The Ireland Women (sponsored by TritonLake) have powered into their third consecutive HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series semi-final with a superb 26-12 victory over Fiji in Sydney.
Aiden McNulty's side were backed by a huge Irish crowd at Allianz Stadium and after safely progressing through their pool with wins over Spain and Brazil, they produced a clinical performance to reach Sunday's last-four.
Despite falling behind to Fiji during the first half, Ireland's composure and skill level came to the fore as they hit back through captain Lucy Mulhall and then Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, who had sat out the pool stages.
Leading 12-5 at half-time, the girls in green extended their lead on the restart when Murphy Crowe doubled her tally with a lethal long-range finish. The win was sealed when Eve Higgins crashed over in the 12th minute.
McNulty's charges will face New Zealand, the title winners in both Cape Town and Hamilton, in tomorrow's Sydney Sevens semi-final shoot-out (kick-off 3.44pm local time/4.44am Irish time).
Kathy Baker burst through into Fiji's 22 to give Ireland the early momentum in the Cup quarter-final. Higgins was bundled into touch, though, and the Fijians showed how deadly they can be from deep.
Reapi Ulunisau offloaded brilliantly out of a tackle inside her own 22, releasing Younis Bese to go streaking clear up the right and score despite Murphy Crowe's determined chase.
Ireland responded impressively to take a 12-5 half-time lead, their first try coming from Mulhall who scampered in behind the posts after Béibhinn Parsons had won a turnover penalty from Stacey Flood's initial cross-field kick.
Following the skipper's conversion, Flood won the restart and Fiji's indiscipline was punished when Mulhall carried up close, Higgins took a quick tap and linked with Flood who sent Murphy Crowe over in the right corner.
The Tipperary native added her second try just barely a minute into the second half. She cut in from the left, a terrific burst of pace taking her past halfway and in between two defenders to push the margin out to 14 points.
Parsons showed her tenacity in defence, hunting down Ivamere Nabura to win a penalty, before Bese denied the newly-introduced Kate Farrell McCabe a certain try with a cracking cover tackle.
Fiji's lineout malfunctioned five metres out, however, and Higgins gleefully gobbled up possession at the rear to score Ireland's fourth try from close range. Mulhall tagged on her third conversion.
It was Fiji who finished out the scoring, a late rally producing a fine score for Ana Maria Naimasi who was on the end of a fast-paced breakout. Yet, time was on Ireland's side and they had done enough to book their semi-final spot.
Earlier in the day, Ireland lost their Pool C showdown with Australia who scored four unanswered second half tries to run out 43-7 winners in front of their home crowd.
Things were a lot tighter in the first half, but breakaway scores from Faith Nathan and Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, combined with Charlotte Caslick's opener from a Madison Ashby offload, had the hosts leading 19-7.
Flood and the impressive Higgins had some good runs, and the latter deservedly got Ireland off the mark in a frantic finish to the first half. Megan Burns weaved up close to the posts before Higgins spun out a tackle to score.
The Mulhall-converted try kept Ireland in the hunt until Maddison Levi and Caslick effectively put Australia out of reach by the 10th minute. Again turnovers proved costly for McNulty's charges.
Emily Lane, who fought hard to win a penalty at the breakdown, and the hard-carrying Claire Boles gained ground for Ireland, but Australia put together two late tries from the right wing, run in by Teagan Levi and replacement Sariah Paki.
Mulhall and her team-mates are currently fourth in the overall World Series standings as the race to qualify for Paris 2024 intensifies. The top four teams on the World Series automatically book their tickets for the Olympics.
You can watch all the World Series action live on the World Rugby Sevens website, while there will be updates across Irish Rugby social channels and reports here on IrishRugby.ie.
Reapi Ulunisau offloaded brilliantly out of a tackle inside her own 22, releasing Younis Bese to go streaking clear up the right and score despite Murphy Crowe's determined chase.
Ireland responded impressively to take a 12-5 half-time lead, their first try coming from Mulhall who scampered in behind the posts after Béibhinn Parsons had won a turnover penalty from Stacey Flood's initial cross-field kick.
Following the skipper's conversion, Flood won the restart and Fiji's indiscipline was punished when Mulhall carried up close, Higgins took a quick tap and linked with Flood who sent Murphy Crowe over in the right corner.
The Tipperary native added her second try just barely a minute into the second half. She cut in from the left, a terrific burst of pace taking her past halfway and in between two defenders to push the margin out to 14 points.
Parsons showed her tenacity in defence, hunting down Ivamere Nabura to win a penalty, before Bese denied the newly-introduced Kate Farrell McCabe a certain try with a cracking cover tackle.
Fiji's lineout malfunctioned five metres out, however, and Higgins gleefully gobbled up possession at the rear to score Ireland's fourth try from close range. Mulhall tagged on her third conversion.
It was Fiji who finished out the scoring, a late rally producing a fine score for Ana Maria Naimasi who was on the end of a fast-paced breakout. Yet, time was on Ireland's side and they had done enough to book their semi-final spot.
Earlier in the day, Ireland lost their Pool C showdown with Australia who scored four unanswered second half tries to run out 43-7 winners in front of their home crowd.
Things were a lot tighter in the first half, but breakaway scores from Faith Nathan and Alysia Lefau-Fakaosilea, combined with Charlotte Caslick's opener from a Madison Ashby offload, had the hosts leading 19-7.
Flood and the impressive Higgins had some good runs, and the latter deservedly got Ireland off the mark in a frantic finish to the first half. Megan Burns weaved up close to the posts before Higgins spun out a tackle to score.
The Mulhall-converted try kept Ireland in the hunt until Maddison Levi and Caslick effectively put Australia out of reach by the 10th minute. Again turnovers proved costly for McNulty's charges.
Emily Lane, who fought hard to win a penalty at the breakdown, and the hard-carrying Claire Boles gained ground for Ireland, but Australia put together two late tries from the right wing, run in by Teagan Levi and replacement Sariah Paki.
Mulhall and her team-mates are currently fourth in the overall World Series standings as the race to qualify for Paris 2024 intensifies. The top four teams on the World Series automatically book their tickets for the Olympics.
You can watch all the World Series action live on the World Rugby Sevens website, while there will be updates across Irish Rugby social channels and reports here on IrishRugby.ie.