Ireland produced a statement performance to get their Guinness Women's Six Nations up and running, with a sensational first half setting them on their way for a 57-20 win against Italy at Dexcom Stadium.
For the second year in a row, Scott Bemand’s side broke the 50-point mark in this fixture, putting last week’s defeat to England firmly behind them with a ruthless attacking display.
In front of a record crowd of 9,206 for a home Women’s Six Nations game, it was a day to remember for Galway’s own Beibhinn Parsons as she scored a first half hat-trick in her home county, with Ireland roaring out to a 45-10 lead by half time.
The third of those tries was the pick of the lot, as the Ballinasloe winger got her hands on the ball three times in a single phase before finishing what will be a Try of the Championship contender.
As good as Parsons (below) was on the day, it was Aoife Wafer who produced a performance for the ages as she rebounded from an usually quiet afternoon at Twickenham last week to terrorise the Italian defence.
The number 8 had a hand in every one of Ireland’s first seven tries, scoring one of her own and logging 12 carries for a whopping 84 metres before departing for Dorothy Wall on 54 minutes, win the win safely secure.
Ireland’s bonus-point was in the bag after just 23 minutes, while they scored seven in a blistering first half; 20-year-old Robyn O’Connor marked her Test debut with a try, while Emily Lane, Wafer and Ellena Perry also crossed the line before the break.
Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Brittany Hogan also registered tries in what turned out to be a much more even second half, while Dannah O’Brien slotted six conversions in a commanding performance, as Ireland warmed up in style for their crunch trip to France next week.
Having started slowly at Twickenham a week ago, Ireland made the perfect start with Lane’s try after just four minutes.
Stacey Flood sent them on the attack when she charged onto a high ball and into space, with Wafer and Linda Djougang’s strong carries bringing them into the 22.
Italy infringed at the breakdown, and Lane (below) was quick off the mark to take a quick-tap, slicing through a gap to run in and score, with O’Brien converting for 7-0.
Two quick penalties killed the early momentum, and allowed the Italians an early entry to the 22, and while Aoife Dalton and Perry held Emma Stevanin up over the line, the Italians had been playing with advantage, Vittoria Vecchini eventually touching down from the resulting maul, to make it 7-5, with 10 minutes played.
It was merely a blip from the home side as they effectively killed the game with three tries in the space of 12 minutes.
First it was Wafer who touched down from the back of a maul to extend the Irish lead on 14 minutes, after the number eight’s barreling run from the back of a scrum had earned Ireland a penalty.
Two minutes later, another midfield penalty sent Ireland into the Italian 22, as Moloney-MacDonald and Wafer both carried well, before brilliant hands from O’Brien and Flood sent Parsons over in the corner, again converted by O’Brien for a 21-5 lead.
Moments later, the bonus-point was secure when the debutant O’Connor (above) dived over to score in the left corner, after great build up play from Flood and Erin King has sucked in the Italy defence.
By the half-hour mark, Parsons was in for her second try of the evening as she scorched Aura Muzzo on the outside after another Wafer run had given Ireland go-forward ball, and although Italy did hit back with a try of their own shortly after from Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi on 31 minutes, the scoreline was 31-10 by that stage, and Ireland were showing no signs of letting up.
The visitors couldn’t live with Wafer in the opening half, and once again she went on the rampage into the 22 on 34 minutes, with Perry the latest to get on the scoresheet, converted by O’Brien for 38-10.
But they saved their best for the final play of the half as the home favourite Parsons completed her hat-trick in spectacular fashion. Ireland broke from deep and close to the left touchline before an exhibition of catch-and pass; O’Connor to Parsons, Parsons to Flood, and Flood to Wafer, before the number 8 offloaded to Parsons (below) once again for the seventh try of a spectacular opening half.
The second half was just two minutes old when Ireland broke the 50-point mark, Moloney-MacDonald burrowing over the line after a sustained period of pick-and-go efforts, but Italy improved as the third quarter developed, thanks in large part to the introduction of Veronica Madia, and the out-half's try on 50 minutes cut the score back to 50-15.
Both sides loaded their benches during the third quarter, and it took the sting out of Ireland’s performance for a while, but Parsons finally got them on the attack again just after the hour mark with a break through middle, with Fiona Tuite, Eve Higgins and Anna McGann all following up with strong carries, before Sam Monaghan was held up over the tryline.
The Italian discipline was starting to creak, and with nine minutes left to play Ireland finally broke down the visitors through a series of pick-and-go efforts, Hogan forcing her way over the line, with O’Brien’s sixth conversion of the evening making it 57-15.
And although Italy did fire back with a bonus-point try through Alyssa D’Inca, it did little to dampen the mood as Ireland got their campaign up and running in style.
Scorers
Ireland: Tries: Beibhinn Parsons (3), Emily Lane, Aoife Wafer, Robyn O’Connor, Ellena Perry, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Brittany Hogan
Cons: Dannah O’Brien (6)
Italy: Tries: Vittoria Vecchini, Victoria Oustuni Minuzzi, Veronica Madia
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Nancy McGillivray, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O'Connor; Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Ellena Perry, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Fiona Tuite; Brittany Hogan, Erin King (capt), Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Niamh O’Dowd (for Perry, 52), Neve Jones (for Moloney-MacDonald, 52), Sadhbh McGrath (for Djougang, 52), Sam Monaghan (for Campbell, 52), Dorothy Wall (for Wafer, 52), Katie Whelan (for Lane, 67), Eve Higgins (for Dalton, 52), Anna McGann (for O’Connor, 55 HIA).
Italy: Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi; Gaia Buso, Alyssa D'Incà, Sara Mannini, Aura Muzzo; Emma Stevanin, Sofia Stefan; Gaia Maris, Vittoria Vecchini, Alessia Pilani; Valeria Fedrighi, Elettra Costantini; Francesca Sgorbini, Alissa Ranuccini, Elisa Giordano (capt).
Replacements: Chiara Cheli (for Vecchini, 56), Silvia Turani (for Maris, 40), Vittoria Zanette (for Pilani, 40), Giordana Duca (for Costantini, 40), Beatrice Veronese (for Ranuccini, 59), Alia Bitonci (for Stefan, 55), Veronica Madia (for Stevanin, 43), Michela Sillari (for Muzzo, 55).
Referee: Ella Goldsmith (RA)
