Big Win Over Brazil Earns Quarter-Final Berth For Ireland Women

Béibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe ran in two tries each as Ireland – bouncing back from two day one defeats – sealed a last-eight place as the best third place finishers across the pools.

Intriguingly, they will renew rivalries with Australia, the Pool B winners, in a mouth-watering quarter-final at 7.37pm local time/12.37pm Irish time. They ran the Australians close yesterday, losing out 19-12.

It was vital for Allan Temple-Jones’ charges to reach the quarter-final stage in Hong Kong, as Fiji and Great Britain, their two closest challengers for Olympic qualification via the World Series, are also through.

With two tournaments still to be completed, Ireland are fifth in the overall standings, with 58 points, and on course to qualify directly for Paris 2024. However, they still have work to do with Fiji on 48 points and Britain having 44.

Eve Higgins was prominent early on against Brazil, winning a turnover penalty and then spotting her chance to drive over from a ruck for the opening try, two minutes in.

Captain Lucy Mulhall converted from the right and led by example with her tackling to keep Brazil, including the dangerous Thalia Costa, pinned back inside their own half.

Reacting quickest to a Brazilian knock-on, Emily Lane flicked a lovely pass over the top for Parsons to open her Hong Kong account. That left Ireland to take a 12-0 lead into the break.

A strong Higgins carry laid the foundations for Murphy Crowe’s ninth-minute try, the Tipperary speedster bursting through two tackles to extend the advantage. Mulhall added a classy conversion from out wide.

The greasy ball and soft underfoot conditions were proving problematic for Brazil, with Ireland hounding them into conceding a five-metre scrum. Lane and Mulhall duly combined to send Murphy Crowe over in the left corner.

Aline Ribeiro saw yellow for falling to roll away after a Parsons interception inside the Brazilian 22, and scrum half Lane scored from the tapped penalty to make it 29-0.

Ireland’s bench was emptied for the closing stages and their push to improve their scoring difference ended with a sixth try. Mulhall invited Parsons forward and she got away from Gabriela Lima on the outside to complete her brace.

Beibhinn Parsons' pace seals the final try in a confident win for @IrishRugby 💪#HSBC7s | #HK7s pic.twitter.com/DsDDQUaUdR

— World Rugby 7s (@WorldRugby7s) April 1, 2023

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Squad (Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Hong Kong Stadium, Friday, March 31-Sunday, April 2, 2023):

IRELAND WOMEN’S SEVENS Schedule – Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens:

Friday, March 31 –

POOL B:

FIJI 17 IRELAND 7, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Fiji: Tries: Raijieli Daveua, Meredani Qoro, Younis Bese; Con: Ana Maria Naimasi
Ireland: Try: Stacey Flood; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: Fiji 0 Ireland 7

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Erin King, Megan Burns. Not used: Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

AUSTRALIA 19 IRELAND 12, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Australia: Tries: Faith Nathan, Teagan Levi, Charlotte Caslick; Cons: Teagan Levi 2
Ireland: Tries: Kathy Baker, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Con: Lucy Mulhall
HT: Australia 19 Ireland 7

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Erin King. Not used: Megan Burns, Claire Boles, Kate Farrell McCabe, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

Day 1 Round-Up: Ireland Women Face Battle To Reach Hong Kong’s Last-Eight

Saturday, April 1 –

POOL B:

IRELAND 34 BRAZIL 0, Hong Kong Stadium
Scorers: Ireland: Tries: Eve Higgins, Béibhinn Parsons 2, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe 2, Emily Lane; Cons: Lucy Mulhall 2
Brazil: –
HT: Ireland 12 Brazil 0

Team: Stacey Flood, Kathy Baker, Béibhinn Parsons, Emily Lane, Lucy Mulhall (capt), Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe.

Subs used: Claire Boles, Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Kate Farrell McCabe, Erin King, Megan Burns.

CUP QUARTER-FINAL:

AUSTRALIA v IRELAND, Hong Kong Stadium, 7.37pm local time/12.37pm Irish time

Sunday, April 2 –

PLAY-OFFS