WXV 3: Fiji, Ireland kick-off tournament in style

Fiji and Ireland recorded comfortable bonus-point victories as WXV 3 got underway at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai on Friday.

Sulita Waisega and Vani Arei both crossed the whistewash twice as Fijiana opened their campaign in Dubai with an 11-try win against Colombia.

Mereoni Nakesa, Ana Korovata, Luisa Tisolo – who finished the match with 17 points – Karalaini Naisewa, Adita Milinia, Merewairita Neivosa and Merewai Cumu also touched down during the 67-13 win.

Colombia full-back Maria I. Arzuaga struck eight points with the boot, while Las Tucanes captain Camila Lopera scored a late consolation try at The Sevens Stadium.

In Friday’s second match, Eve Higgins and Beibhinn Parsons each crossed the whitewash four times to help Ireland to a 109-0 defeat of Kazakhstan.

The opening round concludes on Saturday when Spain take on Kenya (kick-off 17:00 local time, GMT+4).

Ireland 109-0 Kazakhstan

In a game that demonstrated just how important WXV is to women’s rugby, Ireland – reinforced by their sevens stars – recorded their first win of 2023, while Kazakhstan may not have scored, but will have learned a lot from the chance to face quality opponents.

It took less than two minutes for tight-head prop Christy Haney to open the scoring for Ireland. Meabh Deely flew down the left wing to add a second, before Higgins added a third with a mazy run of her own with 16 minutes on the clock.

A period of sustained Irish pressure, including complete domination at the breakdown led to a fourth try, loose-head prop Linda Djougang powering over the line.

It took 13 minutes for their next points, courtesy of Parsons dancing through the opposing defence to dot down. A failed rolling maul created space for Higgins to add a second, with Leinster scrum-half Molly Scuffil-McCabe and flanker Grace Moore also scoring. Dannah Kearney O'Brien landed 5 conversions to put the Irish team 50 points up at half-time.

Kazakhstan captain Karina Sazontova led by example, hitting rucks and defending tenaciously, but as her team enjoyed a brief period of possession early in the second half she hit Edel McMahon with a dangerous tackle and was shown a yellow card.

Ireland, who adapted better to the stifling Dubai evening than their opponents, capitalised on their numerical advantage with Higgins’ hat-trick try, maintaining their intensity as their blue shirted opponents started to flag.

Aoife Dalton was the next Irish player to cross the try-line and the conversion from replacement fly-half Nicole Fowley was perfectly struck. Minutes later Parsons added her second try.

A second yellow card for Kazakhstan – Anna Chebotar with a high tackle – meant her team failed to benefit from their captain’s return to the field and Brittany Hogan exploited the space in the defensive line to add to the Irish lead.

A hat-trick ty for Parsons, a second for Dalton, Parsons again, a rolling maul that gave 18-year-old Sarah Delaney her first try, and a fourth for Higgins would carry Ireland over the 100-point mark.

Ireland will look to ride their momentum and secure another strong win against Colombia next Saturday, while Kazakhstan will hope they can reverse their fortunes when they take on Kenya in seven days.

Fiji 67-13 Colombia

In a first-ever meeting between the two sides, Fijiana took the lead inside the opening five minutes with second-row Nakesa crashing over after breaking the Colombian tackles.

Despite the early setback, Colombia grew into the game but four tries in the second quarter took the contest away from the South American side.

First, flanker Waisega powered over from close range for the first of her two tries before some fluid link-up play with captain Sereima Leweniqila sent centre Arei over for the first of her brace. Tisolo added the extras for her third successful conversion.

Arzuraga narrowed the gap with a penalty on 30 minutes, but Fijiana’s lead was widened when they utilised their dominant forward pack with Korovata finding the try-line despite the best efforts of Colombia’s defence.

Full-back Tisolo added a try to her points tally before half-time showing pace to break down the wing and cross for her side's fifth of the half.

Fijiana added their sixth try just three minutes into the second half when tight-head prop Naisewa showed her pace to race in from just inside the 22.

The pace and flair of Fiji continued to trouble Colombia, but it was their forward pack that troubled the scoreboard with Waisega securing her brace from the back of a driving maul.

Milinia added her side's seventh of the game after the winger collected a perfectly weighted chip from full-back Tisolo who continued to shine.

Tisolo was then shown a yellow card for a high tackle, with Arzuaga deciding to add a second Colombian penalty.

Fijiana managed the player deficit outstandingly with no scores added while Tisolo was off the pitch and crossed the line again themselves when Arei added her second try of the game.

More slick handling from the Fiji back-line sent Neivosa hurtling towards the try-line for her side's 10th of the game.

Despite the widening deficit, Colombia continued to push and they were rewarded with a try as Lopera collected a clever grubber kick through to score with Arzuaga adding the conversion from an impressive angle.

And as the game ticked slowly towards the final whistle, Fiji rounded off their victory with Cumu capitalising on a Colombia error to cross for her side's 11th try of the encounter.