Eimear Considine and Beibhinn Parsons inspired Ireland to a spectacular victory over Wales that sets up an intriguing shootout with France next week for a place in the 2021 Women’s Six Nations final.
Full-back Considine and winger Parsons combined to wrap up the bonus point inside 20 minutes with two tries apiece, including a spectacular individual score each, before Sene Naoupu crossed for a fifth try before half-time at Cardiff Arms Park.
To their credit, Wales’s defence tightened after the break as they frustrated Ireland for the majority of the second period but Dorothy Wall went over for try number six on 72 minutes and Hannah Tyrrell dotted down as the clock ticked red to wrap up a 45-0 victory.
After France beat Wales 53-0 in Round 1, Pool B will now see an intriguing showdown between Ireland and Les Bleues at Donnybrook next weekend, for the right to face Pool A victors England in the Championship final on Super Saturday for the title.
Both sides have won multiple Women’s Six Nations titles in the past decade and with impressive victories under their belts this year, next Saturday’s contest promises to be a fascinating affair.
Meanwhile, a second defeat in as many weeks means Wales will finish third in Pool B and face the equivalent team from Pool A – the loser of the Round 3 clash between Scotland and Italy – in the 5th/6th play-off in a fortnight’s time.
BLAZING START PUTS IRELAND ON TRACK
Ireland hadn’t played a competitive game since 2020 but showed no signs of rust as they immediately went on the attack in Cardiff, setting up camp in the Welsh 22 before a floated Kathryn Dane pass out to Considine enabled the full-back to power over the line with just two minutes played.
If their first try was neat, Ireland’s second was spectacular as Parsons powerfully handed off a Welsh defender on halfway and then showed her blazing speed to streak clear and dot down under the posts.
And the third score came soon after as Parsons dived over after collecting a gorgeous, pinpoint cross-field kick from Women’s Six Nations Player of the Match Tyrrell after captain Ciara Griffin had charged down an attempted Welsh clearance.
The bonus point was wrapped up inside the first quarter when Considine weaved and dummied her way between tacklers to slide over the whitewash before a dominant scrum set the platform for scrum-half Dane to pick up from the back, draw a defender and pop to Naoupu for try number five.
With Ireland dominating the set-piece, pinching Welsh lineout with regularity and controlling the scrum, a sixth try before half-time seemed likely but the hosts defended valiantly to hold firm and keep the half-time score to 31-0.
WALES DEFENCE STIFFENS
Wales were fired up to start the second half, repelling attack after attack with Lisa Neumann making a particularly impressive hard hit in midfield to stop the visitors in their tracks before they won a turnover after 11 Ireland phases to relieve the pressure.
Wales kept frustrating Ireland and eventually had a glorious opportunity to score their first points of this year’s Championship just before the hour mark but turned the ball over in the Irish 22 after Caitlin Lewis and Megan Davies had made good yards from strong breaks.
Parsons almost went over for her hat-trick, only to be stopped inches short and the hosts then turned the ball over before the dam finally burst on 72 minutes.
Consistent pressure ended with Ireland shipping the ball left, quick ball through the hands of Aoife McDermott gave Wall a bit of space and she powered through a defender to touch down.
Tyrrell brilliantly added the conversion from the touchline and her final kicking record read five from seven after adding the extras from the final play of the game when she herself streaked clear to dot down a seventh try.
