Ireland prevailed in this exciting and tough Pool B clash on day two of the Women’s Rugby World Cup at Surrey Sports Park.
IRB WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP: POOL B: Tuesday, August 24
IRELAND WOMEN 22 USA WOMEN 12, Surrey Sports Park
Scorers: Ireland: Joy Neville 2, Niamh Briggs, Tania Rosser; Con: Niamh Briggs
USA: Tries: Jamie Burke, Vanesha McGee; Con: Mel Kanuk
This was always going to be a key game in this pool and with Ireland having lost their opener against England, a win was very much needed to keep any hopes of a semi-final spot alive.
Despite being played at the same time as the New Zealand v Australia game, the match drew a great crowd on pitch 2 at Surrey Sports Park with good support for both sides.
The girls in green made the better start with an early run from full-back Niamh Briggs helping to set up a good position in the USA’s 22 but a solid counter ruck meant the Americans could clear under pressure.
The Irish though had the early momentum and number 8 Joy Neville’s opening try came after just six minutes as she pounced to crash over on the same day she was winning her 50th cap. The swirling wind made the conversion difficult and Briggs’s effort missed the target.
The wind was also making life hard at lineouts with both sides struggling to get the ball in straight. America were having no problems at the scrum though where they were dominant.
It was one such position that led to their first score, a super scrum setting up prop Jamie Burke to crash over under the posts. Out-half Christy Ringgenberg added the extras for a 7-5 lead.
The USA were showing their power up front, putting Ireland under some pressure, but both sides showed good attacking instincts in an action-packed first half.
A superb 50-metre dash from Briggs was a particular highlight for Ireland who looked very threatening in broken play. For the USA, number 8 Blair Groefsema caught the eye with her tenacity.
It was Briggs who brought Ireland back into the game before half-time, with a fine try after a good Irish lineout secured possession. Impressive hooker Gillian Bourke hit the ball up, releasing Briggs who outpaced USA skipper Ashley English to touch down for a 10-7 advantage at the break.
Philip Doyle’s charges came out with the strong wind at their backs and they played smart rugby in the opening 10 minutes, using the breeze to get themselves into good positions in the USA 22.
A series of lineouts were rewarded when they scored again with a excellent surge from Neville again for her second of the day. Ireland now led 15-7 but the USA were still well in the hunt.
Despite the game being tight, the Irish did superbly to secure the bonus point midway through the half. Wily scrum half Tania Rosser reacted quickly to a penalty inside the USA 22 and her pace took her to the try-line.
Briggs kicked her fist conversion of the day and suddenly Ireland led 22-7 and had wrapped up maximum points with over 20 minutes to go.
There was plenty of fight left in this USA side whose physicality up front continued to work Ireland’s forwards hard but Fiona Coghlan and her pack were tactically very sound, rarely getting involved in any skirmishes up front and moving play downfield using the strong wind as much as they could.
Replacement Phaidra Knight made a big impact for the USA when she came on at flanker and her side’s efforts were rewarded with a try from winger Vanesha McGee whose pace took her around Nora Stapleton to take the score to 22-12.
That set up an exciting finish to the game as the USA threw everything at Ireland but the girls in green managed to hold out and take what was a vital victory. They meet Kazakhstan on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 4.30pm) in their final pool game before next week’s play-offs.
Looking forward to that game, Irish coach Philip Doyle said: “The scrum was under pressure today, but the USA are a strong and heavy pack and we’re not. We know Kazakhstan are similar and so we’ll have to have a look at that and work on our scrums and hope to improve.
“But we concentrated today on rucking low and keeping the ball tight and we did it well over the course of the match.”
Acknowledging the contribution of former skipper Neville, he added: “Joy is one of the key players to be honest, and she was outstanding today, scoring two tries.
“With that very strong wind we had to play it the ‘Munster’ way and she does that brilliantly and that’s fine by me!
“She has great experience and 50 hard earned caps and I hope her family are very proud of her.”
For all the latest Women’s Rugby World Cup news, reaction and reports, visit www.scrumqueens.com.
TIME LINE: 6 minutes – Ireland try: Joy Neville – 5-0; conversion: missed by Niamh Briggs – 5-0; 17 mins – USA try: Jamie Burke – 5-5; conversion: Mel Kanuk – 5-7; 30 mins – USA yellow card: Farrah Douglas; 35 mins – Ireland try: Niamh Briggs – 10-7; conversion: missed by Niamh Briggs – 10-7; Half-time – Ireland 10 USA 7; 45 mins – Ireland try: Joy Neville – 15-7; conversion: missed by Niamh Briggs – 15-7; 53 mins – Ireland try: Tania Rosser – 20-7; conversion: Niamh Briggs – 22-7; 73 mins – USA try: Vanesha McGee – 22-12; conversion: missed by Mel Kanuk – 22-12; Full-time – Ireland 22 USA 12
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs; Amy Davis, Joanne O’Sullivan, Lynne Cantwell, Nora Stapleton; Helen Brosnan, Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan (capt), Gillian Bourke, Louise Austin, Kate O’Loughlin, Marie Louise Reilly, Orla Brennan, Claire Molloy, Joy Neville.
Replacements used: Mairead Kelly for Davis, Chris Fanning for Austin, Caroline Mahon for Reilly (all 64 mins), Shannon Houston for Brosnan (68), Sinead Ryan for Brennan (71), Louise Beamish for Rosser (74). Not used: Laura Guest.
USA WOMEN: Ashley English (capt); Vanesha McGee, Lynelle Kugler, Mel Kanuk, Victoria Folayan; Christy Ringgenberg, Claudia Knudsen-Braymer; Farrah Douglas, Maurin Wallace, Jamie Burke, Stacey Bridges, Beckett Royce, Mel Denham, Kitt Wagner, Blair Groefsema.
Replacements used: Rachel Reddick for Denham (34 mins-half-time, temp sub), Sharon Blaney for Royce (46), Rachel Reddick for Burke (50), Nathalie Marchino for Folayan (54), Phaidra Knight for Denham (64). Not used: Lisa Butts, Kim Magrini, Amy Daniels.
Referee: Sebastien Minery (France)
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