Ireland were beaten 49-5 by England in Virgin Media Park but, after a heroic first half from the hosts, we dared to hope the Red Rose might be denied another Six Nations tryfest.
Amee-Leigh Costigan, filling in for Edel McMahon, made her third run out as captain one to remember by stunning England to put five on the scoreboard in her home province of Munster.
From a failed Irish lineout, a frustrating part of Ireland's play, Costigan picked the ball from a Dannah O'Brien chip, easily outsprinting Abby Dow on the left wing. O'Brien missed the conversion to keep it 5-0 just before the 30-minute mark.
Captain fantastic Amy Lee Costigan gives Ireland the lead against England in Cork!
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 12, 2025
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That try seemed to shake the Red Roses to life and they responded six minutes later. Morwenna Talling got the visitors level from a rolling maul, Dorothy Wall tried her best to get a hand under it but after a quick TMO check it was given and Zoe Harrison converted her first of the afternoon to put England two ahead.
Ireland battled impressively in the first 45 minutes, England seemed rattled, this was not a position they were used to being in, in the last four games they had secured their bonus point by half-time.
The scrum proved tricky for Ireland in the first half in particular with four penalties and a warning for Niamh O'Dowd.
Right at the end of the first half, with the clock red, Erin King turned over possession in the ruck on the Irish 22, eventually leading to an Ireland scrum at a crucial time. Emily Lane dribbled it out and the Irish were straight into the changing rooms as England got a talking to from Harrison on the pitch.
The second half was a different story, though, as Sarah Bern, who has made headlines in this tournament with a TikTok dance, crashed over twice and Ellie Kildunne scored a fine individual effort in a seven-try display to help England take another step towards a fourth successive Grand Slam.
With Mitchell’s words still ringing in the ears of the England players, Jess Breach was denied a try by the TMO before Ireland’s O’Dowd was sin-binned for repeated scrum infringements.
England did not need long to make their numerical advantage count as Harrison crossed before Megan Jones grabbed a try after unselfish play by Dow.
O’Dowd was sent back on at this point, but the floodgates were open and Bern sealed a bonus point after England recycled the ball well.
It was quickly followed by another for Bern before Kildunne produced a brilliant sixth try for England as she skipped past O’Dowd and raced away from two other Irish players to score a fine solo effort.
The final word went to Kelsey Clifford, who managed to go in under the posts late on for her first England try, and Harrison added a seventh successful conversion.
Ireland scorers: Try: Costigan
England scorers: Tries: Bern 2, Harrison, Dow, Talling, Kildunne, Clifford. Cons: Harrison 7.
Ireland: S Flood; A McGann, A Dalton, E Higgins, A-L Costigan capt; D O'Brien, E Lane; N O'Dowd, N Jones, L Djougang, F Tuite, D Wall, B Hogan, E King, A Wafer.
Replacements: A Reilly for E Lane (56), V Elmes Kinlan for A McGann (59), N Fowley for D O'Brien (59), C Moloney for N Jones (59), C Haney for L Djougang (71), G Moore for F Tuite (54)
England: E Kildunne; A Dow, M Jones, T Heard, J Breach; Z Harrison, N Hunt; H Botterman, L Atkin-Davies, M Muir, M Talling, A Ward, Z Aldcroft capt, S Kabeya, A Matthews.
Replacements: L Packer for N Hunt (53), S Bern for M Muir (53), A Cokayne for H Botterman (53), K Clifford for L Atkin-Davies (53), Feaunati for S Kabeya (59), R Galligan for M Talling (62), H Rowland for J Breach (67), H Aitchison for T Heard (69)
Referee: Aurelie Groizeleau (France)
