Rugby World Cup: Ireland v New Zealand, Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, 2.45pm<\/p>\n
Key Reads<\/b><\/p>\n
Half-time: Ireland 0 New Zealand 19<\/b><\/p>\n
New Zealand\u2019s first try<\/p>\n
36 mins: TRY, Braxton Sorensen-McGee.<\/b> Soft again. Credit to the 18-year-old teenage New Zealand wing who finished with aplomb, but Ireland made a couple of poor decisions in defence. A primary concern is the manner in which Ireland had their pockets picked at a breakdown and just didn\u2019t hustle quickly enough to try and negate the turnover. Holmes added the conversion.<\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 19<\/b><\/p>\n
33 mins: <\/b>New Zealand forced into a couple of changes in their pack because of injury and blood. Ireland get some ball and territory after New Zealand concede a couple of penalties, but O\u2019Brien ends up kicking the ball away. Ireland certainly need to vary their game, but it\u2019s got to be more subtle. New Zealand so aggressive in their line speed that there is space in behind and the grubber or chip kick seem better options. Ireland fullback Stacey Flood is going off with what appears a foot injury \u2013 it looked like friendly fire, an unfortunate clash that ended up with a foot issue \u2013 and will be replaced by Nancy McGillivray. <\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 12<\/b><\/p>\n
The second New Zealand try<\/p>\n
25 mins: <\/b>Ireland looked shellshocked by the intensity of their opponents and after that brief, bright opening to the game have been very much second best, in all aspects of the contest. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 12<\/b><\/p>\n
23 mins: <\/b>Ireland are rather predictable and laboured in possession and that\u2019s making it easy for Black Ferns in defence. Throw in some handling error and panicked passing and it\u2019s a serious problem. Oh, and the discipline also. Too many penalties which are giving the Kiwis easy access to the Irish 22. <\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 12<\/b><\/p>\n
18 mins: TRY Chryss Viliko<\/b>. Ireland concede a penalty as they concede another line-break and then another, Campbell pinged for offside. New Zealand kick to the corner for a five-metre lineout. Sylvia Brunt powers over the gain-line and then prop Viliko swats aside the goal-line tacklers. Holmes had the conversion charged down. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 12<\/b><\/p>\n
14 mins: TRY Stacey Waaka<\/b>. Ireland win a scrum free-kick as New Zealand keep driving post the engage segment of the sequence but is a short-lived respite. Ireland get their defence all wrong from a ruck and New Zealand exploit the space for centre Stacey Waaka to score a try in the corner. Renee Holmes kicked the conversion.<\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 7<\/b><\/p>\n
13 mins: <\/b>New Zealand\u2019s carrying game gets them into the Ireland 22 rather easily but a knock-on at a ruck 15-metres out gives Ireland a scrum. Scott Bemand\u2019s side are losing the collisions on the gain-line. Ireland need to be smarter in their options when in possession but also more aggressive in contact. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 0<\/b><\/p>\n
11 mins: <\/b>Ireland are sloppy in possession offloading indiscriminately and twice the ball goes to deck. They are eventually penalised at a ruck for holding on. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 0<\/b><\/p>\n
8 mins:<\/b> Silly from Campbell as she blocks an opponent as Amee-Leigh Costigan ran the ball back from a loose kick. New Zealand get a free pass to the halfway line. New Zealand make headway with some powerful carries but are then penalised for sealing off at a ruck on the outskirts of the Irish 22 <\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 0<\/b><\/p>\n
5 mins:<\/b> Ireland get a five-metre scrum from which Higgins makes a powerful surge for the line but from the ruck, Brittany Hogan runs into scrumhalf Aoibheann Reilly\u2019s pass and knocks on. <\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 0<\/b><\/p>\n
2 mins:<\/b> Superb nine phase sequence from Ireland after a New Zealand clearance forces a penalty. Ireland go to the corner. Great break from Aoife Dalton in there two. Ireland work a pop move from the lineout to the front but Ruth Campbell is bundled into touch. Ireland turn over the Kiwi throw. <\/p>\n
Ireland 0 New Zealand 0<\/b><\/p>\n
We\u2019re underway in Brighton. <\/p>\n
Only six of the New Zealand team started the defeat to Ireland in Canada last November. <\/p>\n
