Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Ireland’s final Pool C clash at the Women’s Rugby World Cup: they’ll face world champions New Zealand in a straight shootout for top spot from 2:45pm.
Both sides have already qualified for the quarter-finals, but a win here would likely mean avoiding France in the last eight and instead facing South Africa.
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Ireland upset New Zealand when they last met in the WXV 12 months ago. Can they do it again, this time without Aoife Wafer, Dorothy Wall, and Erin King?
We’ll find out this afternoon.
7 Sep
2:23PM
A late change for Ireland
Ireland will make one change to the side named during the week.
Ellena Perry has been ruled out through injury, with Niamh O’Dowd — aka ‘NOD’ — starting at loosehead and Siobhan McCarthy onto the bench.
Ireland believe Perry can still make next week’s quarter-final, so it could be a precautionary decision with that in mind.
There is a late change to our Match Day Squad as Ellena Perry has unfortunately been ruled out through injury, with Niamh O’Dowd coming into the starting team and Siobhan McCarthy onto the bench. #WeAreIrelandpic.twitter.com/VImNIRjcjQ
To put the challenge facing Ireland today into context, New Zealand are around 1/80 favourites for this game, and the handicap is 27 points.
The world champs are a very different prospect to the side that lost to Ireland in September 2024, and equally Ireland are without three of their key players as well as their defence coach from that memorable day in Vancouver.
This is a tall order, but it also pales in significance to a quarter-final next week.
A pool-topping victory is unlikely but c’mere, it was unlikely 12 months ago as well.
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
7 Sep
2:38PM
A 31,000 sellout for this one at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion, the Amex Stadium.
A majority of the fans would appear to be Irish.
A special occasion on England’s south coast.
Ireland are wearing their alternate jerseys, white with a purple trim. Might have been a contractual stipulation with Canterbury to give that kit a run-out or something, because New Zealand are naturally in all black, which obviously doesn’t clash with green.
7 Sep
2:41PM
Ireland’s Call pumping around the Amex now. Serious volume from the fans present. You’d be tempted to say it’ll feel like a home game for Ireland but, in fairness, their home games aren’t like this — it’s bigger, it’s louder.
7 Sep
2:42PM
Haka time…
7 Sep
2:50PM
2′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Excellent start by Ireland who win a penalty from referee Hollie Davidson between the New Zealand 10′ and 22′.
Dannah O’Brien will kick to touch — and she drops one to within inches of the Black Ferns’ line. Excellent kick. Five-metre lineout for Ireland!
7 Sep
2:51PM
4′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Ireland miss their opportunity as they’re bundled into touch off the lineout but New Zealand then knock on from their own five-metre lineout! It’s one of the rare weaknesses in their game.
Ireland will get a scrum five. Another superb attacking opportunity.
7 Sep
2:53PM
6′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Ireland get the ball out just on time and Eve Higgins crashes the ball up to within inches of the line.
Aoibheann Reilly’s pass from the subsequent ruck, though, bounces off the head of Edel McMahon and is eventually knocked on by Ireland. Chance gone. Black Fern scrum on their own 5′.
7 Sep
3:00PM
11′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Relentless defence by New Zealand on halfway, they just keep blasting Ireland back. They eventually win a penalty for sealing off and Ruahei Demant line-kicks the Black Ferns deep into Irish territory.
Ireland, though, force a knock-on on the ground inside their own 22′.
7 Sep
3:02PM
13′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Short delay here because they’re British government are testing out their national alert system on people’s phones.
So, basically, 31,000 phones — or near enough — have buzzed in the stand. Aaaand now the action can resume with a scrum to Ireland inside their own 22′.
Chryss Viliko with the finish! From the five-metre lineout, the Black Ferns turn their nose up at the maul. Ireland, expecting a maul, don’t contest.
Sylvia Brunt runs a beautiful switch line and thunders up towards the Irish line. While she’s stopped short, loosehead Viliko barges over shortly afterwards.
Holmes’ conversion is denied as Ireland grab the ball off her tee after she had started her run-up.
7 Sep
3:20PM
26′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: It’s all New Zealand, really. Their defence has been ravenous and they’re increasingly playing in Ireland’s half.
