Seven-try Irish Beat Spain To Make Quarter-finals

Women's World Cup - Pool C

Ireland (24) 43

Tries: O'Brien, Costigan, Higgins, McGann 2, Moore 2 Cons: O'Brien 4

Spain (12) 27

Tries: C Perez, Roman, Pena-Hildago, Alameda, Blanco Cons: Argudo

Ireland precocious to nan Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals pinch a seven-try triumph complete Spain astatine Franklin's Gardens.

Scott Bemand's side, who did suffice for nan past World Cup successful New Zealand, had their bonus-point wrapped up by half-time but were made to activity for nan 43-27 triumph against a spirited Spanish side.

Anna McGann and Grace Moore some crossed doubly for Ireland but Spain managed 5 scores of their ain successful a crippled nan victors did not make safe until midway done nan 2nd half.

Despite their progression to nan knock-out phase, it was not a wholly affirmative day for Ireland who mislaid co-captain Sam Monaghan to wounded successful nan first half.

Already without Erin King and Dorothy Wall for nan World Cup, and pinch Aoife Wafer yet to characteristic astatine nan tournament, Ireland will effort to unafraid apical spot successful Pool C erstwhile they meet New Zealand successful Brighton connected Sunday, 7 September.

Ireland's guidance squad had called for different speedy commencement successful Franklin's Gardens and sewage conscionable that erstwhile Dannah O'Brien crossed for her first world effort aft only 7 minutes.

The 21-year-old fly-half started nan move pinch a testing footwear to nan Spanish backfield, though winger Amee-Leigh Costigan deserved plentifulness of in installments for chasing guardant to declare nan loose ball. From there, Ireland worked nan shot backmost wrong for O'Brien to cross.

After going six-from-six disconnected nan tee successful nan opening triumph complete Japan, O'Brien converted her ain people though missed 3 conversions and a punishment thereafter.

On their adjacent sojourn to nan Spanish 22, Ireland scored again aft knocking a punishment to nan area and utilizing nan maul to summation crushed earlier nan shot was released to nan backs and Costigan went complete successful nan corner.

Despite making 7 changes from nan triumph complete Japan a week prior, it appeared that Ireland had not missed a beat.

Spain person proved an awkward force for Ireland successful nan caller past however, and this was to beryllium nary different.

Using their maul to group nan platform, winger Claudia Perez was nan beneficiary of her forwards' bully activity that allowed her to scamper complete successful nan area for nan score.

Five minutes later, Spain attacked disconnected nan maul again and this clip location was nary request to merchandise nan shot to nan backs arsenic hooker Marieta Roman barged crossed nan whitewash and Amalia Argudo's conversion from nan touchline levelled nan score.

After a punishment from O'Brien came backmost disconnected nan station arsenic Ireland sought to quickly regain nan lead, tries from Eve Higgins and Anna McGann ensured they would person their four-score prize successful nan container earlier half-time.

The game, however, still needed to beryllium won, each nan much truthful erstwhile 3 minutes aft nan restart centre Claudia Pena scored Spain's 3rd of nan day to make it a one-score crippled erstwhile again.

Only then, did Ireland really return power of nan high-scoring title pinch number 8 Grace Moore to nan fore.

The side's backmost statement extent has been greatly tested astatine this tourney pinch King and Wall some suffering injuries during nan Six Nations that ruled them retired nan World Cup.

When Wafer will make her tourney front has been a accordant mobility passim nan side's 2 weeks successful Northampton but it was replacement number 8 Moore who helped Ireland yet prehend power of nan game.

Consistently picking bully lines to lucifer her powerful carrying, her brace of tries were separated by 10 minutes and gave Ireland their biggest lead of nan time conscionable awkward of nan hour-mark.

Lourdes Alameda and McGann traded scores arsenic Spain secured a try-bonus of their own, and it was nan beaten broadside who had nan last opportunity erstwhile Cristina Blanco scored disconnected an inventive line-out pinch nan past play of nan game.

Ireland will hold connected news of Monaghan's wounded and, of course, of Wafer's fittingness but that specified a rotated broadside helped nan broadside into nan past 8 will only augur good up of nan greater challenges to come.

Ireland: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan; O'Brien, Scuffil-McCabe; Perry, Moloney, Djougang; Corri-Fallon, Monaghan (co-capt); Tuite, Boles, Moore.

Replacements: Jones, McCarthy, McGrath, Campbell, Hogan, Lane, Breen, McGillvray.

Spain: Argudo, C Perez, Pena-Hidalgo, Cano, Piquero, Z. Perez, Fernandez de Corres, Silva, Roman, E. Garcia, Alameda, Martinez, Pineiro, Peralta, V. Perez

Replacements: Blanco, Delgado, de Andres, Puig, Castelo, N. Garcia, Vergara, Ducher

Referee: Kat Roche (USA)