Ireland Thomond Ready

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Ireland will start as major underdogs for their final Group A match in the Rugby League World Cup at Thomond Park.

But prop Brett White is looking at the bigger picture as he gets set to face a host of past and present team-mates.

White, who played for Australia in the 2009 Four Nations series, qualifies for Ireland through his grandfather and sees himself as a pioneer.

"I see my role as trying to build the brand of rugby league in Ireland," said the Canberra Raiders forward.

"I think there's a fantastic future ahead for rugby league in Ireland and, if I can try and help to build that, I'll do my part."

White has led from the front on the field during Ireland's difficult start to the World Cup and, despite comprehensive defeats by Fiji and England, is relishing the experience.

"It's been fantastic, really enjoyable," said White.

"We've worked really hard actually. I guess what's surprised me in a way has been the amount of work we've been putting in.

"In saying that, we've needed to. We were in the toughest position of the tournament.

"That and the professionalism of the organisation has been fantastic. I'm really enjoying the experience."

White is expected to go up against his Canberra pack colleague Josh Papalii as well as several of his former team-mates from the Melbourne side that won the 2007 and 2009 Grand Finals when Ireland play their final Group A match on Saturday night.

"I've played with or against most of them," he said. "A lot of those boys I played with in Melbourne.

"I know first hand the quality of players we're up against. We just want to try and be competitive and do our best.

"We have spoken a lot about the spirit and making sure we don't give up and we keep fighting through the whole game."

Ireland coach Mark Aston heaped praise on the 31-year-old for his bravery and leadership during the side's crushing defeats by Fiji and England but White insists he is nothing more than a foot soldier.

"Most of these boys have played more Test-matches than I have," said White, who was forced to withdraw from Ireland's 2008 World Cup team because of injury.

"I have a bit of experience and, if the team can benefit from my input, then fantastic.

"But I am here to learn just as much. Like everyone. I will take a lot out of this camp."

After playing in front of sell-out crowds in Rochdale and Huddersfield, Ireland are expecting a modest attendance of around 6,000 in the rugby union stronghold of Limerick for a match that is expected to produce a runaway victory for the Kangaroos.

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USA Beat Cook Islands

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The USA created history by beating the Cook Islands for a debut victory in their first match at the Rugby League World Cup.

Former Castleford coach Terry Matterson's Tomahawks side ran in six tries at a wet and blustery Memorial Ground in Bristol.

Mark Offerdahl and Craig Priestly went over in the final eight minutes of a close encounter to seal victory.

Priestly and kicker Joseph Paulo, who kicked four goals, proved key figures.

The Cook Islands looked to have struck first after three minutes when Tinirau Arona went over the line, but the video referee decided he was held up.

However, on the next tackle, Brad Takairangi crashed over and Jordan Rapana's kick made it 6-0.

The USA got themselves into the game with forwards Clint Newton and Wigan-bound Eddy Pettybourne causing problems - and they went over twice in the space of three minutes.

Priestly's 40/20 set up Bureta Faraimo, who held off the challenge of Keith Lulia to score before a high kick from Priestly and a delightful pass from Michael Garvey allowed Matthew Peterson to go in. But Joseph Paulo missed both conversions.

Paulo was successful with a penalty to edge the USA 10-6 before Drury Low went over to level the match with a try four minutes before the break which Rapana failed to convert.

The USA started the second half strongly and Paulo put the Cook Islands under pressure before going over - but Lulia Lulia hit back to level the match again at 14-14.

Once again the USA took the lead through Tuisegasega Samoa and Paulo edged the kick in off the post only for Dominique Peyroux's try and Rapana's conversion to give the Cook Islands hope of victory.

But it was the USA who finished the stronger with Offerdahl going over and Paulo's high kick causing all sorts of problems for the Cook Islands defence, allowing Priestly to pluck the ball out of the air and score.

Paulo converted the Priestly try and with the Cook Islands beaten Paulo added a late penalty to secure the win in front of a crowd of 7,247.

The USA will next face Wales on Sunday while the Cook Islands' next game will be against Tonga next Tuesday.