Their latest attack, though, sees an offload fly over the head of Jorja Miller into touch. Ireland need to win the lineout and exit from near their own 5′ — and they do, but Dannah O’Brien’s kick remains infield.
Back come New Zealand again — but a crossfield kick bounces into touch. Ireland lineout again, this time on their own 22′.
7 Sep
3:21PM
27′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Ireland lose their own lineout but Georgie Ponsonby spills forward after an awkward pass from the base of a ruck by Risaleaana Pouri-Lane.
So, Ireland will get the put-in to the scrum. But this is exhausting stuff.
7 Sep
3:24PM
29′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Late replacement Niamh O’Dowd wins the scrum penalty off Tanya Kalounivale! Huge moment for ‘NOD’.
Ireland go to touch near halfway and from there, they win another penalty at the lineout as Liana Mikaele-Tu’u is pinged for jumping across.
7 Sep
3:26PM
31′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Ireland with the attacking platform outside the New Zealand 22′. They rescue a dodgy lineout and Linda Djougang earns them some initial yardage but New Zealand’s defence is just so oppressive.
Ireland wind up back on halfway and O’Brien is forced to kick the ball away.
This is exceptional D by the Black Ferns.
7 Sep
3:29PM
34′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Stacey Flood is down and audibly in a lot of pain. It looked like Grace Moore stood on her foot. Doesn’t sound good for Flood, she’s in tears.
This would be such a huge blow for Ireland — next week, whatever about today — if it’s a metatarsal injury or something to that effect.
7 Sep
3:31PM
33′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Flood’s foot is already wrapped up in a brace and she’s being carted off the pitch. That’s gutting. Tough to see her returning next week.
Eve Higgins is gone to fullback and Nancy McGillivray is on in midfield.
7 Sep
3:32PM
35′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: The Black Ferns choke an Irish maul and win a turnover in their own 22′.
More supreme defence by the world champions. Ireland have gotten absolutely no change out of them so far today.
It’s been all New Zealand, there’s no other way to say it.
Ireland’s primary concern will be for Stacey Flood, who was carted off with a bad-looking foot injury.
The Black Ferns have been extraordinary in defence and patchy in attack, but Ireland have had no answers, really, to the clear favourites in this game.
41′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: Hollie Davidson is ready to go and Renee Holmes restarts the action at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.
7 Sep
4:00PM
44′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: Ireland produce a long, strong attacking set but New Zealand hold them out once more. I thought Ireland had a penalty advantage for a deliberate knock-on, but play is currently stopped as Edel McMahon receives treatment on her already-strapped knee.
We’ll see how and where Davidson resumes play shortly.
7 Sep
4:02PM
45′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: McMahon coming off, but walking off under her own weight. Hopefully just a precautionary swap. Claire Boles replaces the co-captain.
Anna McGann is on for Beibhinn Parsons, too.
Play did resume with an Irish scrum but New Zealand won it against the head with a big wheel.
7 Sep
4:10PM
51′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: New Zealand squander a certain try after a botched crossfield kick by Holmes — and Ireland then come within inches of their first score as Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe chases a kick into the in-goal area but it just — just — eludes her and rolls dead.
Sickener!
7 Sep
4:15PM
56′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: New Zealand knocking on the door again now and they win a penalty as McGillivray is pinged for a deliberate knock-on. They go to touch, with Holmes taking them to within about 15 of the Irish line.
Glorious. Stacey Waaka, my player of the match so far, with the one-handed offload to Renee Holmes. She feeds Sorensen-McGee down the right, who runs in her fifth try of the tournament!
Holmes adds the extras from near the right-hand touchline once more.
That’s the bonus point for New Zealand, which is immaterial at this stage.
7 Sep
4:23PM
64′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Ireland now attacking on the New Zealand 5′. The Black Ferns holding firm so far, as they have all day, but surely there’ll be something for Ireland here!
7 Sep
4:25PM
66′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Nah, this defence is crazy by New Zealand. Kennedy Tukuafu, the captain off the bench, wins the jackal penalty on her own 5′ after umpteen Irish phases. Ferocious stuff by the Black Ferns.
They really want that goose egg next to Ireland’s name.
