IRELAND 36-10 AUSTRALIA
Ireland Women scored six tries as they claimed a superb 36-10 victory over Australia at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.
Scott Bemand's side's win kicked off the IRFU's 150th anniversary celebrations in style with the superb Aoife Wafer crossing twice.
Four places higher than Ireland in the ranking in fifth, the Wallaroos simply couldn't match the hosts' skill, tenacity and discipline.
The win, Ireland's second in five meetings with Australia, sets Bemand's charges up well ahead for their trip to Vancouver where they will face New Zealand, USA and Canada in WXV1.
Aoife Dalton, Eimear Considine, Eve Higgins and Clíodhna Moloney scored the other tries with Dannah O'Brien and Enya Breen (2) adding conversions in what was Ireland's best performance under Bemand since he took over in the summer of 2023.
It was almost the perfect start from Ireland.
Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe earned a jackal penalty and Ireland moved into the 22 with a maul that Australia had no choice but to pull down.
Initially the visitors repelled Ireland but forwards and backs stayed patient and scrambled cleverly when a couple of passes didn't go to hand.
Linda Djougang was stopped on the line but centre Dalton (below) wriggled over for a score converted by O'Brien.
But Australia hit back straight away, working good position after Ireland were penalised at a scrum.
Cecilia Smith and Desiree Miller punched holes up the middle before winger Maya Stewart straightened up between two Irish defenders to touch down.
Then it was Ireland's turn with the ball in hand and following a lineout close to the line, Ireland recycled before O'Brien popped a perfect pass to Wafer (below) who powered over for her third international try.
It was all attack for the opening 20 minutes but Ireland will have been just as pleased with their first successive defensive set with big Breen and Niamh O'Dowd hits halting Aussie momentum.
Working off a solid lineout for the most part, and a better breakdown effort, Ireland stayed in the opposition half for a prolonged spell but three poor handing errors let Australia off.
After absorbing that pressure, the Wallaroos got back into the Irish 22 but Considine, playing her first international in over two years, was calm in the back field and the threat fizzled out.
The hosts had the last say of the half when Australia scrum-half Natalie Wright's pass fell between two of her team-mates on halfway and Considine pounced.
The full-back fly-hacked the ball, collected and raced in from 25 yards out to give Ireland a 17-5 half-time lead.
The start of the second half was frantic with turnovers, half breaks and penalty concessions with neither side taking the upper hand although Murphy Crowe was denied a good chance when the referee called a forward pass from Dalton in midfield. It looked harsh.
Both sides introduced a number of replacements in the 52nd minute with Sevens mainstays Stacey Flood, Higgins and debutant Erin King adding impetus to the Irish attack.
It was King's powerful surge that brought Ireland to within five metres of the line, and a series of carries, including one from the excellent Ruth Campbell on debut, led to their fourth try, Higgins showing her guile to work her way over the line.
Breen converted to give Ireland a 19-point lead with less than 20 minutes to play.
Ireland were beginning to have fun and a multi-phase move preceded a disallowed Djougang effort but Wafer made amends moments later when she scored in the corner.
Steward finished off a fine backs move for her second from the restart but it was far too little to late from Jo Yapp's side.
It was only fitting that Ireland had the last say and Moloney was at the back of a lineout maul to touchdown with the final play of the game.
Ireland scorers - Tries: Aoife Dalton, Aoife Wafer (2), Eimear Considine, Eve Higgins, Clíodhna Moloney
Cons: Dannah O'Brien, Enya Breen (2)
Australia scorers: Tries: Maya Stewart (2)
Ireland: Eimear Considine; Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Dorothy Wall, Ruth Campbell; Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon (capt), Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Christy Haney, Fiona Tuite, Erin King, Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood.
Australia: Lori Cramer; Maya Stewart, Georgina Friedrichs, Cecilia Smith, Desiree Miller; Faitala Moleka, Natalie Wright; Bridie O'Gorman, Ashley Marsters, Eva Karpani; Kaitlan Leaney, Michaela Leonard; Siokapesi Palu (capt), Leilani Nathan, Tabua Tuinakauvadra.
Replacements: Tiarna Molloy, Alapeta Ngauamo, Lydia Kavoa, Tiarah Minns, Lucy Dinnen, Layne Morgan, Arabella McKenzie, Biola Dawa.
Referee: Clara Munarini (Ita)
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