Written by Lachlan Grey and Nathan Williamson on Sep 14, 2024 02:55 PM, courtesy of rugby.com.au. Source article.
Ireland have proved their class with a strong 36-10 victory over the Wallaroos in Belfast.
The Irish showed the form that got them into WXV 1 as they crossed for six tries in the victory.
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Maya Stewart got Australia on the board early before the clinical Irish took advantage of their mistakes to run away with the match.
Player of the match Aoife Wafer was the main destroyer as the flanker crossed for a double in their first clash outside of a World Cup.
The game started at breakneck speed as both teams traded early tries in the opening quarter.
Ireland opened the scoring through backrower Aoife Dalton after early pressure from the Irish got them inside the Australians’ 22.
The Wallaroos were eager to get the returning Maya Stewart into the game early and it paid off with their opening try.
The winger stepped back inside and beat a couple of defenders to answer straight back for the Australians.
Ireland quickly restored the lead when Aoife Wafer capitalised on a blindside shift to dive over.
From here, Ireland controlled territory as the Australians struggled to exit their half.
The hosts had just under 70% territory in the first half but the Wallaroos’ defence held strong and eventually worked their way back onto the Irish goal-line thanks to their relentless pressure.
However, they let up an easy five-pointer right on half-time when a loose ball was pounced on by Eimear Considine, toeing ahead and diving over for the try.
The Irish fullback was mobbed by her teammates after scoring on her return from giving birth as the hosts went into the break with a 17-5 lead.
The Australians went back on the attack after the break but unforced errors derailed their attack as they started to build momentum.
Ireland took advantage of the mistakes and worked their way back down the field, with Sevens star Eve Higgins extending their advantage just before the half hour mark.
With momentum on their side, Ireland continued to pile on the pressure and Linda Djougang looked to have added to the lead, only for a clear knock-on at the preceding scrum to bring it back.
They couldn’t be denied a minute later as Wafer added her second after some great hands from Stacey Flood and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe put the flanker into space.
Stewart crossed for her second for a consolation try with seven minutes to go, however, it was all Ireland as hooker Clíodhna Moloney powered over at the back of the maul with the final play of the game.
“We’re still building a new team and combination. We’re just still trying to work on that connection at the moment,” captain Siokapesi Palu said.
“Our attacking breakdown needs to improve because we can’t unleash our backline without securing that ball.
“We’re still building and there were positives in how we’re scanning. The next part is just the execution of it.”
Ireland 36 ( Tries: Wafer 2, Dalton, Considine, Moloney, Higgins; Cons: Breen 2, O’Brien) def Wallaroos 10 ( Tries: Stewart 2)
WALLAROOS v IRELAND TEAMS
WALLAROOS (15-1): Lori Cramer, Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Cecilia Smith, Desiree Miller, Faitala Moleka, Natalie Wright, Tabua Tuinakauvadra, Leilani Nathan, Siokapesi Palu (c), Michaela Leonard, Kaitlan Leaney, Eva Karpani, Ashley Marsters, Bridie O’Gorman
Replacements: Tiarna Molloy, Alapeta Ngauamo, Lydia Kavoa, Tiarah Minns, Lucy Dinnen, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Biola Dawa
IRELAND (15-1): Eimear Considine; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Dannah O’Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Brittany Hogan, Edel McMahon (c), Aoife Wafer, Ruth Campbell, Dorothy Wall, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd
Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Erin King, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood
Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
AR: Maria Heitor (Portugal)
AR: Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)