An incredible defensive effort by the Black Ferns through 68 minutes. Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
7 Sep
4:29PM
69′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Ireland win a five-metre scrum from a penalty — excellent line-kick by Dannah O’Brien.
New Zealand halt them at the maul but the attack is still alive — and Ireland have another pen advantage as Jorja Miller strays offside.
7 Sep
4:31PM
72′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Ireland roll the maul to within inches but somebody gets underneath Clíodhna Moloney-McDonald and New Zealand hold her up.
No joy.
The Irish fans in Brighton have been incredible, by the way. Still creating such noise as Ireland seek only a consolation score.
7 Sep
4:36PM
74′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: New Zealand have a fifth try disallowed — they pounced on Irish sloppiness and went the length of the field, basically, but Jorja Miller knocked on a loose ball in the build-up.
It would have been a real twist of the knife as Ireland were again knocking on the door to no avail.
Beibhinn Parsons is back on the field for Eve Higgins, who appeared to take a knock to the head. Another concerning one for Scott Bemand.
BACK-TO-BACK HAT-TRICKS FOR BRAXTON SORENSEN-MCGEE!
Wow, this kid is special. Just 18 years old. She scores down the left this time. Holmes converts from the touchline once again. The wing and fullback have each been exceptional.
Try for New Zealand! Full-time: Ireland 0-40 New Zealand
81′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
Maia Joseph completes the rout as New Zealand go the length of the field. An incredible team try, but Ireland are out on their feet and discouraged at this point.
Holmes, remarkably, converts from the touchline once again. An exhibition off the tee.
New Zealand have hit Ireland for 40 with no response, and there goes the full-time whistle.
A sobering outing for Ireland, albeit a defeat was not unexpected. Need to move on. France likely next up. Park this one and pour it all into the quarter-final, hopefully with a couple of reinforcements.
Stacey Flood’s injury is a concern, while Eve Higgins also came off with a head injury. We’ll hope for the best there.
Ben Brady / INPHO
Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO
Thanks for joining The 42′s live updates from this one. Ciarán Kennedy in Brighton will have a full match report and reaction on the site.
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As it happened: Ireland suffer 40-0 loss to New Zealand in final World Cup pool game
How’re we doing, everyone?
Welcome to The 42′s live coverage of Ireland’s final Pool C clash at the Women’s Rugby World Cup: they’ll face world champions New Zealand in a straight shootout for top spot from 2:45pm.
Both sides have already qualified for the quarter-finals, but a win here would likely mean avoiding France in the last eight and instead facing South Africa.
Ireland upset New Zealand when they last met in the WXV 12 months ago. Can they do it again, this time without Aoife Wafer, Dorothy Wall, and Erin King?
We’ll find out this afternoon.
Ireland will make one change to the side named during the week.
Ellena Perry has been ruled out through injury, with Niamh O’Dowd — aka ‘NOD’ — starting at loosehead and Siobhan McCarthy onto the bench.
Ireland believe Perry can still make next week’s quarter-final, so it could be a precautionary decision with that in mind.
To put the challenge facing Ireland today into context, New Zealand are around 1/80 favourites for this game, and the handicap is 27 points.
The world champs are a very different prospect to the side that lost to Ireland in September 2024, and equally Ireland are without three of their key players as well as their defence coach from that memorable day in Vancouver.
This is a tall order, but it also pales in significance to a quarter-final next week.
A pool-topping victory is unlikely but c’mere, it was unlikely 12 months ago as well.
A 31,000 sellout for this one at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion, the Amex Stadium.
A majority of the fans would appear to be Irish.
A special occasion on England’s south coast.
Ireland are wearing their alternate jerseys, white with a purple trim. Might have been a contractual stipulation with Canterbury to give that kit a run-out or something, because New Zealand are naturally in all black, which obviously doesn’t clash with green.
Ireland’s Call pumping around the Amex now. Serious volume from the fans present. You’d be tempted to say it’ll feel like a home game for Ireland but, in fairness, their home games aren’t like this — it’s bigger, it’s louder.
Haka time…
2′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Excellent start by Ireland who win a penalty from referee Hollie Davidson between the New Zealand 10′ and 22′.
