Ireland secure seismic bonus-point victory over Wales
Ireland secured their first Women’s Six Nations win in eight matches with a seismic 36-5 victory over Wales at Cork’s Virgin Media Park.
The bonus-point result propels Ireland from fifth in the Women’s Six Nations table to third with six points while Wales remain in sixth with only one point after three rounds.
First-half tries from Aoife Wafer, Eve Higgins, and Neve Jones sent Ireland into the break 21-0 up, with Dannah O’Brien’s conversions contributing six points.
Ireland went on to score another two tries in the second half as Katie Corrigan scored her second international try before Beibhinn Parsons rounded off the scoring.
Gwennan Hopkins scored the only points for Wales on her debut from the bench as she broke through the Irish defence in the 65th minute.
A rampaging run from Aoife Wafer gave Ireland the first try of the match, her red scrum cap powering through three defenders as the home side worked their way out wide for the opening score of the match. Wafer was a shining star in Ireland’s victory with countless ferocious carries and a stunning performance around the park earning herself player of the match.
Their lead was extended to seven points through the boot of O’Brien after a positive opening quarter for Scott Bemand’s side.
Co-captain Edel McMahon stole a Welsh lineout to set up a fantastic break from Aoibheann Reilly which saw her dart down the middle of the pitch, but the scrum-half was taken down within five metres of scoring. The break did however set up Ireland’s second try, as Higgins soon took them over the line with a strong solo carry from the breakdown.
Five metres later, they were on the board again, firmly stamping their authority within the first half as hooker Neve Jones dotted down from the maul for their third try, followed by a third successive conversion from O’Brien.
Wafer drew Ireland close to a fourth try with a winding run, demolishing the Welsh defence until she was caught within five metres. A knock-on from Hannah Jones gave Ireland another chance to attack from the scrum, from which Wafer once again powered through the red shirts. Ireland pushed the Welsh defence through multiple phases, but Alex Callender won the turnover penalty to deny Ireland the first-half bonus point and provide a moment of relief for her team-mates.
Ireland’s defence was then called into action as Lleucu George broke into Irish territory, but the home side piled on the pressure as the clock ticked down to force the knock-on from Sisilia Tuipulotu.
A positive first quarter transformed into a positive first half for the girls in green as they rounded off the 40 minutes with a successful defensive effort to send them into the break with a 21-point lead.
Within seconds of the whistle being blown after half-time, Ireland had secured the bonus point. Jenny Hesketh called for the mark but her kick stayed firmly on the pitch and sailed into Irish hands before Corrigan charged down a subsequent kick from George to run in the fourth try under the posts.
O’Brien continued her perfect record from the tee as she converted Corrigan’s try before extending Ireland’s lead with a penalty to make the scoreline 31-0 after 49 minutes.
Clíodhna Moloney made her richly deserved and long-awaited return for Ireland in the 51st minute to earn her 32nd cap, two years since her last.
Parsons was set free down the wing by Wafer for Ireland’s fifth try of the match with a clinical finish to exploit the Welsh defence, calling her sevens skills into play as she palmed off lone defender Hesketh and sped away to score. Although O’Brien was unable to convert, Ireland had the 36-0 lead.
Wales’s first points came in the 65th minute as Carys Cox made a fantastic break down the middle of the pitch before Hopkins muscled her way over the line to score on her international debut. Referee Sara Cox initially thought the try to be held up by O’Brien, the TMO ruled that the ball had touched the ground and the five points were awarded.
Wales ramped up the attack but had a second try disallowed due to a forward pass and Ireland saw out the match to take the well-earned victory, one that has been a long time coming.
Next week will see Ireland travel to Twickenham Stadium to face England, who after their win against Scotland earlier in the day are three from three in their 2024 Six Nations campaign.Wales will regroup before facing last year’s runners-up France in round four.
Comments on RugbyPass
Poetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
2 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
2 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
85 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
85 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
85 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
85 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
85 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
85 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
85 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
2 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
85 Go to commentsNot sure Frisch will ever make the French team with Depoortère and Costes waiting in the wings to take over from Danty and Fickou.
1 Go to commentsThe Irish are tired and the Boks are old. The test series won't confirm who is best in the world, it will confirm which team needs to pursue the task of rebuilding with the most urgency.
85 Go to commentsGrant, the first time I have seen an article written by you. Maybe I have missed your previous stuff. These days all professional players effectively play a common season so all top players are equally tired, or rested. That is the job of the coaching ticket to build squad depth and juggle resources so players are ‘ fresh’ when the big games come. Possibly Ireland are less inclined to juggle squad compared to Rassie, who is prepared to take the risk to rest players as well as build depth throughout the year so come WC he has a full squad, experienced and rested enough to win 7 games. After all, to win WC you need to get through the tournament and then win the final big 3 games. Ireland should try and build a bit so come final 3 they are ready. So far only played final 1(QF). I am so looking forward to the Irish tour. Hopefully Rassie has enough time to align his guys, as he draws them from across the globe, and not from 2 sides locally( eg Leinster, Munster). No excuses, going to be exciting.
85 Go to commentsIn football, teams get fined and sometimes docked points for deliberately fielding weakened teams yet Leinster can pretty much do as they please with no comebacks. Could it be because Ireland run the URC? Could it be that Ireland run the ERC? Whichever it is, it stinks!!
6 Go to commentsIreland are only the People’s Champions in Irish eyes. The rest of the world do not care for them very much because of attitudes of people like Gordon, Ferris, Best, Jackman…I could go on!!
85 Go to comments