A bumber Rodney Parade crowd bore witness to a dominant Irish display as they defeated Wales 14-40 in the Six Nations.
Both sides came into the game on the back of defeats with Ireland losing at home to England last time out with Wales defeated in France, however it was the visitors who would go home with all five points.
Ireland’s forward power proved too much for Wales as Linda Djougang, Aoife Wafer and Dorothy Wall all scored a brace as they set-up a third-place showdown with Scotland next weekend.
Wales’ tries came from wing Carys Cox and replacement centre Hannah Bluck with Sean Lynn’s side set to face Italy in a wooden spoon showdown next weekend.
However, it was the home side who started strongest, dealing with some early Irish pressure before a lovely Lleucu George grubber kick caused issues in the opposition backfield with Jasmine Joyce’s thumping hit causing the ball to fall for Carys Cox who gratefully pounced with Keira Bevan slotting the extras.
Irish errors along were allowing Wales into the game with Lleucu George’s boot alleviating the pressure while their back row, including the returning were a nuisance at the break down.
While Wales were utilising George’s boot to great effect, Ireland weren’t shy of putting the ball on the toe either with a brilliant Dannah O’Brien Crossfield kick gathered by Amee-Leigh Costigan who almost went all the way to the line.
Moments later Ireland would have their first score as George’s missed kick to touch was countered by the superb Stacey Flood with the full back finding Aoife Wafer wide on the left flank before the ball was recycled and prop Djougang burst through some would-be tacklers to dot down.
With the threatening Flood leading counterattacks from the back along with powerful forwards, Ireland seemed dangerous whenever they were able to go through the phases and another counter from the fullback led to the forwards powering through phase after phase before Wafer went over from a yard out.
With fewer than five minutes remaining of the half time Ireland were reduced to 14 however as Irish 10 O’Brien saw yellow for a high shot on Callender with Wales almost taking immediate advantage only to be penalised for holding on, as they began to fall foul of the referee.
The penalty count was starting to hurt Wales who were struggling for territory as a result with Ireland able to pin the home side back even in their fly-half’s absence.
Eventually the pressure told and as Ireland reverted to their forward pack, crashing over having been held up moments earlier with Wall the scorer right at the end of the first half to lead 7-21 at the break.
The contrast between the two sides’ lineouts was stark, Ireland assured and measured with Wales making errors and it was through that set-piece that Ireland would score their bonus point try as Wall was driven over from a maul at the start of the second 40.
Ireland continued their forward dominance and Wales were struggling for possession and territory and after battering away, Molly Scuffil-McCabe’s pass picked off the blitzing Welsh defence with Djougang going over for her second.
Wales did strike back however with centre Hannah Bluck, a late call-up to the 23 making an immediate impact after coming on, scoring just before the hour mark, stretching over.
On the back of a dominant scrum Wafer went over for her second as Ireland hit the 40 mark.
Ireland should have had a seventh try with seven minutes remaining, only for the otherwise faultless Flood to drop the ball with the try-line beckoning.
Wales: Jasmine Joyce; Lisa Neumann, Hannah Jones (capt.), Courtney Keight, Carys Cox; Lleucu George, Keira Bevan; Gwenllian Pyrs, Kelsey Jones, Jenni Scoble, Abbie Fleming, Georgia Evans, Kate Williams, Bethan Lewis, Alex Callender.
Replacements: Carys Phillips, Maisie Davies, Donna Rose, Natalia John, Alaw Pyrs, Sian Jones, Hannah Bluck, Catherine Richards.
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Siobhan McCarthy, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang, Ruth Campbell, Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan, Edel McMahon (capt.) Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Cuodhna Moloney, Sadhbh McGrath, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
