Ireland finish WXV 1 with win over USA

WRAP: Ireland took advantage of USA indiscipline to come from behind and wrap up their WXV1 campaign with a 26-14 win in Vancouver.

Two tries from Hope Rogers on her 50th international appearance, either side of an Erin King reply, gave the US a 14-7 lead at half-time but a penalty try awarded after a Tahlia Brody sin-binning brought the Irish level.

Cliodhna Moloney and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe then touched down in the closing stages to win it for Ireland as the US also lost Rachel Ehrecke and Rachel Johnson to yellow cards.

The USA’s defence cost them, conceding 19 penalties alongside the three yellow cards.

Both teams moved up to WXV 1 for this year, Ireland from WXV 3, which they won last year, and the USA from WXV 2.

Ireland’s campaign ended with two wins from three, starting with their famous victory against New Zealand in the opening round before defeating the USA.

The USA Eagles moved up from WXV 2 thanks to their third-place finish in the Pacific Four Series earlier in the year, which also qualified them for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup. They leave Canada having lost all three matches against England, France, and Ireland.

Scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: King, penalty try, Moloney, Murphy Crowe
Cons: Fowley, O’Brien

For USA:
Tries: Rogers 2
Cons: Hawkins 2

Teams:

Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Eimear Considine, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Anya Breen, 11 Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, 10 Nicole Fowley, 9 Emily Lane, 8 Brittany Hogan, 7 Aoife Wafer, 6 Erin King,. 5 Fiona Tuite, 4 Dorothy Wall, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Nene Jones, 1 Niamh O’Dowd
Replacements: 16 Clíodhna Moloney, 17 Siobhán McCarthy, 18 Andrea Stock, 19 Ruth Campbell, 20 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, 21 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 22 Dannah O’Brien, 23 Eve Higgins

USA: 15 Bulou Mataitoga, 14 Cheta Emba, 13 Alev Kelter, 12 Cabby Cantorna, 11 Lotte Sharp, 10 McKenzie Hawkins, 9 Cassidy Bargell, 8 Rachel Johnson, 7 Kate Zackary (captain), 6 Tahlia Broday, 5 Hallie Taufoou, 4 Erica Jarrell, 3 Charli Jacoby, 2 Kathryn Treder, 1 Hope Rogers
Replacements: 16 Paige Stathopoulos, 17 Maya Learned, 18 Keia Mae Sagapolu, 19 Rachel Ehrecke, 20 Tessa Hann, 21 Taina Tukuafu, 22 Emily Henrich 23 Tess Feury