Dannah O’Brien will kick to touch — and she drops one to within inches of the Black Ferns’ line. Excellent kick. Five-metre lineout for Ireland!
4′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Ireland miss their opportunity as they’re bundled into touch off the lineout but New Zealand then knock on from their own five-metre lineout! It’s one of the rare weaknesses in their game.
Ireland will get a scrum five. Another superb attacking opportunity.
6′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Ireland get the ball out just on time and Eve Higgins crashes the ball up to within inches of the line.
Aoibheann Reilly’s pass from the subsequent ruck, though, bounces off the head of Edel McMahon and is eventually knocked on by Ireland. Chance gone. Black Fern scrum on their own 5′.
11′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Relentless defence by New Zealand on halfway, they just keep blasting Ireland back. They eventually win a penalty for sealing off and Ruahei Demant line-kicks the Black Ferns deep into Irish territory.
Ireland, though, force a knock-on on the ground inside their own 22′.
13′ – IRE 0-0 NZ: Short delay here because they’re British government are testing out their national alert system on people’s phones.
So, basically, 31,000 phones — or near enough — have buzzed in the stand. Aaaand now the action can resume with a scrum to Ireland inside their own 22′.
15′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
Stacey Waaka finishes a wonderful team attack down the right after the initial line by Liana Mikaele-Tu’u.
Renee Holmes converts from the right-hand touchline. Brilliant strike.
Ireland’s defence was left at sea, there. Ominous signs after a ferocious opening 15 minutes.
19′ – IRE 0-7 NZ: Black Ferns’ tails are up here, now. They have a five-metre attacking lineout.
20′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
Chryss Viliko with the finish! From the five-metre lineout, the Black Ferns turn their nose up at the maul. Ireland, expecting a maul, don’t contest.
Sylvia Brunt runs a beautiful switch line and thunders up towards the Irish line. While she’s stopped short, loosehead Viliko barges over shortly afterwards.
Holmes’ conversion is denied as Ireland grab the ball off her tee after she had started her run-up.
26′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: It’s all New Zealand, really. Their defence has been ravenous and they’re increasingly playing in Ireland’s half.
Their latest attack, though, sees an offload fly over the head of Jorja Miller into touch. Ireland need to win the lineout and exit from near their own 5′ — and they do, but Dannah O’Brien’s kick remains infield.
Back come New Zealand again — but a crossfield kick bounces into touch. Ireland lineout again, this time on their own 22′.
27′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Ireland lose their own lineout but Georgie Ponsonby spills forward after an awkward pass from the base of a ruck by Risaleaana Pouri-Lane.
So, Ireland will get the put-in to the scrum. But this is exhausting stuff.
29′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Late replacement Niamh O’Dowd wins the scrum penalty off Tanya Kalounivale! Huge moment for ‘NOD’.
Ireland go to touch near halfway and from there, they win another penalty at the lineout as Liana Mikaele-Tu’u is pinged for jumping across.
31′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Ireland with the attacking platform outside the New Zealand 22′. They rescue a dodgy lineout and Linda Djougang earns them some initial yardage but New Zealand’s defence is just so oppressive.
Ireland wind up back on halfway and O’Brien is forced to kick the ball away.
This is exceptional D by the Black Ferns.
34′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Stacey Flood is down and audibly in a lot of pain. It looked like Grace Moore stood on her foot. Doesn’t sound good for Flood, she’s in tears.
This would be such a huge blow for Ireland — next week, whatever about today — if it’s a metatarsal injury or something to that effect.
33′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: Flood’s foot is already wrapped up in a brace and she’s being carted off the pitch. That’s gutting. Tough to see her returning next week.
Eve Higgins is gone to fullback and Nancy McGillivray is on in midfield.
35′ – IRE 0-12 NZ: The Black Ferns choke an Irish maul and win a turnover in their own 22′.
More supreme defence by the world champions. Ireland have gotten absolutely no change out of them so far today.
37′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
The teenage sensation, Braxton Sorensen-McGee, darts down the right and evades the tackle of Higgins to score in the corner.
It was teed up by an arcing run by Waaka who caught the Irish defence very narrow.
