2017 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP: 5TH-8TH PLACE PLAY-OFF
IRELAND 24
AUSTRALIA 36
By Daire Walsh
There was further disappointment for Ireland at the Women’s Rugby World Cup on Tuesday afternoon, when they were defeated by Australia in a 5th Place Play-off at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.
Following the crushing disappointment of their Pool C defeat to France last Thursday evening – which ended their hopes of reaching the semi-final of the tournament – Ireland began the Belfast leg of the World Cup in somewhat subdued fashion.
Their sixth-placed finish in the rankings (they had the lowest points tally of the pool runner-ups) meant that they were paired with Australia at the beginning of a hectic day in the home of Ulster Rugby.
Ireland had kick-started the competition with a narrow win over Australia just under a fortnight ago, and they retained 11 of their starting line-up from that game for this re-match between the two nations.
However, after appearing from the bench against Japan and France, Louise Galvin made her first start at international 15s level on the right-wing. Galvin had been uncapped in the 15s grade prior to the tournament, but she was drafted in as an 11th hour replacement for her UL Bohemians team-mate Niamh Briggs.
Another UL star, Nicole Cronin, was thrown in at the deep end for her own competitive bow against Japan, but following a brace of impressive displays at scrum-half, she was once again selected alongside Nora Stapleton.
Connacht prop Ruth O’Reilly featured from the bench in the French game, but with a back injury forcing her out of the second part of the tournament, Ulster’s Ilse van Staden was drafted into the replacements for this encounter.
Along with Larissa Muldoon and Claire McLaughlin, van Staden was one of three Ulster players amongst the Irish reserves. However, even though there was no active player from the northern province in the starting team, it was undoubtedly a special occasion for Donegal native Stapleton – who was one of seven Old Belvedere/Leinster players in the matchday squad.
Following their opening day defeat to Ireland, Australia suffered a comprehensive reversal at the hands of France. However, thanks to a 29-15 success at the expense of Japan in their final pool game, they were confident of gaining revenge on Ireland in the Ravenhill venue.
Indeed, early pressure paid off for the Wallaroos, as they broke the deadlock with just under eight minutes gone on the clock. Paul Verell’s charges moved the ball effectively across the Irish line, and centre Sharni Williams (who captained the visitors in the absence of Shannon Parry) raced over on the left-hand side after spotting a gap inside the Irish ’22’.
Fly-half Ashleigh Hewson was off-target with her opening effort from the kicking tee, but considering how long it took them to settle into their tests with Japan and France, it was worrying that Ireland had once again allowed their opponents to take control of the early exchanges.
Yet, Ireland did respond well to the concession of this early score, and only a knock-on halted Lindsay Peat’s quest to restore parity in the 12th-minute. A series of attacking mauls by Ireland kept Australia pinned back inside their own half, however, and Ailis Egan was on hand to supply the finishing touches to a lengthy move on the right-flank.
This try was supplemented by a conversion from Stapleton, and though this was a slender lead, Ireland soon create further daylight between themselves and their southern hemisphere counterparts.
Alison Miller was picked out in space by a superb Jenny Murphy crossfield pass, and the Laois native skipped past a number of defensive challenges before crossing over the whitewash. Stapleton was wide of the mark from a tricky bonus effort, but as the half was developing, there was certainly a number of positive signs in the Ireland performance.
Unfortunately for them, Australia continued to threaten for scores each time they broke inside the opposing 22-metre-line, and the Ireland scrum had to work extremely hard to hold out a surge towards the line on 28 minutes.
This was only a temporary respite for the Green Army, and after the play was switched to a central position from the resulting scrum, Sarah Riordan joined her midfield partner on the scoresheet with a converted five-pointer underneath the posts.
The sides were now back on level terms (12-12), and heading towards the interval, it was Australia who were showing the greater intent. Another forceful drive in the 34th-minute put Ireland on the back-foot once more, and despite being under considerable pressure, Hilisha Samoa secured a third try for her side.
