RUGBY
Ireland unconvincing in early World Cup victories
By Daire Walsh
IT’S a case of a lot done, more to do for Ireland in the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, after they secured narrow victories over Australia and Japan in Pool C of the tournament in the past week.
The expectations surrounding this Irish team are quite high, and they entered their competition opener against Australia at the UCD Bowl on Wednesday evening as firm favourites. Though original captain Niamh Briggs was ruled out of the squad because of injury, it was a vastly experienced Ireland squad that took to the Belfield pitch for a meeting with the Wallaroos.
Kilcullen’s Jenny Murphy was named alongside Sene Naoupu in the Irish midfield, and she delivered an all-action display during the opening period of a tightly-contested affair. Murphy was inches short of the Australian line with a powerful surge, but when the play was switched towards the right of the post, scrum-half Larissa Muldoon was on hand to cross over.
This was followed by a conversion from Nora Stapleton, before Australia responded with a well-worked five-pointer by Mahalia Murphy. A missed bonus kick from Samantha Treherne meant that Ireland held onto a slender 7-5 lead at the interval, but the southern hemisphere outfit moved into the ascendancy with a Shannon Parry try after the restart.
This threw down the gauntlet to Ireland, but with Ciara Griffin and Sophie Spence making considerable impacts from the bench, they regained control of the tie. They claimed much-needed touchdowns in the final-quarter, and even though Hilisha Samoa’s try set up a tense finale, Ireland ultimately claimed a 19-17 triumph.
With so much pressure on the squad, it was vital for Ireland to get off to a winning start, and it was anticipated that they would also overcome the challenge of Japan in the same venue on Sunday.
The Japanese had suffered a heavy defeat to France four days earlier, but thanks to a penalty try and a seven-point salvo from full-back Mayu Shimizu, they brought a shock 14-0 cushion into the break.
Ireland coach Tom Tierney had made a total of seven changes to his starting line-up for this game (Murphy was rested after picking up a knock against Australia), but by the start of the second period, Ailis Egan, Leah Lyons, Ruth O’Reilly and Paula Fitzpatrick had all been introduced as replacements.
This certainly made the hosts a more formidable proposition, and despite losing Katie Fitzhenry to the sin-bin, Alison Miller opened her side’s account with a clinical try that was converted by Stapleton.
Slowly but surely, Ireland were starting to get on top of their opponents, and Fitzpatrick finished off a superb maul in the 63rd-minute. Another Stapleton bonus effort was supplemented by a penalty from the Donegal native, as the Green Army hit the front for the very first time.
A second Fitzpatrick try helped Ireland to claim a hard-earned 24-14 win, but big improvements will be needed ahead of their final pool game with France on Thursday.