Women’s Six Nations
Wales (7) 14
Tries: Cox, Bluck Cons: Bevan 2
Ireland (21) 40
Tries: Djougang 2, Wafer 2, Wall 2 Cons: O’Brien 3, Breen 2
Wales were again outmuscled as Ireland ran in six tries to secure a second win of their Women’s Six Nations campaign.
The hosts had taken an early lead through Carys Cox, but after that it was one-way traffic in the Newport sunshine.
Linda Djougang, Aoife Wafer and Dorothy Wall each bagged two tries in a dominant performance which condemned Wales to a fourth defeat.
Hannah Bluck, who had been a late call-up, scored a consolation for Wales, who played in front of 3,568 fans – a record crowd for a women’s international at Rodney Parade.
Ireland will play their final game against Scotland next weekend as they look to cement a third-place finish, while Wales must at least beat Italy if they are avoid a second consecutive wooden spoon.
As they had done all tournament, Wales started with intent.
Lleucu George, who had been called up to the starting XV due to Kayleigh Powell’s injury, put a grubber kick down the wing for her backs to chase.
Amee-Leigh Costigan looked to have it covered but fumbled on her own try line and Cox was first to pounce on the loose ball.
Wales missed a chance to double their lead after a great passage of play orchestrated by George’s boot, but their driving maul ran out of steam a metre short of the line.
Ireland hit back at the end of the first quarter when standout player Wafer charged down the touchline. The ball was recycled infield and some weak tackling allowed Djougang to power over from close range.
Wales continued to live dangerously and were made to pay again when Ireland’s forward piled on the pressure, and this time it was Wafer celebrating.
The hosts were boosted when influential fly-half O’Brien was sent to the sin bin for making shoulder to head contact against a charging Alex Callender, but it was the visitors who looked like they had a player advantage.
The defence had initially done well to hold Edel McMahon up over the line but the Irish kept coming, with Wall crashing over as Wales once again conceded on the stroke of half-time.
The first score after the break was always going to be crucial for any hopes of a Welsh comeback, but the Irish set piece once again proved a weapon and Wall was soon in for her second and her side’s bonus point.
Jasmine Joyce and Cox attempted to spark a resurgence down the wing, but Wales were guilty of not looking after the ball.
Hannah Jones also made a promising break, but the pass out wide fell straight into Irish hands as Wales paid for their inaccuracy.
Ireland, in contrast, looked like the fifth best team in the world, a team who had beaten New Zealand in the autumn, as they sent wave after wave of attacks into a tiring defence.
The fifth try came after the driving lineout was initially repelled, but with forwards queueing up it was the powerful prop Djougang who crossed again.
Cox continued to pose a threat, while George put Wales in a promising attack with a 50-22 which set up Bluck’s try.
Carys Phillips took the long throw before powering up to the line, Keira Bevan kept the ball among the forwards before freeing Bluck who backed her pace through a tight gap. It was Bluck’s first involvement in the campaign.
Wales had not long finished celebrating when Wafer went straight back up the other end of the pitch and silenced the crowd. The number eight picked up from the back of the Irish scrum and bulldozed her way through Cox, who had too much space to cover on the blindside.
With Wales staring down the barrel of a record defeat to their opponents, Ireland full-back Stacey Flood spared their blushes by knocking on what would have otherwise been a run-in.
Still, it was another sobering defeat for Wales.
Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender.
Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine Richards.
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh; Dannah O’Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Siobhn McCarthy, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan, Edel McMahon (capt), Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney, Sadhbh McGrath, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
Sin bin: O’Brien (36 mins)
