It was a result, even more shocking than the Marcoussis meltdown of 2014 when Ireland eliminated New Zealand from the Rugby World Cup. Back then there was no official competition splitting countries according to world rankings. In a year Ireland has jumped two divisions and silenced a big dog.
Ireland’s victory was thoroughly deserved. They capitalised on a wealth of Black Ferns' errors and missed opportunities. Their breakdown work was vastly superior. Repeatedly the Black Ferns were isolated, missed cleans, or rushed into error or poor judgment by Irish hustle. The final turnover count was 11-3 to Ireland. The Black Ferns made 15 handling errors compared to Ireland’s eight.
The winning try was scored by substitute Erin King in the 78th minute. Down 27-22, Ireland was attacking inside the Black Ferns 22 when fullback Renne Holmes intercepted but was isolated and stripped at the ruck by Irish fullback Stacey Flood, who made a try-saving steal on Layla Sae.
Ireland deposited the ball into touch five metres out from the Black Ferns line. Cunning deception saw loosehead prop Niamh O’Dowd claim possession unmarked at the front. Iritana Hohaia bravely clung on but her cavalry could retreat in time and King muscled over as she had done earlier in the match.
The conversion to propel Ireland ahead was 15 metres in 25 metres out. Niamh O’Dowd struck the ball crisply with her left foot and kissed the right side of the posts. Unlike a previous kick that bounced wide, the luck of the Irish was on her side this time as the score became 29-27. There was still time for a restart, but the Black Ferns couldn’t find the ten-metre mark.
“Lost for words, unbelievable. I knew we had belief and that was absolutely amazing,” elated Ireland captain Edel McMahon said.
“We work hard; we challenge each other daily; just bloody hard work.”
Earlier it appeared Ireland was set for a long slog. The Black Ferns started with vibrance; in the first ten minutes, Ireland only gained eight metres with possession.
When Atlanta Lolohea was on target with a lineout throw, the hooker barged over for a try in the ninth minute of her first Test start.
The first chink in the Black Ferns amour appeared shortly afterward when a five-metre scrum was conceded after wayward passing. Blindside Aoife Wafer, who scored twice in a 36-10 win against Australia, surged over from a quick penalty tap.
Wafer was named player of the match. She was a beast at the breakdowns and scored a second try identically after 29 minutes.
Ireland seized the lead in the 36th minute, their unsubtle, direct approach suiting hooker Neve Jones
There weren’t many holes in the Irish defence but Katelyn Vahaakolo doesn’t need much of a sniff, blasting 30 metres after a clever Maia Joseph switch pass.
There was a chapter of missed chances for the Black Ferns to start the second half. Sylvia Brunt dropped the ball over the line.
Vahaakolo threw a forward pass to Sae with only vacant pasture ahead. In the 51st minute, Mererangi Paul showed better footwork than Beyonce to dance past three defenders and dot down only for the try to be disallowed after a knock-on at the maul before. Irish prop Niamh O’Dowd was yellow carded for deliberating collapsing that thrust before New Zealand infringed; Maia Ross obstructed Ireland after Luka Connor thought she had scored her seventh test try.
Sevens stalwart Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe shifted momentum back to Ireland with a 30-metre break. In the 65th minute, Holmes went for a wander and was blind-sighted in a tackle by Murphy Crowe, Siobhán McCarthy, a replacement for O’Brien, got over the ball and won a turnover.
From a lineout, Clíodhna Moloney was bravely stopped by Iritana Hohaia but Erin King, in her second Test wouldn’t be denied. O’Brien hit the post with her conversion attempt.
Down 22-20 the Black Ferns regained ascendancy with seven minutes left. Second five-eighth Sylvia Brunt powered through three tackles and delivered a sightless offload to Liana Mikaele-Tu'u who wriggled a pass to Mererangi Paul. Holmes was flawless from the tee but Ireland refused to yield, structure, discipline, and aggression unsettling a sometimes startled-looking Black Ferns.
Mikaele-Tu'u topped the tackle count with 16 followed by Sae with 14. Irish No.8 Brittany Hogan ploughed through 18 tackles.
Black Ferns Co-Captain Kennedy Tukuafu reflected, “Proud a lot of the effort. It was a hungry Irish side. Disappointed. We go back to the drawing board and get up for the next two games.”
The Black Ferns next assignment is against reigning WXV 1 champion England on October 7. England stretched their winning run to 18 successive matches toppling the USA 61-21. England converted eight of their nine tries. Ellie Kildunne scored twice for England, and Alev Kelter twice for the USA. In the other WXV I fixture Canada overpowered France 46-24. Canada outscored the French seven tries to four with winger Fancy Bermudez and lock Laetitia Royer each dotting down twice for Canada.
Black Ferns: 27 (Atlanta Lolohea, Katelyn Vahaakolo, Mererangi Paul; Renee Holmes 3 con, 2 pens) Ireland: 29 (Aoife Wafer 2, Neve Jones, Erin King 2 tries; Dannah O’Brien 2 con) HT: 17-17