Breakdown failing costs us, says Irish boss Griggs
Women’s International Test
Ireland 10
USA 19
Daire Walsh,
Energia Park
IRELAND Women’s head coach Adam Griggs pinpointed a lack of cohesion around the breakdown as a key factor in his side’s defeat to the USA at Energia Park yesterday.
Despite tries in each half through UL Bohemian wingers Laura Sheehan and Eimear Considine, the hosts came off second best. “We base our game off trying to play with tempo and getting good, quick ball but around the breakdown, we didn’t create the ball we wanted to actually use. Over the 80 minutes, it just wasn’t up to scratch.”
Following a quick tap and go by Carly Waters on 13 minutes, Kate Zackary off-loaded to Kimber Rozier for a superb USA try. This was a significant set-back for the hosts, who lost Ciara Cooney to a suspected dislocated shoulder on 32 minutes.
In her absence, Kaitlyn Broughton crossed over for a second USA try.
It was a frustrating opening period for Ireland, though Sheehan marked her own debut with an outstanding individual try, reducing the deficit to 12-5 at the break. But visitors continued to create the greater attacking inroads on the resumption, and were rewarded with a Meza Bizer score on the hour mark.
In an attempt to address the growing gulf between the teams, Ireland unloaded their replacements bench inside the final quarter.
Ballinasloe’s Beibhinn Parsons was one of the players introduced during this period with the 16-year-old becoming Ireland’s youngest senior women’s international. The Ardscoil Mhuire student was held up just shy of the line at the end of an explosive break, but Ireland’s patience finally paid dividends in the shape of Considine’s consolation effort on the stroke of full-time.
Ahead of a daunting encounter with England away on Saturday, Griggs is hopeful his charges can bounce back.
“I just think we need to be more consistent with what we’re doing. As I’ve mentioned already, we have to bring a bigger physicality. England aren’t going to lie down at Twickenham. We’re going to have to make sure we’re really up for that.”
Scorers for Ireland: L Sheehan, E Considine try each.
Scorers for USA: K Rozier try, 2 cons, K Broughton, M Bizer try each.
IRELAND: L Delany; E Considine, S Naoupu, M Claffey, L Sheehan; N Caughey, A Hughes; L Peat, S Mimnagh, F Reidy; A McDermott, C Cooney; E McMahon, C Molloy, C Griffin.
Replacements: N Fryday for Cooney (32), N Cronin for Hughes (46), E Hooban for Mimnagh, L Lyons for Reidy (both 56), J Deacon for McMahon (58), B Parsons for Delany, C McLaughlin for Caughey, L Feely for Peat (all 73).
USA: K Broughton; K Stockert, M Bizer, K Rozier, J Duncan; G Cantorna, C Waters; C Benson, K Augustyn, N James; S Bridges, K Sommer; R Johnson, K Zackary, J Gray-Matyas.
Replacements: M Hawkins for Cantorna (56), T A’au for Augustyn, J Taufa for Sommer (both 61), A Nalbandian for James (69), A Washington for Gray-Matyas (74).
Referee: R Mahoney (New Zealand).