USA: Freed, Faraimo, Garvey, Tagaloa, Petersen, J. Paulo, Priestly, J. Paulo, J. Luani, Pettybourne, Newton, Shipway, D. Howard.Replacements: Samoa, Offerdahl, S. Howard, Soloai.

Cook Islands: Low, L. Lulia, Gelling, K. Lulia, Rapana, Takairangi, John, Napa, Fepuleai, Tetavano, Taia, Peyroux, Arona. Replacements:Brunton, Mataora, Sopoaga, Tangata.

Referee: Ben Thaler (England)

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Fiji 32 - 14 Ireland

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Akuila Uate scored a hat-trick as Fiji beat Ireland in their opening World Cup Group A fixture at a sold-out Spotland in Rochdale.

Uate and Kevin Naiqama tries helped Fiji build a 10-0 lead before a Tyrone McCarthy score reduced the deficit.

Two more Uate scores after the break plus tries from Tariq Sims and brother Korbin sealed victory before Damien Blanch and James Hasson struck late on.

Ireland play England on Saturday, while Fiji take on Australia.

The top three teams from the group go through to the last eight, and the Bati will enter the second round of matches top of their pool.

Ashton, Tariq and Korbin Sims all started in the forward pack against Ireland, while Kevin and Wes Naiqama were named in the back line.

The third set of siblings, Daryl and Ryan Millard, were not included in Rick Stone's 17-man squad.

Fiji were celebrating their 52-year association with Rochdale, forged by the influx of Fijian signings at Rochdale Hornets during the 1960's, and did not disappoint a partisan stadium-record crowd with a powerful display.

An emotional rendition of Fiji's team song left some of their players in tears prior to kick-off, but they soon regained their composure to make the perfect start.

Winger Uate, who scored two tries when the two nations met in a World Cup quarter-final five years ago, got Rick Stone's side on the scoreboard when he collected Naiqama's pass to slide over in the corner.

Full-back Naiqama barged through a weak tackle from Ireland centre Apirana Pewhairangi to extend the lead, albeit with the help of video referee Henry Perenara, who judged that hooker James Storer had not knocked on in the build-up.

McCarthy dived over from close range to reduce the deficit and Fiji's continuous indiscipline was punished when forward Eloni Vunakece was shown a yellow card for a high shot before half time.

Having extended their lead by a further two points thanks to a Wes Naiqama penalty, Tariq Sims capitalised on a handling error from Scott Grix to make it 18-4.

Newcastle Knights man Uate went over in similar fashion to his first try of the evening, and when Korbin Sims collected a high ball to touch down, the game was over as a contest.

Uate completed his hat-trick by barging past four tiring Irish defenders, and while Blanch and Hasson scored opportunist tries for the Wolfhounds in the dying minutes, there is much to ponder for coach Mark Aston ahead of their meeting with England in Huddersfield on Saturday.

Fiji full-back Kevin Naiqama: "It was definitely an important win. We have waiting a long time for this game and the boys were very anxious to play. I'm just glad we got the result because the guys players their hearts out.

"The people of Rochdale were great with their support and we thank them for that."

Ireland coach Mark Aston: "Fiji were very quick out of the blocks and it took us a little bit of time to get into it but, once we did and got a bit of rhythm, we got ourselves back in the game.

"We're a bit disappointed because we knew we could have got a bit closer and maybe, if we had been in it towards the end, we could have sneaked over and won the game. We get to live another day and we've got to look forward to Saturday."

Fiji: K. Naiqama, Koroibete, Waqa, W. Naiqama, Uate, Noilea, Groom, A. Sims, Storer, Civoniceva, T. Sims, Bukuya, K. Sims.

Replacements: Koroisau, Vunakece, Evans, Junior.

Ireland: S. Grix, Blanch, Littler, Pewhairangi, Richards, Mendeika, Finn, White, Kostjasyn, O'Carroll, McCarthy, Allen, Currie.

Replacements: Beswick, Hasson, Haggerty, Mullally.

Referee: Phil Bentham (England)

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