Player Comparisons: Ireland dominate Wales in Newport

Ireland kept their hopes of a top-three Guinness Women’s Six Nations finish on track as they beat Wales 40-14 at Rodney Parade on Sunday.

Searching for a first win under Sean Lynn, Wales started brightly in the Newport sunshine.
Carys Cox punished an Amee-Leigh Costigan mistake to score the opening try of the match in the seventh minute. But Ireland soon recovered from their disjointed start.

Scott Bemand’s side were level by the 20th minute as Linda Djougang scored from close range, before Aoife Wafer and Dorothy Wall crossed the whitewash either side of a Dannah O’Brien yellow card.

The visitors went into the break 21-7 in front and the hosts’ hopes were deflated early in the second half as Wall scored her second try to put Ireland out of sight.

Djougang and Wafer each scored their second tries either side of a Hannah Bluck effort – that arrived seconds after the replacement centre’s introduction – to help Ireland see out victory.

Front Row – advantage Ireland

Wales had the better of the proceedings at scrum time without ever looking truly dominant at the set piece.

Kelsey Jones struggled at the lineout, particularly in the first half, meanwhile, which was an area of real strength for the Irish, who also had the better of things in the loose.

Linda Djougang in particular displayed her ability in open play, finishing the match with two tries – notched with contrasting finishes from close range.

Second Row – advantage Ireland

For all the industry and defensive work put in by starting duo Georgia Evans and Abbie Fleming, and Natalia John following her introduction, this was an area that Ireland dominated for much of the contest.

Wall was integral in turning the tide decisively in Ireland’s favour. Her two tries either side of the break came at the perfect time, puncturing the hosts’ hopes just as O’Brien’s yellow card had raised them.

She also put in a shuddering tackle on Kate Williams early in the second half to help her side win a turnover. Fellow lock Ruth Campbell was no less impressive for the visitors.

Back Row – advantage Ireland

Lynn had selected a back row to put pressure on Ireland at the breakdown and it was a tactic that worked for the majority of the first half.

Bethan Lewis and Kate Williams played with a ferocious tenacity throughout their time on the pitch, harrying Ireland into mistakes. Alex Callender, meanwhile, looked as though she had played No.8 for years. On more than one occasion the returning back row picked up from the base of a scrum to relieve pressure with a lung-busting burst upfield.

But as the game wore on the battle of the back-row – as elsewhere on the pitch – began to be shaded by the team in white. Player of the Match Wafer drove the team forward from No.8, while the second of her two tries ended any hopes of a home comeback.

Half Backs – honours even

Despite some nice touches and the usual reliable goal-kicking, this was not a vintage performance from either partnership.

Lleucu George had been a late replacement ahead of kick-off for Wales, elevated from the bench to replace Kayleigh Powell at fly-half and despite an audacious early crossfield kick to find Lisa Neumann inside her own 22, it showed.

Bevan did her best to put Wales in the right areas from No.9 but whenever a promising opportunity opened up, it seemed the final pass would go astray.

For Ireland, meanwhile, O’Brien’s kicking from hand was not at its usual standard and it was telling that they started to really take advantage of their territorial dominance only after the promising No.10 had been sent to the sin bin.

Centres – advantage Ireland

This was an area that Wales dominated in the opening exchanges, the ferocity of the defensive work put in by Courtney Keight and captain Hannah Jones knocking the visitors off their stride.

But once Ireland had parity on the scoreboard it was an area in which the visitors’ dominance began to tell. Enya Breen was one of Ireland’s best performers and while Aoife Dalton has and will play better, the Irish duo were in the ascendancy.

Bluck gave Wales hope within seconds of coming on but Ireland were too far in front, and were able to introduce Eve Higgins to see the game out.

Outside Backs – honours even

Costigan’s early mistake was seized upon by Wales and Cox but otherwise this was a composed performance by the Irish back three.

Stacey Flood was excellent throughout, knowing precisely when to kick or run the ball back, and Anna McGann did everything that was asked of her.

The Welsh trio barely put a foot wrong either, though. Cox was a willing and incisive runner throughout, while Jasmine Joyce highlighted her line-breaking ability and Neumann picked a couple of lovely lines.