Jack Hanratty’s derby produced an upset victory for the Irish trainer’s newly adopted nation, USA securing an upset victory over Ireland at the Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.
Ireland initially looked the stronger of the two sides, a slick first half attack created an early lead as Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Wafer and Eve Higgins scored.
However, the threat of American rumbles was never far away. Two forward-dominated goals kept them in touch at the break before the set took over the contest, with America clawing their way to the line at will to secure victory.
For the US, it’s a huge result that continues to build faith in the Hanratty project. It is a damaging defeat for Ireland and will lead to difficult discussions ahead of their meeting Japan next weekend.
Weekend of the underdog
It was almost a weekend of calamity in the global game. Canada was close to breaking the Red Roses’ unbeaten streak with their unforgettable draw, while Australia he failed only against heavily favored France.
On Sunday, the underdogs finally had their day, as the USA stunned Ireland on their own turf.
At first, this scoreline didn’t look like it on the scoreboard, with Ireland building a 24-12 lead at half-time that looked like it might turn into further dominance on the scoreboard. However, the Eagles turned to the power play after the break, scoring four tries (three while Elmes Kinlan was in the sin bin) in the second half to secure a memorable victory.
To see how the favorites are under pressure this weekend WXV Global Series action was one thing. For the home team to succumb to a team that, on paper, should not be victorious is quite another.
Is it too early to say that such a series of results is good for the global game, that the gap between nations is closing? Maybe.
But the last 48 hours will give many teams hope that they can climb the rankings. All this while reminding the so-called ‘better’ nations of the caliber of the sides chasing them.
Rumbling USA
In the first half, the USA looked capable of shooting themselves in the foot at any stage. Hann Humphreys thought she had scored when she was only on the five meter line. Bella Vogel struggled with her restart, offering Ireland the easy ball time and time again. Handling errors were noticeable.
How did the Eagles get back into contention after the break? Power. Ireland just couldn’t handle the swing.
Both scores in the first half were achieved in America largely thanks to set pieces, strong attacks culminating in goals from Georgia Perris-Redding and Hope Rogers. After the break, the USA doubled down, earning more possession and opportunities in the 22, where the strike could wreak havoc.
Ireland could never adapt. Hooker Kathryn Treder and lock Hallie Taufoou benefited from the dominance, giving the USA the lead in the 70th minute. With Ireland dropping a man in the bin and denying them the possession they needed to get back into the game, the USA stepped up.
Freda Tafuna sealed a famous victory with a savage run through a tired defence, giving Hanratty and co a memorable scalp over the land of his birth.
A tale of two halves of Ireland
The most bizarre aspect of Ireland’s implosion was the quality of their first half.
The last time we saw Ireland, they put on arguably their best attacking display of the Scott Bemand era. In Guinness Women’s Six Nations in the final against Scotland, their performance was characterized by smooth handling, pace on the ball and precision. In more than three months, would they be able to build such a display?
In the first half, the answer was yes. Ireland was very impressive. Scrum-half Emily Lane provided lightning service as the forwards and backs linked tip-on and pull passes. The unloaders were in decent supply.
Eve Higgins was prominent in much of what was good in Ireland’s attack, making a series of breaks with more good decisions on when to pass or hold the ball.
The highlight for Ireland, however, was Elmes Kinlan’s opener. He came from a set play, one steeped in Irish rugby folklore.
The forward, in this case Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, clears the ball from the back before firing an inside pass to the full-back who is close to the original ruck. Stacey Flood took the pass, raced into space before slotting a lovely ball to Elmes Kinlan for the score.
Leinster used the move in their infamous Heineken Cup semi-final win over Clermont in 2012. The Irish men used a variation of the same play against France in 2023 and South Africa 2024. Now, in 2026, the women have added their own version of the move that Irish fans are more than familiar with.
In the second half, however, all that innovation, precision and skill disappeared in a maelstrom of American limb-breaking. Ireland couldn’t get enough possession and when they did, mistakes killed their momentum.
A much-needed kick from the bench never came – Bemand didn’t use the three substitutes available to him – the Eagles may have shown a greater edge in the fight given they have had more recent international action than their hosts.
Ireland secured an Erin King try in the 80th minute to make it a one-score game before the final whistle, but it proved to be only a consolation.
After a period of positivity since last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, Ireland suffered a serious setback, suffering their first real defeat in recent memory.
