Women’s Rugby World Cup: Australia valiant in two-point loss to Ireland

AUSTRALIA have come oh-so-close to staging an upset of Women’s Rugby World Cup hosts Ireland in their opening pool match, going down 19-17 in a thriller to open the tournament.

Cheyenne Campbell of Australia is tackled by Nora Stapleton of Ireland. Pic: David Rogers/Getty Images

AUSTRALIA have come oh-so-close to staging an upset of Women’s Rugby World Cup hosts Ireland in their opening pool match, going down 19-17 in a thriller to open the tournament.

The Wallaroos had taken the lead with a little over 20 minutes to play in the match but after Ireland struck back just minutes later then scored with 10 to play to take a nine-point lead, it appeared Australia’s hopes were done.

But the Aussies rallied for the fight and brought the score back to within striking distance when prop Hilisha Samoa barged over with six minutes left on the clock. Replacement back Ashleigh Hewson converted to make it 19-17 and the upset looked possible again.

Sensible play and safe hands from then by Ireland was enough for them to hold on.

Australia's Sharni Williams attempts to get away from Ireland's Jenny Murphy. Pic: AP

Australia will rue not having a recognised goalkicker on the field until Hewson came on for winger Nareta Marsters in the 58th minute.

The two tries by the Wallaroos before that both went unconverted by fullback Samantha Treherne, four points that could have lifted them to victory.

But captain Shannon Parry said post-match it wasn’t something they could dwell on, saying there were opportunities early in the match they didn’t convert into points.

“To be honest, we probably left a few too many points out there tonight, especially in the first 15 minutes when we were able to build some pressure, we should have got a few more points,” Parry said.

“I think we can take a lot out of it, our structures and our plays were a lot better than they have been and what they were in the Quad Series.

“We’ll take a lot of pride in our defence as well. There’s plenty of things to work on in terms of set piece and being able to use our electric backline. The more the forwards can set the platform the more time and space we can give our backs.”

Parry was a standout for Australia, always putting pressure on the Irish breakdown and having involvement in the Wallaroos’ first two tries.

Her decision to take a quick line out in the 29th minute, perhaps a reflex from her rugby sevens training, allowed Australia to move the ball wide and catch the Irish defence on the back foot.

Treherne delivered a long, arcing ball to debutante winger Mahalia Murphy who put on her pace to weave her way through the defence to score Australia’s first five-pointer.

Ireland's Larissa Muldoon crashes over for her country’s first try.

She scored their second herself when she pushed her way over the line after the Wallaroos had worked the back forward from a line out on the 22.

Earlier in the game, Ireland opened the scoring after 20 minutes in similar style when halfback Larissa Muldoon dived over after they’d worked the ball off a scrum.

Opposite No. 9 Katrina Barker was moving the Australian defence along the line but as Murphy shifted out it created a gap behind the ruck that Muldoon was quick to capitalise on.

They wouldn’t score again for another 42 minutes but it would be enough to put them back in the lead.

The Australian defence was holding firm on a scrum from 10 metres out, but the patience and persistence that would ultimately lead to Ireland’s victory was epitomised as they continued to hammer the Wallaroos line.

Ciara Griffin made the breakthrough when through sheer strength she pushed forward and found the space to ground the ball.

Full Time! Our #Wallaroos put on an absolute show but just fell short in the end. With a 19-17 win to @IrishRugby, it was one close match.

— Wallaroos (@WallaroosRugby) August 9, 2017

The conversion took Ireland to four points in front and they extended that to nine when replacement Sophie Spence was awarded a try out wide after review from the third match official deemed she’d grounded it out with out promotion.

It was the first time Ireland had defeated Australia in an international, but it will be the Aussies who will be proud to come away having only gone down by two.

The Wallaroos were playing just the sixth Test match since the last World Cup in 2014, all of those having been played in the last nine months. Two players were on debut in Murphy in flyhalf Trilleen Pomare and nine changes were made from the side that last played, against Canada in the Four Nations in June.

Australia take on France in their second pool match on Monday at 4.45am (AEST). Broadcast live on Fox Sports.