Wales 31 – 5 Ireland: Welsh women crush Ireland in Six Nation’s opener

Wales (26) 31
Tries: Callender, Bevan, Harries, Jones, Tuipulotu   Cons: Bevan (3)

Ireland (0) 5
Tries:  Fryday

First-half tries from Alex Callender, Kiera Bevan, Sioned Harries and captain Hannah Jones had done the damage as Ireland were breezed aside by Wales’ clinical finishing and physical dominance.

Player of the match Sisilia Tuipulotu capped of a fine performance scoring a fifth just after the break after the prop had evaded several Irish challenges to extend Wales’ advantage. 

Ireland captain Nicola Fryday’s late score was reward for resilience for the Irish, on what was a tough afternoon for the visitors, but would be a mere consolation as the Welsh romped to victory.

It was not all good news, however, for Wales as they lost Gwen Crabb early on to a nasty looking muscle injury, having seen the second row recently return from a fractured fibula in December.

The match pitted two teams in different stages of their development with both having turned professional in the last year.

Ioan Cunningham’s experienced and settled Welsh lineup showing little change to the side that had reached the quarter-final of the autumn World Cup in New Zealand. Ireland in contrast in transition after failing to qualify for the tournament and facing a changing of the guard.

Cunningham named his strongest available team, despite missing flanker Alisha Butchers and prop Donna Rose, who will both miss the entire campaign with knee injuries, whilst first choice wing Jasmine Joyce was also unavailable. 19-year-old Tuipulotu coming in for her first Wales start, having made her debut against Ireland the last time the two sides faced off.

Wales could not have wished for a better start to the match, scoring early in the first few minutes.  Their superior pack forcing an error in the Irish scrum to form an opportunity for Callender to drive over from the resulting ruck to the appreciation of a vocal Cardiff support.

The play came abruptly to a halt shortly after as Crabb received treatment, a blow to Wales, but after a series of positional reshuffling normal service was resumed. Replacement Harries deputisng at number eight, with Bethan Lewis moving to flanker and Georgia Evans covering at lock.

Ireland were soon on the back foot, Kiera Bevan this time the beneficiary of good work from the Welsh scrum to dive under the posts to double the home sides advantage.

With confidence high and Ireland’s discipline letting them down, Wales scored a third to put daylight on the scoreline. Harries finding a gap to go over after the Welsh had exploited the Irish at the breakdown following an infringement at the lineout.

Captain Jones, the scorer of the clinching try in the comeback victory last year was next to get on the scoreline to clinch the all-important bonus point for Wales.

Centre partner Kerin Lake breaking through in the Irish twenty-two before timing the offload to Jones in support to crash over the try line and all but secure the victory at the break.

Ireland fought hard with resilience but lacked the power in the breakdown. The dominant Tuipulotu playing beyond her years to expose the creaking defense to drive over for a fifth try after Wales’ kicking game had won territory in Ireland’s twenty-two.

After TMO intervention the try was disallowed for a knock on, but only spurred on Tuipulotu to to find a way through once more. Not to be denied twice, the teenager powering through several challenges to emphatically drive over and put her name on a growing scoreboard.

Ireland would have their best spell as the half went on as both teams made several changes. Skipper Fryday finding a late consolation for the visitors going over in the corner.

It would be Wales’ day though, their new young star shining through and providing head-coach Cunningham with the perfect start to the campaign ahead of the trip to Edinburgh to face Scotland next weekend.

Wales:

Keight, Neumann, Hannah Jones (captain), Lake, Williams-Morris, Snowsill, Bevan, Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Tuipulotu, Fleming, Crabb, Georgia Evans, Callender, Bethan Lewis.

Replacements:

Katherine Evans, Thomas, Hale, Williams, Harries, Ffion Lewis, George, Bluck.

Ireland: 

Deely, Doyle, Dalton, Breen, Behan, Cronin, Scuffil-McCabe, McGrath, N Jones, Djougang, Fryday (captain), Monaghan, Wall, O’Leary, Hogan.

Replacements:

 Bhaird, O’Dowd, Haney, Brown, Moore, O’Connor, O’Brien, Irwin.

(Lead image: Welsh Rugby Union)