Ireland head coach Adam Griggs could only sit back and smile as Beibhinn Parsons grabbed Ireland's Rugby World Cup qualification campaign by the scruff of the neck in Parma today.
The Ballinasloe teenager proved the difference between Ireland and Italy, scoring the opening try of the game, before a moment of individual brilliance from the wing led to Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe's crucial score midway through the second half.
Parsons produced a moment for the ages when she skipped past seven Italian tacklers before eventually being brought to ground, with Ireland capitalising on the resulting overlap to send Murphy Crowe in to score.
That try, and the Stacey Flood conversion that followed, turned a one point lead into an eight point advantage, denying Italy a losing bonus point and putting Ireland right back into contention for qualification for the delayed 2021 RWC in New Zealand, which has been pushed back to next year.
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe touches down for Ireland as they rescue their World Cup hopes
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) September 19, 2021
Italy 7-15 Ireland https://t.co/jXCqJOITri pic.twitter.com/ahK2GiOY5q
Speaking after the 15-7 win, Ireland head coach Adam Griggs couldn't help but smile when asked about the Parsons intervention.
"She's outrageous I think at times!" he laughed.
However, ever the coach, Griggs was quick to point out the follow-up work from Ireland's backline, to eventually send Murphy Crowe into the corner for the try.
"The beauty of her collecting that ball at the back, having time and space to pick out players, that she was able to use her feet, bouncing off, getting into space quickly with that acceleration she has.
"Again, the pleasing aspect for me of that try is that once she was brought to ground we recycled the ball quickly, and I spoke about it during the week, having trust in the backs to execute.
"There was some really good draw-and-pass, using the ball to the width, and great to see Amee-Leigh on the other end of that scoring the try for us," he added.
Following that second try for Ireland, Griggs's side never looked like relinquishing control of the game, and but for a malfunctioning lineout their day could have been even better.
Two more tries for Ireland would have brought a bonus point, and sent Ireland ahead of Italy in the table.
Griggs admitted to mixed feelings after the match; a slight frustration that they couldn't grab the extra point, contrasting with his pleasure in denying Italy a losing bonus point.
"It would have been nice to execute a couple more of those opportunities but at the same time we were after the result and we were happy with that," he said.
"I think if we look at the areas of the field we were in it was definitely something we started to talk about (a bonus point) in the coaching box, but at the same time what was more important was stopping Italy from getting a bonus point.
"Defence remained our focus, making sure that they didn't cross the line and even though we had that resolve, we had the eight point buffer, it was really important they didn't get anything from the game.
"Absolutely we would have liked a couple more tries and executed some of that but at the same time stopping them coming away with anything from the game was just as important."
AS IT HAPPENED: ITALY 7-15 IRELAND
Ireland's win was built on their physicality, forcing Italy to rush their exits and shooting up with venom in defence.
But once again their set-piece struggled. Their scrum conceded three penalties in the opening half, before righting things after the break, but their lineout was a constant issue, something Griggs admits needs a lot of attention before Saturday's final game against Scotland.
"Yeah I think that's probably the one major work-on that we still need to get right," Griggs said.
"Our scrum was hugely improved and we got some really good front foot ball off that, but absolutely we've got to be smarter at calling them, and you find a lot of those lineouts that we did end up losing we were going up against their main jumpers.
"In a lineout they're going to give you space somewhere, whether it’s at the front or the back, and you’ve got to be clever to see that space and call it so you can put the ball there, and I think when we did get the lineout right the call was spot on, the lifts were good and the throw was good.
"Eight times out of 10 it was probably to the back then we got caught trying to play it to the front and we were marked up and it makes it hard to win any ball off that, so it’s definitely something we need to work on this week."
