Almost 8000 fans were at Virgin Media Park in Cork, in what is a record for a standalone women's match in Ireland – and a thoroughly entertaining match it was too.
That it could have the makings of a close encounter was apparent in the first quarter. Not a point was scored between the sides, England made few forays into the Irish 22, and the tackles were thunderous. The question was whether underdogs Ireland could maintain that defiance for a further 60 minutes.
While defence had been Ireland’s strength in the first 20 minutes, four minutes into the second quarter it was their improvisational attack that caused shockwaves. After reclaiming their own overthrown lineout ball, quick-thinking fly-half Dannah O’Brien put in a kick over the top that resulted in a footrace between the retreating Abby Dow and opposite winger Amee-Leigh Costigan.
When Costigan won said race, and by some margin, she touched the ball down to become the first Ireland player to bag a try against England in six-and-a-half years. If the women in green had the time to do so against such dangerous opposition, they could have dared to dream: 5-0.
England weren’t following the script, and in the 34th minute, they utilised their maul strength for Morwenna Talling to ground the ball. A simple conversion from Zoe Harrison then gave them the lead, 5-7, which Ireland were content to allow them going into the half-time break.
Speed of thought and feet from Jess Breach almost saw the Red Roses winger score a try after fewer than 30 seconds of the second half, but the TMO chalked it off for a foot in touch. Still, you wondered what was said by England’s coaches just minutes prior.
A real testing moment for Ireland came with the sin-binning of their loosehead, Niamh O’Dowd, after repeat offences at the scrum.After Ellie Kildunne had knocked on in the Irish in-goal area, England waited patiently until the 48th minute for Zoe Harrison to cut through the diminished green wall – converting her own effort for a nine-point lead: 5-14.
England had found their groove, and next up it was Dow sprinting down her right wing before finding Meg Jones on the inside for the centre to score. Harrison converted: 5-21.
There is very little more costly against the Red Roses than a sin-binning, it seems, and replacement prop Sarah Bern underlined that when she powered over for England’s fourth and bonus-point try, before scoring a similarly muscular effort before 70 minutes were on the clock. Talk about a finisher.
Kildunne then became the leading try-scorer in this year’s Championship, simply unstoppable as she evaded multiple Irish defenders after receiving the ball outside the Irish 22 to cross for the fourth time this campaign. Harrison knocked over the conversion to make it 35 unanswered points for England in the second half.
Not content to watch fellow replacement front rower Bern score, hooker Kelsey Clifford did likewise for her first Test try on the day of her eleventh cap. Another sub, Holly Aitchison, added the extras: 5-49.
After a decade of waiting for a win against England, the wait continues for Ireland. If there was any consolation for Scott Bemand’s side, it was today’s vast improvement on their last encounter with the Red Roses: an 88-10 defeat at Allianz Stadium.
England will rue their lacklustre first half, no doubt, but as they grew into the match they showed how hard they are to live with over 80 minutes. A winning quality indeed.
Guinness Player of the Match: Maud Muir (England)