ON A DAY when Ireland’s skills let them down and they trusted their fate to a direct route one approach to overcome Japan, most of the day’s other winners managed to show off crisp, clean handling as they hit a World Cup stride.
World Rugby’s top five tries from matchday two feature an odd choice in the simple sniping run of Canada’s Lori Josephson, but outside of that it’s instructive to see how other teams are thriving by moving targets.
New Zealand were always set for win over Hong Kong, but they showed their ruthless streak by having fun with the ball along the way. They pop off four offloads – and a few passes besides – just in the lead-up to prop Sosoli Talawadua’s score.
England followed the Black Ferns onto Billings Park and were able to show flashes of the same skills, but it’s the variation of (number 22) Katy McLean’s passing that keeps the target out of reach for Italy on this particular score.
The USA combined individual pace and power with the lighter touch of the Sevens talents pushing their game along as they brilliantly flung the ball from right to left after Naya Tapper’s big break from her own 22.
The number one try, from the athletic Romane Menager, was a brilliant individual run too. But it was three swift passes that cut out six drifting defenders that allowed the French openside to power onto the pill in midfield.
A lot to love, and a lot to learn from for an Ireland team who have yet to show their best in attack at this World Cup.
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