We're Ready Now Says Kennedy As Irish Run Riot Over Brave Richmond

LONDON Irish supremo Nick Kennedy declared his promoted side ready for Premiership duty after a convincing victory over gallant Richmond.

- Neale Harvey

Steve Hill’s Championship outfit enjoyed positive passages of play but were ultimately outgunned by a rapidly gelling Irish team whose forwards look the part and should this week be bolstered by the addition of ‘trialist’ Franco van der Merwe.

It was all-action Scotland flanker Blair Cowan who led the way, however, as the Exiles notched eight tries from eight different scorers to head into Saturday’s topflight opener against Harlequins on a high after a hugely encouraging preseason.

Kennedy told The Rugby Paper: “We’ve had three good pre-season games, six or seven great weeks of training where the guys have been superb and we’ve really developed our game from the good things we put in place in the Championship.

“Harlequins at Twickenham doesn’t get any better and we’ll have a real good buzz and energy about us this week. We’ll arrive there ready to go.”