Holmes converts from the touchline. A glorious Black Fern score.
It’s been all New Zealand, there’s no other way to say it.
Ireland’s primary concern will be for Stacey Flood, who was carted off with a bad-looking foot injury.
The Black Ferns have been extraordinary in defence and patchy in attack, but Ireland have had no answers, really, to the clear favourites in this game.
Catch you in 15!
41′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: Hollie Davidson is ready to go and Renee Holmes restarts the action at the home of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club.
44′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: Ireland produce a long, strong attacking set but New Zealand hold them out once more. I thought Ireland had a penalty advantage for a deliberate knock-on, but play is currently stopped as Edel McMahon receives treatment on her already-strapped knee.
We’ll see how and where Davidson resumes play shortly.
45′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: McMahon coming off, but walking off under her own weight. Hopefully just a precautionary swap. Claire Boles replaces the co-captain.
Anna McGann is on for Beibhinn Parsons, too.
Play did resume with an Irish scrum but New Zealand won it against the head with a big wheel.
51′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: New Zealand squander a certain try after a botched crossfield kick by Holmes — and Ireland then come within inches of their first score as Amee Leigh Murphy-Crowe chases a kick into the in-goal area but it just — just — eludes her and rolls dead.
Sickener!
56′ – IRE 0-19 NZ: New Zealand knocking on the door again now and they win a penalty as McGillivray is pinged for a deliberate knock-on. They go to touch, with Holmes taking them to within about 15 of the Irish line.
58′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
Glorious. Stacey Waaka, my player of the match so far, with the one-handed offload to Renee Holmes. She feeds Sorensen-McGee down the right, who runs in her fifth try of the tournament!
Holmes adds the extras from near the right-hand touchline once more.
That’s the bonus point for New Zealand, which is immaterial at this stage.
64′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Ireland now attacking on the New Zealand 5′. The Black Ferns holding firm so far, as they have all day, but surely there’ll be something for Ireland here!
66′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Nah, this defence is crazy by New Zealand. Kennedy Tukuafu, the captain off the bench, wins the jackal penalty on her own 5′ after umpteen Irish phases. Ferocious stuff by the Black Ferns.
They really want that goose egg next to Ireland’s name.
69′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Ireland win a five-metre scrum from a penalty — excellent line-kick by Dannah O’Brien.
New Zealand halt them at the maul but the attack is still alive — and Ireland have another pen advantage as Jorja Miller strays offside.
72′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: Ireland roll the maul to within inches but somebody gets underneath Clíodhna Moloney-McDonald and New Zealand hold her up.
No joy.
The Irish fans in Brighton have been incredible, by the way. Still creating such noise as Ireland seek only a consolation score.
74′ – IRE 0-26 NZ: New Zealand have a fifth try disallowed — they pounced on Irish sloppiness and went the length of the field, basically, but Jorja Miller knocked on a loose ball in the build-up.
It would have been a real twist of the knife as Ireland were again knocking on the door to no avail.
Beibhinn Parsons is back on the field for Eve Higgins, who appeared to take a knock to the head. Another concerning one for Scott Bemand.
79′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
BACK-TO-BACK HAT-TRICKS FOR BRAXTON SORENSEN-MCGEE!
Wow, this kid is special. Just 18 years old. She scores down the left this time. Holmes converts from the touchline once again. The wing and fullback have each been exceptional.
81′ – TRY FOR NEW ZEALAND!
Maia Joseph completes the rout as New Zealand go the length of the field. An incredible team try, but Ireland are out on their feet and discouraged at this point.
Holmes, remarkably, converts from the touchline once again. An exhibition off the tee.
New Zealand have hit Ireland for 40 with no response, and there goes the full-time whistle.
A statement by the world champs.
A sobering outing for Ireland, albeit a defeat was not unexpected. Need to move on. France likely next up. Park this one and pour it all into the quarter-final, hopefully with a couple of reinforcements.
Stacey Flood’s injury is a concern, while Eve Higgins also came off with a head injury. We’ll hope for the best there.
Thanks for joining The 42′s live updates from this one. Ciarán Kennedy in Brighton will have a full match report and reaction on the site.
Catch you next week for a big one!
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