Wafer stars in Ireland rout of Wales

MATCH REPORT: Stand-out forward Aoife Wafer crossed for two tries as Ireland ran out convincing 40-14 winners over Wales in the women’s Six Nations Championships in Newport on Sunday.

Along with No.8 Wafer, teammates Linda Djougang and Dorothy Wall also each crossed for two tries.

Wales had taken an early lead through Carys Cox, but were on the back foot for most of the game against a dominant Ireland side.

Wales replacement Hannah Bluck scored a second try for the home team in the second-half, but it was not enough to keep the Welsh from heading for a wooden spoon after a fourth defeat from four matches.

England set up a Grand Slam decider against France at Twickenham next weekend with a 59-7 rout of Scotland on Saturday.

France were far less impressive as they were forced to come from 21-12 behind at half-time to beat Italy 34-21 for their fourth win of the championship.

England are big favourites to secure a seventh consecutive Women’s Six Nations title after extending their winning run to 24 matches with a nine-try display at Leicester’s Welford Road.

The scorers

For Wales
Tries: Cox, Bluck
Cons: Bevan 2

For Ireland
Tries: Djougang 2, Waffer 2, Wall 2
Cons: O’Brien 3, Breen 2

Teams

Wales: 15 Jasmine Joyce, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones (captain), 12 Courtney Keight, 11 Carys Cox, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Alex Callender, 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Kate Williams, 5 Georgia Evans, 4 Abbie Fleming, 3 Jenni Scoble, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs.
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Maisie Davies, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Natalia John, 20 Alaw Pyrs, 21 Sian Jones, 22 Lleucu George, 23 Catherine Richards..

Ireland: 15 Stacey Flood, 14 Anna McGann, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Enya Breen, 11 Amee-Leigh, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 7 Edel McMahon (captain), 6 Brittany Hogan, 5 Dorothy Wall, 4 Ruth Campbell, 8 Aoife Wafer, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Siobhán McCarthy.
Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Sadhbh McGrath, 18 Christy Haney, 19 Fiona Tuite, 20 Claire Boles, 21 Emily Lane, 22 Eve Higgins, 23 Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

Referee: Lauren Jenner (Italy)
Assistant referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Maria Heitor (Portyugla)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)