Ireland shock world champions New Zealand in Vancouver
Ireland’s women produced an upset as they stunned world champions New Zealand 29-27 in their opening WXV 1 encounter in Vancouver.
Replacement Erin King grabbed her second try to level the scores in the last minute, outside-half Dannah O’Brien holding her nerve to land the decisive conversion via the upright.
New Zealand, who face defending champions England on Sunday, had the bulk of possession throughout the game and had three tries ruled out by the TMO, but Ireland stood firm and seized their chances to run in five tries.
Hooker Atlanta Lolohea got New Zealand off to a fast start, grabbing the opening score after nine minutes.
Renee Holmes added the conversion and was on target again with a penalty after Ireland flanker Aoife Wafer had gone over for the first of her two tries.
Wafer touched down again just after the half-hour, Gloucester-Hartpury hooker Neve Jones also crossing before the break as Ireland opened a surprise 17-10 lead.
But the world champions were level at the break, wing Katelyn Vahaakolo scoring at the end of the half with Holmes adding the conversion.
Holmes put New Zealand back in front with a penalty just before the hour, but that was all they could manage with Irish prop Niamh O’Dowd in the sin bin.
King’s first try put Ireland back ahead, but thoughts of a shock result appeared to have been ended when Mererangi Paul rounded off a sweeping move, Holmes adding her third conversion for a five-point lead.
But Ireland would not lie down and after relentless late pressure, King powered over for her second to set up O’Brien’s clinching penalty.
Ireland face hosts Canada in their next game on Saturday.
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i wouldnt call it a failure and wouldnt call it a success but even as they won three and lost three. breaking the wellington hodo something foster couldnt do
Go to commentsCane got involved in a scuffle in the 2nd test when NZ were under pressure and POM had a word with him which. This is normal on a rugby pitch. When the match was over hands were shaken respect was shown to NZ.
In Paris Ioane called the Irish captain a 'c**t' after the final whistle. Retallick abused POM and then Ioane twice abused Irelands supporters. Foster and Cane later supported this behaviour.
There is no equivalence between that and a bit of sledging during the match in Wellington. Apparently Ioane (and bizarrely NZ WAGs) continued to post taunts to Irish team members and supporters that evening. There is no way NZ were behaving that way over sledging. They were behaving that way over the loss of the NZ series.
There doesn't seem to be any chance of NZ showing honour and putting their hand up.
Hhowever, it would be nice if even one Kiwi could put their hand up.ans say, you know what happenned after the final whistle was disrespectful to Ireland. It was wrong, we dont disrespect Ireland.
It is clear that the series loss caused a massive amount of pain for NZ and for Foster. But you must understand this is not a reason to disrespect Ireland as NZ did after the final whistle.
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