Talking points: Ireland dealt serious setback with USA defeat in WXV

The Jack Hanratty derby brought about an upset victory for the Irish coach’s newly-adopted nation, the USA securing an upset victory over Ireland in Dublin’s Tallaght Stadium.

Ireland initially looked the stronger of the two sides, a slick first half attacking display building an early lead as Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Wafer and Eve Higgins all scored.

However, the threat of the USA’s rumbling maul was never far away. Two forward-dominated scores kept them in touch at the break before the set-piece took over the contest, America powering their way towards the line at will to secure victory.

For the USA, it’s a huge result that continues to build faith in the Hanratty project. For Ireland, it’s a damaging defeat that will lead to difficult discussions ahead of their date with Japan next weekend.

Weekend of the underdogs

This was oh so nearly the weekend of upsets in the global game. Canada came close to breaking the Red Roses’ unbeaten run with their memorable draw, while Australia fell just short against a heavily-favoured France.

Come Sunday, the underdog finally had their day, the USA stunning Ireland on their own patch.

Initially, this result didn’t look on the cards, Ireland earning a 24-12 half-time lead that looked like it could spiral into further scoreboard dominance. However, the Eagles turned to the power game after the break, scoring four tries [three while Elmes Kinlan was in the sin bin] in the second half to secure a memorable victory.

To see the favourites being stressed across this weekend of WXV Global Series action was one thing. To then have a home side succumb to a team that, on paper, should not be victorious is another entirely.

Too early to say that such a run of results is good for the global game, that the gap between nations is shrinking? Perhaps.

But the last 48 hours will give plenty of teams hope that they can climb up the rankings. All while reminding the so-called ‘better’ nations of the calibre of sides chasing them.

Rumbling USA

In the first half, the USA looked capable of shooting themselves in the foot at any stage. Hann Humphreys thought she had scored when she was only on the five-metre line. Bella Vogel struggled with her restarts, offering Ireland easy ball time and again. Handling errors were prominent.

How did the Eagles force their way back into the contest after the break? Power. Ireland simply could not deal with the rolling maul.

Both of the first-half American scores came largely thanks to the set-piece, strong drives culminating in Georgie Perris-Redding and Hope Rogers crossing. After the break, the USA doubled down, earning more possession and opportunities inside the 22 where the maul could wreak havoc.

Ireland could never adapt. Hooker Kathryn Treder and lock Hallie Taufoou benefited from the mauling dominance, putting the USA into the lead on the 70-minute mark. With Ireland down a player to the bin and denied the required possession to work their way back into the game, the USA powered on.

Freda Tafuna sealed a famous victory with a rampaging run through a tired defence, handing Hanratty and co a memorable scalp over the country of his birth.

Tale of two Irish halves

The most bizarre aspect of Ireland’s implosion was the quality of their first half display.

The last time we saw Ireland, they put in arguably their best attacking display of the Scott Bemand era. In the Guinness Women’s Six Nations finale against Scotland, their performance featured slick handling, pace on the ball and accuracy. Over three months on, would they be able to build on such a display?

In the first half, the answer was in the affirmative. Ireland’s skillset was mighty impressive. Scrum-half Emily Lane provided lightning service while forwards and backs linked with tip-ons and pullback passes. Offloads were in decent supply.

Eve Higgins was prominent in much of what was good about Ireland’s attack, making a series of breaks alongside multiple good decisions on when to pass or hold onto the ball.

The highlight moment for Ireland, though, was Elmes Kinlan’s opening score. It came from a set play, one that is steeped in Irish rugby folklore.

A forward, in this case Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, dummies the ball out the back before firing an inside pass to a back running close to the original ruck. Stacey Flood took the pass, bursting into space before throwing a lovely ball to Elmes Kinlan for the score.

Leinster used that move in their infamous Heineken Cup semi-final win over Clermont in 2012. Ireland men used a variation of the same play against France in 2023 and South Africa 2024. Now, in 2026, the women added their version of a move more than familiar to Irish fans.

In the second half, though, all that innovation, accuracy and skill disappeared in a maelstrom of mauling American limbs. Ireland couldn’t get enough possession and, when they did, errors ruined their momentum.

The much-needed bench impact never came – Bemand not using three of the replacements available to him – the Eagles perhaps showing off a more battle-hardened edge given they have had more international action in recent times than their hosts.

Ireland did secure an 80th-minute try from Erin King to make it a one-score game before the final whistle could sound but it proved mere consolation.

After a period of positivity since last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, Ireland have been dealt a serious setback, suffering their first real upset defeat in some time.