieran Rush’s lofted kick however was unable to floor the ball.

However it was nearly one-way site visitors from the second Moses broke clear to get hooker Mikey Tannous over for his or her first strive after 5 minutes.

Wigan winger Abbas Miski acquired a second and others got here at common intervals from Elie El-Zakhem, Reece Robinson, thrilling teenage half-back Khaled Rajab, Charbel Tasipale and Josh Mansour earlier than the break, when the Cedars led 42-0.

Substitute Jaxson Rahme was sin-binned on the stroke of half-time for a excessive sort out on Rush, who was one in every of two Jamaica gamers pressured off for head harm assessments, and he faces the potential of lacking the Kangaroos conflict via suspension.

Cheika might afford to take Moses off at half-time with Friday’s large recreation in thoughts and his facet duly prolonged their lead whereas right down to 12 males as Doueihi strolled via Jamaica’s defence for his or her eighth strive 5 minutes into the second half.

Doueihi, who switched from full-back to take over playmaking duties, was not fairly as correct with the boot, nonetheless, succeeding with 4 of his six makes an attempt.

Jamaica went right down to 12 males after 57 minutes when Huddersfield prop Michael Lawrence was proven a yellow card for an expert foul and that helped Lebanon maintain the scoreboard ticking over with additional tries from Tony Maroun and Mansour.

Andrade pulled one other strive again for Jamaica, with Rush including the aim, however Mansour accomplished his hat-trick 10 minutes from the tip and Miski added a second to wrap up the scoring.