IRELAND 19-17 AUSTRALIA
Ireland were pushed damn, damn close by a hugely physical Australian side but they kicked off their World Cup campaign with a superb victory.
Tom Tierney's side trailed 10-7 after the hour mark, at the UCD Bowl, but tries from Ciara Griffin and Sophie Spence secured the win. That was only half the story as each and every Irish player stood up to be counted in a brave, tireless defensive effort.
Sizing up both sides during the anthems [Ireland's Call with backing track for our ladies], you couldn't but notice the sheer size of the Australians. They may not have played much Test rugby in three years [five matches] but they certainly haven't missed leg day, arm day and every other day in the gym.
Not that it mattered to Ireland centre Jenny Murphy, who is a taliswoman for her defensive work. Murphy doled out three crunching tackles in the opening 10 minutes and one of them produced a turnover.
Ireland were getting a few of them - a Marie Louise Reilly lineout steal and one rampaging scrum - but it was Australia making the early running. It took Ireland 15 minutes to get into the Aussie 22 but when they did, they opened their guests up. Alison Miller should have scored but Nora Stapleton's pass was not the killer that was needed.
Claire Molloy and Heather O'Brien were smashing into contact and gaining yards, creating an overlap as Ireland dominated the phases. Eimear Consideine and Hannah Tyrrell were screaming out for the ball to go wide but scrum-half Larissa Muldoon backed herself and sniped over. Nora Stapleton converted and Ireland were 7-0 up.
The 'Wallaroos' were far from finished, though, and after probing down the right wing, they created a one-on-one on the left, with Mahalia Miller dusting Considine to make it 7-5. For the rest of the half Ireland clung on. They fully earned their standing ovation as the half ended.
The second half was more of the same, with Australia hogging the ball and Ireland wasting themselves in tackle after tackle. Miller, Murphy, Sene Naoupu and Ashleigh Baxter all made big hits but the visitors were sensing blood.
Murphy had limped off and the excellent O'Brien was not long behind when Wallaroos captain Shannon Parry crashed over close to the Irish posts. All home fans could cling to were the woeful conversion attempts of Aussie fullback Samantha Treherne and the introduction of inspirational Ireland lock Sophie Spence.
Ireland responded superbly with a break down the left by Miller and some heaving pressure of their own. It could have been any of the forwards to get the go-ahead score as several went close but it ultimately went to replacement Ciara Griffin. Stapleton's extras made it 14-10.
Ireland were not done yet.
On they piled and the Australians appeared to be wilting after their mammoth effort of the first hour. Ireland went phase after phase and made it count when, after Miller had been held up, Sophie Spence took on three Aussies and won.
The video replays were excruciating but the decision had the home support roaring in delight.
Aussie prop Hilisha Samoa crashed over for a converted try but Ireland held firm at the death. No way in hell they were being beaten today.
