Breaking: Ireland Dumped Out of Women’s Rugby World Cup by New Zealand, Face France in QF Despite Heavy Defeat – Ireland have been eliminated from Pool C of the Women’s Rugby World Cup, suffering a 40-0 drubbing at the hands of New Zealand. Despite a promising start, Ireland found themselves under relentless pressure and never truly threatened the Black Ferns, who ran in six tries. Player ratings revealed, with key players’ exits putting their availability for the quarter-final against France in doubt.
Headline:
Ireland’s Grit Tested: A Look Ahead toWomen’s Rugby World Cup Quarter-finals After New Zealand Defeat
Subheadings:
H2: A Tough Night at the Office
Ireland’s women’s rugby team faced a stiff challenge against New Zealand in their last Pool C match, resulting in a 40-0 defeat. Despite a bright start, the Irish side struggled to maintain momentum, conceding six tries. Here’s how each player fared.
H2: Individual Player Ratings
H3: The Backs
- Stacey Flood (15) – 5.5 departed early with an injury, putting her availability for the quarter-finals in doubt.
- Béibhinn Parsons (14) – 5.5 had a tough day, penalized for a high tackle and struggling to find her rhythm.
- Aoife Dalton (13) – 6.5 showed promise but had limited ball to work with.
- Eve Higgins (12) – 6.5 departed early but is expected to be fit for the quarter-finals.
- Amee-Leigh Costigan (11) – 6 worked hard but had limited chances.
- Dannah O’Brien (10) – 6 had a mixed day, with some kicks going too far.
- Aoibheann Reilly (9) – 6 faced a tough day at the office, with a try-saving tackle being one of her highlights.
H3: The Forwards
- Niamh O’Dowd (1) – 6.5 made a couple of good carries and was the top Irish tackler.
- Neve Jones (2) – 6 got through a lot of defensive work but had one overthrow.
- Linda Djougang (3) – 6.5 was active on both sides of the ball.
- Ruth Campbell (4) – 7 provided a raw edge to the Irish pack but conceded penalties.
- Sam Monaghan (5) – 6.5 had a brave performance under relentless pressure.
- Grace Moore (6) – 7.5 delivered an all-action performance, racking up 13 tackles.
- Edel McMahon (7) – 6.5 was busy but got few opportunities with ball in hand.
- Brittany Hogan (8) – 6.5 struggled to get any decent ball but delivered a typically honest shift.
H2: Replacements
Several players were introduced, with mixed results. Some notable mentions include:
- Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (for Jones 50) – 5.5, struggled with lineout issues.
- Claire Boles (for McMahon 45) – 6.5, tried to make something happen, registering six tackles.
- Emily Lane (for Reilly 61) – 6.5, added some impetus to the Irish attack.
H2: Looking Ahead to the Quarter-finals
Despite the heavy defeat, Ireland showed glimpses of promise. Their next challenge is against France, a team that offers a different set of problems. Ireland will need to learn from this defeat and adapt their game plan accordingly.
H2: FAQs
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How did Ireland fare in the group stage?
- Ireland won two out of three games, beating Japan and Spain, before losing to New Zealand.
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Who are Ireland’s potential semi-final opponents?
- It depends on the results of the other quarter-finals, but England and Canada could be among them.
H2: Did You Know?
Ireland’s Women’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France will be shown live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.
H2: Pro Tip
Watch Ireland’s breakdown work. It’s an area where they can exploit France if they can maintain their intensity and accuracy.
H2: The Bottom Line
The defeat to New Zealand was a setback, but it’s not the end of Ireland’s tournament. They face a tough test against France, but with lessons learned and adjustments made, they could still make a deep run in the tournament.
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