Ireland women’s rugby captain Erin King says her side will “come back stronger” after a dramatic 40-36 defeat to the USA in their opening Vodafone Ireland WXV Series match at Tallaght Stadium.
Ireland looked firmly in control after King crossed six minutes into the second half, stretching the lead to 31-12. But a costly spell of indiscipline allowed the United States to seize momentum, with the visitors scoring three converted tries while Ireland played with Vicky Elmes Kinlan in the sin bin.
Freda Tafuna’s 72nd-minute try ultimately put the USA beyond reach, leaving Ireland to reflect on a match that contained both outstanding attacking rugby and a painful defensive collapse.
Ireland women’s rugby show two very different sides
The opening half-hour offered plenty of encouragement for head coach Scott Bemand. Ireland attacked with speed and precision, moving the ball wide and using their mobility to stretch the American defence.
Tries from Elmes Kinlan, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Aoife Wafer arrived inside the opening 17 minutes. Moloney-MacDonald’s score was particularly impressive, as she combined with Stacey Flood before exploiting space from a midfield ruck.
Strong forward carries created the platform for further pressure, while Anna McGann’s excellent break down the left helped create the chance for Eve Higgins. Ireland entered the interval with a convincing advantage and clear evidence that their attacking plan could trouble a powerful USA side.
The statistics from the first half underlined that control. Ireland recorded eight line breaks, beat 25 defenders, won 98.5% of their rucks and made 259 post-contact metres. Their efficiency inside the opposition 22 also stood out, with an average of four points from each entry.
USA power game turns the match
The contest changed sharply after the hour mark. A succession of Irish penalties handed the USA repeated opportunities to attack, and the visitors’ imposing pack began to dominate through the maul and close-range carries.
In a devastating 15-minute period, the United States scored 28 points. Ireland struggled to halt the momentum, while the USA repeatedly used its physical advantage to make ground and create pressure near the Irish line.
King acknowledged that Ireland’s discipline slipped at the wrong time. The captain said her team had played to its strengths by moving the ball wide early on, but allowed the game to develop in a way that suited the USA’s power.
For Ireland, the immediate priority is learning how to stop an opponent’s surge before it becomes decisive. Bemand said afterwards that the team must become more effective at arresting momentum and regaining control when pressure builds.
Erin King leads by example
King’s own performance reflected the commitment Ireland showed throughout much of the match. The 22-year-old back rower led Ireland’s tackle count with 19 tackles at a 90.9% success rate.
She also made a line break, beat two defenders and carried for 23.5 metres from seven attempts. Her try was her sixth in 13 Tests and appeared to put Ireland on course for a winning start before the USA’s late surge.
The match also marked a positive international debut for Jemima Adams Verling, who made a lively contribution as Ireland displayed real attacking variety. King highlighted the newcomer’s impact alongside the number of players who managed to get on the scoresheet.
Japan visit offers immediate chance to respond
Ireland will not have to wait long for an opportunity to put the disappointment behind them. Japan, ranked 11th in the world, visit Connacht’s Dexcom Stadium next Sunday for Ireland’s second WXV Series fixture.
The challenge will be to reproduce the ambition and execution shown in the first half while cutting out the penalties and errors that allowed the USA to take control. Ireland’s speed out wide remains a major strength, but the team will need greater composure when opponents build sustained pressure.
King remains confident in the squad’s potential and believes the defeat can become a valuable part of the team’s development during the autumn international block.
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Ireland’s loss to the USA was a warning about the cost of indiscipline, but it was not without positives. The attacking performance, King’s leadership and Adams Verling’s debut provide a platform for improvement. The next test against Japan will show whether Ireland can turn those lessons into a more complete 80-minute performance.
Article/Image Courtesy: Irish Rugby
