Ireland produced an incredible first half performance against reigning champions England, scoring the opening try and frustrating the opposition at breakdown frequently.
It wasn’t enough as England retaliated to lead 5-7 at half time. The Red Roses were dominant at scrum time and a yellow card for Niamh O’Dowd allowed the visitors to extend their lead with two more tries. Thereafter they showed just why they are Championship favourites as they exploited every gap.
In the end it finished Ireland 5 England 49
Speed of thought and feet from Jess Breach almost saw the Red Roses winger score a try after fewer than 30 seconds of the second half, but the TMO chalked it off for a foot in touch. Still, you wondered what was said by England’s coaches just minutes prior.
A real testing moment for Ireland came with the sin-binning of their loosehead, Niamh O’Dowd, after repeat offences at the scrum.After Ellie Kildunne had knocked on in the Irish in-goal area, England waited patiently until the 48th minute for Zoe Harrison to cut through the diminished green wall – converting her own effort for a nine-point lead: 5-14.
England had found their groove, and next up it was Dow sprinting down her right wing before finding Meg Jones on the inside for the centre to score. Harrison converted: 5-21.
There is very little more costly against the Red Roses than a sin-binning, it seems, and replacement prop Sarah Bern underlined that when she powered over for England’s fourth and bonus-point try, before scoring a similarly muscular effort before 70 minutes were on the clock. Talk about a finisher.
Kildunne then became the leading try-scorer in this year’s Championship, simply unstoppable as she evaded multiple Irish defenders after receiving the ball outside the Irish 22 to cross for the fourth time this campaign. Harrison knocked over the conversion to make it 35 unanswered points for England in the second half.
Not content to watch fellow replacement front rower Bern score, hooker Kelsey Clifford did likewise for her first Test try on the day of her eleventh cap. Another sub, Holly Aitchison, added the extras: 5-49.
After a decade of waiting for a win against England, the wait continues for Ireland. If there was any consolation for Scott Bemand’s side, it was today’s vast improvement on their last encounter with the Red Roses: an 88-10 defeat at Allianz Stadium.
England will rue their lacklustre first half, no doubt, but as they grew into the match they showed how hard they are to live with over 80 minutes. A winning quality indeed.
Guinness Player of the Match: Maud Muir (England)
