Tallaght Stadium was stunned into relative silence USA The Women’s Eagles secured a 40-36 victory Ireland in Dublin to start their own WXV Global Series campaign.
Jack Hanratty’s side led by 12 points at half-time, with tries from Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Aoife Wafer and Eva Higgins putting the hosts in control.
But the USA hit back after the break, Kathryn Treder scoring twice before Hallie Taufoou and Freda Tafuna also crossed to complete a stunning comeback.
Before hosting Japan next week at the Dexcom Stadium, here’s how Ireland’s players rated…
15. Stacey Flood – 5.5
Assisted Vicky Elmes Kinlan in the sixth minute. The fullback contributed a lot to his team in attack, but he turned the ball over on several occasions and gave the USA good position in the attacking field.
14. Robyn O’Connor – 4.5
Quite a quiet afternoon for Robyn O’Connor, who never managed to make her mark on the game. She made nine carries for 44 meters, but those opportunities were mostly dropped.
13. Aoife Dalton – 5.5
He was on the field for just 19 minutes before being replaced by Anna McGann in the first half. She returned to the field after passing the HIA. It was not an afternoon in which Dalton could thrive as the game ran away from Ireland.
12. Eve Higgins – 5
She was influential on almost every touch she had in the first half. She helped Ireland gain good field position with each of her five tackles, helping the 27-year-old to 64 metres. She finished off an Anna McGann break to score her team’s fourth try of the game. Like the rest of her team, Higgins lost her ability to influence the game as the Eagles had the lion’s share of possession and territory.
11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan – 4.5
Vicky Elmes Kinlan has seen a lot of balls in Dublin. The wing scored his team’s first try, made 11 carries for a game-high 74 metres, beat three defenders and consistently kept his team on the front foot. With Ireland under pressure in the first half, Elmes Kinlan did not roll and was sent to the sin bin. During her time off the field, the Eagles scored three tries and led the game after her re-introduction.
10. Dannah O’Brien – 5th
A quiet afternoon for Ireland on the field, who were mostly ineffective during their time on the field. Even when Ireland were in their prime, the 22-year-old did not put her stamp on the match and also saw her involvement diminish as Ireland bled.
9. Emily Lane – 5
He kept Ireland in front when the game went in the hosts’ direction. He became increasingly isolated as the momentum shifted to the Eagles and was replaced at the 50-minute mark.
1. Niamh O’Dowd – 4.5
Stepping into the void left by Ellen Perry’s retirement was always going to be difficult. Ireland were not at their best and Niamh O’Dowd also conceded two penalties.
2. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald – 4.5
I will not be happy with the way Ireland’s line-up has gone. Something that didn’t get any better when Neve Jones was brought into the fray in the 50th minute. She scored her team’s second try of the game and was involved in Ireland’s first.
3. Linda Djougang – 5
Pretty standard performance by Linda Djougang. She was on the court until the bitter end and played both loosely and firmly. She was among the best hitters on her team, but she couldn’t make the plays count. Ireland’s scrum was not 100 per cent solid.
4. Dorothy Wall – 6
Leading brilliance for her team in the first half, with a series of strong tackles and uncompromising trickery. As the game progressed, Dorothy Wall’s influence on the game faltered. As the senior lock in her team, Wall was unable to prevent Ireland from fighting the American strike and awarded a crucial penalty try to Hallie Taufoo in the 68th minute. Scored a try in the dying embers to give Ireland a consolation result.
5. Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan – 5
Much like her partner, Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan did not stand up for Ireland. The distribution was running at 78 percent, which is far below the standard you would normally expect. She also turned the ball over twice.
6. Jemima Adams Verling – 6
It was a very good start to Jemima Adams Verling’s international rugby career. No one in the Ireland national team has scored as many tries as the 20-year-old. She also made six carries for 18 yards. A strong, comfortable start to life playing Test rugby.
7. Erin King – 5.5
It was an unusual performance by Erin King. The Ireland captain had to lead by example as the Eagles took control of the match and eventually finished the game as their best player. She scored a goal in the second half for her team, but could not assert herself in the game.
8. Aoife Wafer – 6.5
Aoife Wafer was probably Ireland’s best player on the pitch, even in defeat. The back line scored their team’s third try in the 18th minute to send the crowd roaring at Tallaght Stadium. She was busy at the breakdown, where she recovered three turnovers, completed 10 tackles and even carried 42 yards on a team-high 14 carries.
Substitutions – 4
It’s hard to say what the replacements offered. Anna McGann provided a brilliant assist for a try in the first half, but when Ireland’s substitutes were introduced in the second half, they offered very little as the Eagles increasingly imposed themselves on the game.
