Ireland have scored a famous 29-27 victory over the Black Ferns in Vancouver this afternoon – a converted try with seconds remaining sparking wild celebrations among the women in green.
It was the first time the two nations have played each other since 2016, and the Black Ferns, the world champions, would have been confident of a bounce-back win in their opening WXV tournament Test against the seventh-ranked nation in the world after being beaten recently by England at Twickenham.
It was not to be, and, although they had two tries ruled out in what was an at times eccentric officiating performance, they blew two others.
One came in the first half when blindside flanker Layla Sae made a break and elected to go herself rather than pass inside to the unmarked halfback Maia Joseph.
And the other came near the start of the second half, when, as the Black Ferns tried to break the 17-all deadlock, midfielder Sylvia Brunt dropped the ball over the line.
As it was, Brunt played an integral part in giving the Black Ferns a five-point lead with minutes remaining when she made the break, carried on by impressively hard-hitting No.8 Liana Mikaele-Tu’u, which led to Mererangi Paul’s try.
But back Ireland came, and, while New Zealand’s defence was solid across the pitch in general, their major flaw on the unforgiving artificial turf at BC Stadium was their try-line defence and replacement loose forward Erin King took advantage with her second try to level the score. Dannah O’Brien’s conversion, which went over off the right post, sealed it.
Black Ferns co-captain Kennedy Tukuafu said afterwards: “I’m proud of a lot of the effort – it wasn’t through lack of trying. It was a really hungry Irish side and they put it all out there. I’m disappointed but back to the drawing board and we will try to stay up for the next couple of games.
“We need to minimise the errors and get the ball to space.”
New Zealand’s decision making was questionable at times, especially in the first half when they were far too ambitious with the ball in their own territory.
They were on the board early via a lineout drive try for Atlanta Lolohea, with Ireland replying through impressive flanker Aoife Wafer, who scored from a quick penalty tap and shortly afterwards from the back of an attacking scrum.
A Neve Jones try from close range – again – pushed Ireland’s advantage to 17-10 with minutes remaining in the first half, only for Black Ferns wing Katelyn Vaha’akolo to go over after a brilliant inside pass close to the ruck by halfback Joseph.
In truth, that’s where the space was for most of the match but the Kiwis failed to take advantage of it.
Brunt’s missed try after the break was a lost opportunity, but then came the controversy as twice the television match official ruled out tries for the Black Ferns – one for Paul on the right after an alleged knock-on that was cleared at the time by referee Sara Cox, and one for Luka Connor from a lineout drive due to an obstruction technicality.
In between times, Ireland front rower Niamh O’Dowd was sent to the sinbin for collapsing a maul.
A penalty for Renee Holmes, who kicked superbly with five from five, represented New Zealand’s only points during O’Dowd’s time in the bin.
King’s first try from close range cancelled out that advantage, and while New Zealand would have thought they had done enough when Paul went over for a deserved try from Brunt’s break, King and O’Brien had the final say.
Strangely, the Black Ferns had elected to replace No.10 and co-captain Ruahei Demant with seven minutes remaining.
The Black Ferns’ re-start failing to travel the required 10 metres summed up their night. It was not a good one and the odds on them defending their World Cup reign in England next year will be growing.
Ireland 29 (Aoife Wafer 2, Erin King 2, Neve Jones, tries; Dannah O’Brien 2 cons)
Black Ferns 27 (Atlanta Lolohea, Katelyn Vaha’akolo, Mererangi Paul tries; Renee Holmes 3 cons, 2 pens)
Halftime: 17-17
SHARE ME