SPAIN 8 IRELAND 48

The hosts held their more experienced visitors out for close on 20 minutes and gave a good account of themselves overall.

Spain took an early lead through scrum half Romain Pallares who converted a sixth minute penalty after Julien Agullo was taken late when instigating a move to the right.

Twice the home defence was called into a desperate rear-guard action, Joe Keyes thrown back into the field of play as he looked to side-step over between the posts going solo, and Irish skipper Bob Beswick held up over the line by Antonio Puerta.

As the first half continued, the visitor’s pressure built and they replied with two tries in quick succession, Ryan setting up the first from a kick, linking with Frankie Hatton and then producing a fine lobbed offload for McNally to cross.

On the re-start set, Ireland exploited the left, Ryan again linking from the back and Podesta going round behind the posts and adding his second for the extra points.

Spain gained rousing applause for their defensive fortitude and as the half ended they remained in touching distance with the score at 2-12.

Spain kicked out on the full towards the end of the opening set of the second half on their own 20 and, after Bentley had created the position, Keyes jinked his way over.

The scrum half was then sinbinned in the 47th minute for taking exception to a late challenge, along with Anthony Delgado, but it was the hosts who took advantage of the extra space.

Pallares’ long pass freed winger Alexis Escamilla and he kicked back inside, Romain Franco winning the race to the ball and Pallares converting to narrow the gap.

As the play became scrappy, Podesta was pulled back for a forward pass, Matthew Coade was just held out after a fumbled high kick and Alex Doutres intercepted into the clear only to be brought back for a knock on.

But as the pressure on the home line mounted, Tyrone McCarthy plunged over and the floodgates opened and Beswick and Keyes combined for Bentley to deservedly go over in the corner, Podesta with the touchline conversion.

Agullo was sin binned for a dangerous tackle as tempers continued to fray, McCarthy claiming his second, again powering over from close in, and the returning Beswick’s fine cut-out pass finally sent Roberts across.

For Spain head coach Darren Fisher, there was much to be encouraged about. “There were so many positives but I need to pick the squad up for next week – and I expect us to turn things around,” he said. “The guys put in so much but they need to show that same level again in Italy.”

Att 1013