4 days ago
More Ill-discipline cost Ireland in World Cup warm-up defeat to Canada
Canada scored seven tries on their way to a 47-26 victory over Ireland in both sides' final Women's Rugby World Cup warm-up match at the Affidea Stadium.
Ireland made 10 changes as they prepare for their first game of the tournament against Japan on August 24 but they were second best in Belfast. Canada raced into an early 14-0 lead as Florence Symonds and Justine Pelletier touched down under the posts.
Canada's Daleaka Menin was then sent to the sin bin for high contact on Ivana Kiripati and they were made to pay when the hosts halved the deficit through Beibhinn Parsons' try in the corner. Beibhinn Parsons. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Pelletier restored the 14-point lead for Canada before Ireland were reduced to 14 players when captain Neve Jones was shown yellow for conceding too many penalties. Menin barged over for a fourth try before Paige Farries helped make it 33-7 at the break.
Ireland then began the second half on top as they camped themselves inside Canada's 22. However they were unable to convert that territory into scores with more ill discipline and poor execution. This lead to Julia Schell walking under the sticks to push Canada over the 40-mark after sloppy handling lead to the ball bobbling into her hands. Anna McGann of Ireland on her way to scoring her side's third try. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
Ireland still kept knocking on the Canadian line and they finally got their score through Anna McGann who scored out wide to get Ireland's second try of the day. She then helped herself to another try after a fantastic run through the heart of the Canadian defence and Parson scored a third unanswered try as it began to look like Ireland could creep back into the game with just over 10 minutes to go as the scores were 26-40.
Prop Elena Perry came on to make her debut too as the ex-England International looked solid with the ball in hand, getting some nice carries as Ireland tried to mount a huge comeback. However it wasn't to be and it was the visitors that would get the final laugh as Sophie de Goede scored their seventh try of the day with the last play of the match, shortly after Stacey Flood was sin binned for a head collision with Canada Fly-Half Claire Gallagher.
Speaking to the BBC post-match, Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan was happy with how her team was able to turn things around following the disappointing first 40. Ireland's Sam Monaghan breaks past Tyson Beukeboom of Canada. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
'We know Canada are a physical team, they really brought it on to us in that first half. I think our discipline let us down in the first half, but we put ourselves into situations in this game that we needed to go forward.
'So I'm really proud of our second half performance, loads of work ons. We've had a big couple of weeks and I'm looking forward to the next few.
'I think we just needed to front up. You know, we need to be more physical. We didn't have much ball in the first half, so we needed to keep it and again, just being really clean around the ruck, our discipline going forward. But I think we really flipped that on its head in the second half. And as I said, I was really proud of the girls and they put in a serious shift.' Scott Bemand. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
Suffering another two yellow cards today against Canada, exactly like they did when they played the Canadians last year in WXV1 didn't help Ireland's cause and Head Coach Scott Bemand echoed Monaghan's opinion that discipline cost them in that first half where they conceded five tries.
'There's probably a few things for us to fix. Probably the biggest is you at the momentum of the game, if you get on a run of penalties that can give them ins and Canada are a powerful team, athletic, powerful team and if you're giving them opportunities to get to your 22, it's going to be difficult to keep them out.'
With the squad now to be named on Monday, it will be a nervy couple of days for a few players as they wait to find out if they'll represent Ireland at the World Cup. Monaghan said it will be hard to say goodbye to players who don't go to England. A view of the Ireland team ahead of the game in the dressing room. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
'I have to say, like everyone that has been involved has gotten us to this point. I wish everyone could get on the plane, but it's a squad effort and it's tough. I think we've become really connected as a group, so it makes it a lot more tough when the girls aren't on the plane. But hopefully we can do them proud over there.'
It's all eyes towards the World Cup now for Ireland. Scott Bemand will announce his squad on Monday before the team travel to England where they'll be based just outside of Northampton where they'll play Japan on August 24 in their World Cup opener.
