The Jack Hanratty derby caused an upset victory for the Irish coach’s newly-adopted nation, the USA securing an upset victory over Eire in Dublin’s Tallaght Stadium.
Eire initially appeared the stronger of the 2 sides, a slick first half attacking show constructing an early lead as Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Wafer and Eve Higgins all scored.
Nevertheless, the specter of the USA’s rumbling maul was by no means distant. Two forward-dominated scores saved them in contact on the break earlier than the set-piece took over the competition, America powering their approach in the direction of the road at will to safe victory.
For the USA, it’s an enormous outcome that continues to construct religion within the Hanratty mission. For Eire, it’s a harmful defeat that can result in troublesome discussions forward of their date with Japan subsequent weekend.
Weekend of the underdogs
This was oh so almost the weekend of upsets within the international sport. Canada got here near breaking the Purple Roses’ unbeaten run with their memorable draw, whereas Australia fell simply quick in opposition to a heavily-favoured France.
Come Sunday, the underdog lastly had their day, the USA beautiful Eire on their very own patch.
Initially, this outcome didn’t look on the playing cards, Eire incomes a 24-12 half-time lead that appeared prefer it might spiral into additional scoreboard dominance. Nevertheless, the Eagles turned to the facility sport after the break, scoring 4 tries [three while Elmes Kinlan was in the sin bin] within the second half to safe a memorable victory.
To see the favourites being harassed throughout this weekend of WXV World Sequence motion was one factor. To then have a house aspect succumb to a staff that, on paper, shouldn’t be victorious is one other fully.
Too early to say that such a run of outcomes is sweet for the worldwide sport, that the hole between nations is shrinking? Maybe.
However the final 48 hours will give loads of groups hope that they’ll climb up the rankings. All whereas reminding the so-called ‘higher’ nations of the calibre of sides chasing them.
Rumbling USA
Within the first half, the USA appeared able to taking pictures themselves within the foot at any stage. Hann Humphreys thought she had scored when she was solely on the five-metre line. Bella Vogel struggled together with her restarts, providing Eire straightforward ball again and again. Dealing with errors had been distinguished.
How did the Eagles power their approach again into the competition after the break? Energy. Eire merely couldn’t take care of the rolling maul.
Each of the first-half American scores got here largely because of the set-piece, robust drives culminating in Georgie Perris-Redding and Hope Rogers crossing. After the break, the USA doubled down, incomes extra possession and alternatives contained in the 22 the place the maul might wreak havoc.
Eire might by no means adapt. Hooker Kathryn Treder and lock Hallie Taufoou benefited from the mauling dominance, placing the USA into the lead on the 70-minute mark. With Eire down a participant to the bin and denied the required possession to work their approach again into the sport, the USA powered on.
Freda Tafuna sealed a well-known victory with a rampaging run by a drained defence, handing Hanratty and co a memorable scalp over the nation of his delivery.
Story of two Irish halves
Probably the most weird facet of Eire’s implosion was the standard of their first half show.
The final time we noticed Eire, they put in arguably their greatest attacking show of the Scott Bemand period. Within the Guinness Girls’s Six Nations finale in opposition to Scotland, their efficiency featured slick dealing with, tempo on the ball and accuracy. Over three months on, would they be capable to construct on such a show?
Within the first half, the reply was within the affirmative. Eire’s skillset was mighty spectacular. Scrum-half Emily Lane supplied lightning service whereas forwards and backs linked with tip-ons and pullback passes. Offloads had been in respectable provide.
Eve Higgins was distinguished in a lot of what was good about Eire’s assault, making a collection of breaks alongside a number of good choices on when to move or maintain onto the ball.
The spotlight second for Eire, although, was Elmes Kinlan’s opening rating. It got here from a set play, one that’s steeped in Irish rugby folklore.
A ahead, on this case Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, dummies the ball out the again earlier than firing an inside move to a again working near the unique ruck. Stacey Flood took the move, bursting into area earlier than throwing a stunning ball to Elmes Kinlan for the rating.
Leinster used that transfer of their notorious Heineken Cup semi-final win over Clermont in 2012. Eire males used a variation of the identical play in opposition to France in 2023 and South Africa 2024. Now, in 2026, the ladies added their model of a transfer greater than acquainted to Irish followers.
Within the second half, although, all that innovation, accuracy and talent disappeared in a maelstrom of mauling American limbs. Eire couldn’t get sufficient possession and, after they did, errors ruined their momentum.
The much-needed bench affect by no means got here – Bemand not utilizing three of the replacements obtainable to him – the Eagles maybe exhibiting off a extra battle-hardened edge given they’ve had extra worldwide motion in latest instances than their hosts.
Eire did safe an Eightieth-minute strive from Erin King to make it a one-score sport earlier than the ultimate whistle might sound however it proved mere comfort.
After a interval of positivity since final 12 months’s Girls’s Rugby World Cup, Eire have been dealt a critical setback, struggling their first actual upset defeat in a while.
