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New Zealand shove Ireland aside: Four takeaways from pool C decider
By Lucy Lomax
New Zealand showed their dominance in an impressive display against Ireland in the pool C decider as the reigning champions came away 40-0 winners, able to shut Ireland out from scoring completely.
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Three first half tries from New Zealand scored by Stacey Waaka, Chryss Viliko and Braxton Sorensen-McGhee separated the two teams at half-time with Ireland unable to make their game plan stick due to the Black Ferns’ unforgiving rush defence.
Ireland were hit back in the tackle on the gain line time and time again with New Zealand denying them the opportunity to execute or make informed decisions, which heavily affected their ability to get any sort of go forward ball.
In the second half, Ireland managed to stem the flow of tries until the 57th minute when Sorensen McGhee added another five points to her tally.
A further New Zealand try was ruled out on 74 minutes but two more shortly followed as Sorensen-McGhee (yes her name again!) completed her hat-trick and Maia Joseph scored with the clock in the red to put an extra shine on the scoreboard from a Black Ferns perspective.
It was a tireless performance from both sides with Ireland’s efforts to get across the white wash never coming to fruition, with the Emerald Isle unable to score any points against the reigning world champions.
An afternoon to forget for the Irish
Head coach Scott Bemand will no doubt find the post-match analysis a hard watch with nothing going right for his team.
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It seemed to start positively with Ireland in the ascendancy for the first ten minutes, however from the moment New Zealand and their rush defence clicked into gear, to the final seconds of the match, Ireland struggled- their game strewn with errors, little structure and aimless kicking.
New Zealand were more physical, making almost 100 more post-contact metres throughout the match than Ireland, and 24 missed tackles from the women in green cost them as the Black Ferns ripped them open on the edges, with Waaka, Sorensen-McGhee and Renee Holmes particularly impressive in the back line.
Whether it be held up rolling mauls, balls rolling into touch by inches or turning down kicks at goal, Ireland could not get any points on the board at Amex Stadium in a torrid afternoon for the world number fives.
Ireland increase injury worries ahead of quarter-final
With key player Aoife Wafer still not fit enough to make the match day 23 and already missing the likes of Erin King and Dorothy Wall, Ireland’s injury woes took a step up today.
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A nasty looking Achillies injury to Stacey Flood in the first half was compounded by co-captain Edel McMahon hobbling off the field in the 45th minute. Finally, experienced head Eve Higgins looked worse for wear coming off the back of a number of heavy tackles with the centre’s right knee heavily strapped. She was then replaced after going down to collect a ball on the ground and receiving a knee to the head.
Ireland will really have to call upon their depth against likely opponents France next week if they want to make the semi-finals of this tournament.
New Zealand win the kicking game
Whether it was Holmes kicking touchline conversions for fun or executing pinpoint cross field kicks, or Sorensen McGhee kicking for territory, or Ruahei Demant dribbling through a neat grubber, New Zealand are not short of kicking options with their talent stock impressive and extremely variable.
It seems funny to think that a few weeks ago it was touch and go as to whether Holmes would make the plane to England due to selection decisions. But Holmes, like in 2022, has proved her worth time and time again since this tournament began. In this encounter she kicked five conversions and provided the try assist for Sorensen-McGhee’s bonus point score.
In comparison, Ireland’s kicking game never seem to click into place. Much has been made of Dannah O’Brien’s left boot but the game plan didn’t seem to work for Ireland’s fly-half today.
Never switch off against the Black Ferns
Even when you think things are all said and done and the clock reaches the 80th minute, New Zealand are never done scoring. That they showed this afternoon through their prolific ball carriers which provided the platform and the quick ball, with opportunities finished off by their non-stop electrifying backs.
The Black Ferns have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to players able to fill various roles in the back line, and Ireland were taught a lesson today that even when the Black Ferns had the bonus point in the bag, even when up by five tries to none, and even when the clock has ticked past the 80, they’ll continue to put their foot to the floor and add more points to the score board if you let them.
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