Ireland claim prized scalp with heroic performance

Ireland 17 New Zealand 14

Going boldly where no Irish men have gone before, Fiona Coghlan's heroic band of women have defeated New Zealand on their first attempt.

Not just any New Zealand mind, but a professional outfit littered with full-time Sevens players, and not just by a large dollop of luck but through sheer hard work and a well-structured game plan.

Any victory in rugby is possible if you deconstruct the opposition’s set-piece.

Philip Doyle, the Ireland coach, really wanted to go after their lineout. That the scrum was also broken is almost as remarkable as the victory itself.

Then there was Ireland’s iron defence.

But we'll get to all of that. We'll also get to the majestic display from Niamh Briggs and tries from Heather O'Brien and the lightning-quick Alison Miller. And we'll mention the heroic, unreal tackling of the half-pint-sized Lynne Cantwell.

We shall also mention that late, late woman and ball smash by Tania Rosser, winning her 50th cap, aged 35 after a four-year hiatus, against the country where she was born.

Of course, Ireland will never let her go now. We’ll try to mention them all.

We must also mention the officials. American referee Leah Berard was handicapped by the ineptitude of her touch judges Sara Cox and Marie Lematte. They were, quite simply, out of their depth. It so nearly cost Ireland a historic victory that leaves them with what should be a straightforward, victory over Kazakhstan on Saturday away from their first semi-final.

Relentless opening

Having missed an earlier penalty, Briggs went to the touchline on 12 minutes and from the ensuing wave of attacks Ireland were denied a pushover try when Rawinia Everitt dived on the ball illegally. It should have been a penalty try and a sin bin.

Berard’s view was impeded but her touch judge has no excuse. It meant Ireland left New Zealand territory after a relentless opening 15 minutes with zero. Nothing.

“That was the winning of the game,” said Joe Schmidt afterwards. “That’s when they realised they could win.”

For the rest of us it seemed like disaster (Yes, Schmidt has been in Marcoussis in recent days, quietly assisting).

One handling error in Irish territory, after a near flawless 25 minutes, and Selica Winiata raced over. That made it 8-0. That’s how good the Black Ferns are.

We feared a landslide but it never came. Instead Ireland raided back downfield with a clever grubber by Briggs setting up field position.

New Zealand feared their own lineouts at this stage. The scrum too.

The squeeze was on.

After 20-plus phases, O’Brien powered over – Briggs converted.

Then came a black onslaught that lasted the seven minutes until half-time. Cleverly not engaging their lineout maul – as they did against France – was a bit of tactical class that got Ireland into the dressingroom for a breather.

One collision

But New Zealand were angry now, and Amiria Rule – the female version of Ma Nonu – was thundering through midfield.

But Doyle had brought on Ireland’s answer to New Zealand’s power play.

Jenny Murphy is not to be trifled with. She destroyed Rule in one collision, then climbed back to her feet and hammered into someone else.

She was brilliant but so was Coghlan and Claire Molloy over the ball, refusing to bend, and Sophie Spence was a towering presence too.

But Kelly Brazier edged New Zealand into a 11-7 lead and that seemed to signal the beginning of the end.

Oh ye of little faith.

When Winiata, a Sevens expert see, chipped out of her own half, Briggs gathered, stepped two defenders before setting Miller free. The Timahoe woman is not for catching.

Briggs, with a steely nerve, landed the touchline conversion. But 14-11 would never be enough. Brazier levelled it on 64 minutes. Briggs put Ireland back ahead on 69 minutes.

Ireland began to fade in the tackle.

“That’s not fatigue,” said Doyle. “We are a fit team. That was concentration. We’ll work on that.”

But it didn’t end in a last-ditch fearful defensive effort. It ended in New Zealand territory.

It ended with Ireland fully trusting in their systems, themselves, each other. Like any good strong relationship.

Scoring sequence - 21 mins: K Brazier pen, 0-3; 25 mins: S Winiata try, 0-8; 33 mins: H O'Brien try, 5-8; N Briggs conv, 7-8. Half-time. 46 mins: K Brazier pen, 7-11; 59 mins: A Miller try, 12-11; N Briggs conv, 14-11; 64 mins: K Brazier pen, 14-14; 69 mins: N Briggs pen, 17-14.

IRELAND: N Briggs; A Baxter, L Cantwell, G Davitt, A Miller; N Stapleton, T Rosser; F Coghlan (capt), G Bourke, A Egan; S Spence, ML Reilly; P Fitzpatrick, C Molloy, H O'Brien. Replacements: J Murphy for G Davitt (half-time), L Guest for ML Reilly (60-65 mins), S Fleming for P Fitzpatrick (74 mins), L Guest for G Bourke (76 mins).

NEW ZEALAND: S Winiata; R Wickliffe, Huriana Manuel, A Rule, H Hireme; K Brazier, E Jensen; K Wilton, F Fa'amausili (capt), A Nelson; E Blackwell, J Patea; R Everitt, L Itunu, C Robertson. Replacements: J Lavea for J Patea (52 mins), R McKay for K Wilton (53 mins), C Richardson for H Hireme (58 mins), ST Ohare-Fox for A Nelson and A Savage for C Robertson (both 65 mins), K Cocksedge for E Jensen (70 mins).

Referee: L Berard (USA).