Munster players help Ireland women score thrilling win over world champions New Zealand

MUNSTER players played a starring role as Ireland women’s side secured a stunning 29-27 victory over reigning World Champions New Zealand in the opening round of the WX1 tournament in Vancouver in the early hours of Monday morning.

Replacement Erin King scored her second try of the game to level the score in the final minute, with fly-half Dannah O’Brien kicking the decisive conversion via the upright.

Ireland ran in five tries while their opponents enjoyed the majority of possession but had three tries disallowed by the television match official.

The stunning victory marks another significant milestone in Ireland’s recent renaissance under head coach Scott Bemand following a third-place finish in the 2024 Six Nations and a home victory over Australia in September.

Ireland’s next game is against hosts Canada on Saturday, while the Black Ferns will face holders England on Sunday.

New Zealand opened the scoring on nine minutes as hooker Atlanta Lolohea touched down.

Resilient Ireland replied quickly as flanker Aoife Wafer barged her way over the line from close range.

A Renee Holmes penalty extended New Zealand’s lead to 10-5, before Wafer grabbed her second score.

O’Brien put Ireland in front with the conversion and their advantage became a seven-point one when hooker Neve Jones was awarded a try after referee Sara Cox consulted with TMO Ian Tempest.

New Zealand were on level terms by half-time when wing Katelyn Vahaakolo supplied the finish and Holmes kicked her second conversion.

Midway through the second half a Holmes penalty edged her side in front while Niamh O’Dowd was in the sin-bin. However, Ireland replied with the next points when they were restored to their full complement of 15 players.

More good work from Wafer helped Ling go over for her first score, then Mererangi Paul stretched to touch down and put New Zealand ahead again.

King rumbled over from close range again however to level at 27-27 and O’Brien kept her composure to deliver the winning additional two points from the tee.

SCORERS: Ireland: Tries: Aoife Wafer 2, Neve Jones, Erin King 2; Cons: Dannah O’Brien 2. New Zealand: Tries: Atlanta Lolohea, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Mererangi Paul; Cons: Renee Holmes 3; Pens: Renee Holmes 2

IRELAND: Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster), Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC/Munster); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster); Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (capt), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster). Replacements used: Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) for Dalton (11-24 mins), Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) for Jones, Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC) for McMahon, Higgins for Dalton, Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC) for Scuffil-McCabe (all 49), Siobhán McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury/Munster) for Tuite (55-64), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby) for Tuite (69).

NEW ZEALAND: Renee Holmes; Ruby Tui, Logo-i-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i, Amy du Plessis, Katelyn Vahaakolo; Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Maia Joseph; Marcelle Parkes, Atlanta Lolohea, Amy Rule, Chelsea Bremner, Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Layla Sae, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-capt), Liana Mikaele-Tu’u. Replacements used:Luka Connor for Lolohea, Chryss Viliko for Parkes, Tanya Kalounivale  for Rule (all 45 mins), Alana Bremner for C Bremner, Lucy Jenkins for Tukuafu, Mererangi Paul for Tui (all 52), Iritana Hohaia for Joseph (57).

Referee: Sara Cox (England)