Ireland have signed-off their maiden appearance in the WXV1 with a second win in the tournament.
Scott Bemand’s side came from behind to record a hard-fought 26-14 win over the USA in Vancouver with the Americans picking up three yellow cards in the second half.
After opening the competition with an excellent 29-27 win over the world champions New Zealand two weeks ago, Ireland bounced back from last weekend’s 21-8 defeat to Canada to finish the tournament with a second win.
Player of the match Erin King scored a try for Ireland in the first half as they trailed 14-7 at half-time. In the second half, the Americans’ indiscipline hurt them as Ireland were awarded a penalty try and scored two more ties in the final 10 minutes thanks to Cliodhna Moloney and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe. The victory was Ireland’s third – including their win over Australia – in four games since September.
Ireland got off to a strong start and played most of the opening 10 minutes inside the USA 22. They should have scored the opening try after six minutes but Stacey Flood elected to drive towards the tryline where she was held-up rather than pass to the free Murphy Crowe to her left.
USA were more clinical and scored the opening try against the run of play after 17 minutes. In a move that involved winger Cheta Emba showing some deft handling, the ball was recycled to prop Hope Rogers who went over from close range to score on the occasion of her 50th international cap.
It was quick thinking by King that resulted in Ireland’s first try in the 28th minute. The Irish flanker – who had earlier made had a brilliant try-saving tackle on Lotte Sharp – took the USA players by surprise by going for a quick tap penalty a few metres from the tryline and it paid off as she went over to score despite the efforts of a few Americans.
It was King’s third international try in her fourth cap after she scored two tries against the Black Ferns two weeks ago. Connacht outhalf Nicole Fowley scored the conversion to level the game at 7-7.
But the USA finished the first half the stronger. With centre Alev Kelter making the decisive metres against a tiring Irish defence, it was once again Rogers who scored from close range for her second try as they led 14-7 at half-time.
Bemand made a half-time change with Dannah O’Brien replacing Fowley. The USA were inflicting damage on themselves with impressive attacking play undone by handling errors and a high penalty count – they had run-up 14 by the hour mark – as the Irish defence stood resolute.
The game was level for the second time in the 63rd minute as the Americans indiscipline came back to haunt them. With Ireland on the attack close to the USA tryline, substitute Molly Scuffil-McCabe’s pass was intercepted by an offside Tahlia Brody. The American flanker was sent to the sin-bin and Ireland were awarded a penalty try. 14-14.
Eight minutes later, the USA got a second yellow card when substitute Rachel Ehrecke was yellow-carded for a deliberate knock-on and they had to play with 13 players for a few minutes.
Ireland hit the front for the first time after 72 minutes. From a line-out maul, it initially looked like Moloney had knocked on the ball on the grounding. But the TMO overturned the onfield decision of the referee and awarded the try as Moloney’s fingertips kept contact with the ball. O’Brien added the extras.
And Ireland got their fourth try of the game with four minutes remaining. With the USA back to 14 players, Ireland stretched the American defence and got the ball into the hands of Murphy Crowe to score.
There was more indiscipline by the Americans before the end with their third yellow card of the game as Rachel Johnson was yellow-carded for a high tackle on Aoife Wafer.
At the end, the Ireland players celebrated their second win in this tournament. And that brings the curtain down on Ireland’s tests for 2024. Their next game will be at home to France in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations on Saturday March 22 while the draw for next year’s World Cup will take place next Thursday, October 17.
Ireland: S Flood; E Considine, A Dalton, E Breen (capt), A-L Murphy Crowe; N Fowley, E Lane; N O’Dowd, N Jones, L Djougang; D Wall, F Tuite; E King, A Wafer, B Hogan. Reps: C Moloney, S McCarthy, A Stock, R Campbell, D Nic a Bháird, M Scuffil-McCabe, D O’Brien, E Higgins.
USA: B Mataitoga; C Emba, A Kelter, G Cantorna, L Sharp; M Hawkins, C Bargell; H Rogers, K Treder, C Jacoby; E Jarrell, H Taufoou; T Brody, K Zackary, R Johnson. Reps: P Stathopoulos, M Learned, K Mae Sagapolu, R Ehrecke, T Hann, T Tukuafu, E Henrich, T Feury.
Referee: M Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)