A second successful conversion followed from Hewson, and as a result, Ireland were facing into a seven-point deficit (12-19) at the midway point. This left Ireland in a precarious position in front of an enthusiastic crowd, and with skipper Claire Molloy and Murphy replaced through injury in the opening period, it was going to take another huge second-half effort if Ireland were to turn this game around.
They had set a strong tempo in the third-quarter of each of their pool games, but on this occasion, it was Australia who made all the inroads after the restart. There was a physical edge to the Australian play throughout the contest, and another Wallaroos forward claimed a try against an Irish defence that was becoming increasingly loose.
The TMO was consulted when blindside flanker Millie Boyle attempted to ground in the right-corner, and in spite of the groans from the home supporters, referee Ian Tempest raised his hand for another Australian five-pointer.
Hewson split the posts from her fourth kick of the day, and courtesy of her routine penalty just before the hour mark, she helped Australia to create a seemingly-insurmountable cushion. Ireland introduced the likes of Sophie Spence, Katie Fitzhenry and van Staden in an attempt to add some kind of order to their play (Anna Caplice and Claire McLaughlin had deputised for Molloy and Murphy in the first-half), but Australia proved to be relentless in their search for additional scores.
Mahalia Murphy had scored in their opening game of the tournament, and she burst through for an excellent individual finish 16 minutes from the end of the action. Hewson brought her personal haul up to 11 points with another bonus strike, and it was fast becoming a damage limitation exercise for Ireland.
Their most sustained spell of possession came in the closing 10 minutes – when Australia admittedly took their foot off the gas – and it was no surprise that they were able to add some degree of respectability to the final scoreline in this juncture.
Sophie Spence registered her second try of the tournament on 74 minutes, when Ireland were able to drive at Australia for the first time in the half. The Old Belvedere lock drove over in clinical fashion, and from their final attack of the game, Ireland came away with their fourth try.
Paula Fitzpatrick stood in as captain following Molloy’s withdrawal, and she brought her try tally in the competition up to three with a fine score on the left-hand side. Hannah Tyrrell had missed an earlier conversion, but she did bring the curtain down on the tie with a sweet left-footed strike on the stroke of 80 minutes.
This was another under-par display for Ireland to dwell on, but they will have to dust themselves down for a seventh/eighth place play-off against either Canada or Wales on Saturday.
Scorers for Ireland: Ailis Egan, Alison Miller, Sophie Spence, Paula Fitzpatrick try each, Nora Stapleton, Hannah Tyrrell conversion each.
Scorers for Australia: Sharni Williams, Sarah Riordan, Hilisha Samoa, Millie Boyle, Mahalia Murphy try each, Ashleigh Hewson pen, 4 cons.
IRELAND: Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Harlequins), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) (capt), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster).
Replacements: Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Ulster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster).
AUSTRALIA: Samantha Treherne (Queensland/Sunnybank); Nareta Marsters (Queensland/Sunnybank), Sarah Riordan (Australian Defence Force/Victoria/Melbourne Unicorns), Sharni Williams (Australia Sevens/ACT/Canberra Royals) (capt), Mahalia Murphy (Australia Sevens/NSW/Campbell Town); Ashleigh Hewson (Sydney/Sydney University), Katrina Barker (NSW Country/Newcastle University); Liz Patu (Queensland/Wests), Cheyenne Campbell (Queensland/Redlands), Hilisha Samoa (Queensland/Brothers), Alisha Hewett (Australian Defence Force/Queensland/GPS), Rebecca Clough (Western Australia/Cottesloe), Millie Boyle (ACT/Canberra Royals), Chloe Butler (South Australia/Parramatta), Grace Hamilton (Sydney/Sydney University).
Replacements: Emily Robinson (Sydney/Warringah), Violeta Tupuola (ACT/Royals), Hana Ngaha (Queensland/Sunnybank), Mollie Gray (Australian Defence Force/NSW/Maitland), Kate Brown (ACT/Tuggeranong Vikings), Fenella Hake (Queensland/Redlands), Kayla Sauvao (Sydney/Parramatta), Trilleen Pomare (Western Australia/Wanneroo).
Referee: Ian Tempest (England).