Two teams staring at each other. No one moving. Until Ireland centre Eve Higgins decided she has had enough of the posturing. <\/p>\n
Time for the Haka.<\/p>\n
Ireland players fairly belted out the anthem. Huge support in Brighton. <\/p>\n
Ireland play in white. Nice jersey. It\u2019s a black and white game so to speak. <\/p>\n
Time for the anthems<\/p>\n
The Ireland squad has many fans<\/p>\n
There is a little under 15 minutes to kickoff in Brighton<\/p>\n
Some stats.<\/p>\n
Ireland and New Zealand\u2019s only previous encounter in the Rugby World Cup came in 2014, a pool match which Ireland memorably won 17-14 at Marcoussis in France. The result ended a 20-game winning streak for the Black Ferns, and ultimately knocked them out of the main knockout phase<\/p>\n
– New Zealand have won 22 of their 23 pool games at the Rugby World Cup (L1), their only defeat in that spell coming against Ireland in 2014. The Black Ferns have won each of their nine such outings since then, all by margins of 20+ points<\/p>\n
– Ireland have won nine of their last 10 pool matches at the Rugby World Cup (L1), including both fixtures this year, and will be aiming to win all their pool games at an edition of the tournament for just the second time after 2014<\/p>\n
– New Zealand have recorded more carry metres (2811), line breaks (40), and defenders beaten (103) than any other team at this year\u2019s Rugby World Cup, with also making the most passes (471)<\/p>\n
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand<\/b> said today\u2019s game: \u201cIn terms of the result, potentially (a free hit), but remember we can be in control of who we think we\u2019ll play next. Obviously by winning a group, you\u2019re more in control of fixtures and games that come out in the knockout stages. We\u2019ve picked strong. New Zealand have picked strong.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe occasion is going to get the game it deserves. I\u2019ve said to the group, I think the World Cup is ready for this game. We\u2019ll go at them. I\u2019m sure they\u2019ll come at us. We\u2019ll both have moments when we\u2019re on top and it\u2019s how you capitalise on scoring points when you get those opportunities. I\u2019m sure it\u2019s going to be one of those games that goes to the wire.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd if it is, we want to be in a position that we can control it and go to win the game and hopefully finish top of the group.\u201d<\/p>\n
The teams<\/p>\n
NEW ZEALAND:<\/b> Renee Holmes (Waikato\/Chiefs Manawa); Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland\/Blues), Stacey Waaka (Waikato\/Chiefs Manawa), Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai\u2019i Sylvia Brunt (Auckland\/Blues), Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Northland\/Blues); Ruahei Demant (Auckland\/Blues) (co-capt), Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (Tasman\/New Zealand Sevens); Chryss Viliko (Auckland\/Blues), Georgia Ponsonby (Canterbury\/Matat\u016b), Tanya Kalounivale (Waikato\/Chiefs Manawa), Maiakawanakaulani Roos (Auckland\/Blues), Alana Bremner (Canterbury\/Matat\u016b), Layla Sae (Manawat\u016b\/Hurricanes Poua), Jorja Miller (Canterbury\/New Zealand Sevens), Liana Mikaele-Tu\u2019u (Auckland\/Blues).<\/p>\n
Replacements:<\/b> Vici-Rose Green (Waikato\/Chiefs Manawa), Kate Henwood (Bay of Plenty\/Chiefs Manawa), Amy Rule (Canterbury\/Matat\u016b), Laura Bayfield (Canterbury\/Matat\u016b), Kennedy Tukuafu (Waikato\/Chiefs Manawa) (co-capt), Maia Joseph (Otago\/Matat\u016b), Theresa Setefano (Auckland\/Blues), Ayesha Leti-I\u2019iga (Wellington\/Hurricanes Poua).<\/p>\n
IRELAND: <\/b>Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC); B\u00e9ibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC\/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC\/Leinster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC), Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC\/Munster); Dannah O\u2019Brien (Old Belvedere RFC\/Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC\/Connacht); Niamh O\u2019Dowd (Old Belvedere\/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC\/Leinster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC\/Leinster), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury\/IQ Rugby) (co-capt), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women\/IQ Rugby), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs\/Connacht) (co-capt), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC\/Ulster).<\/p>\n
Replacements:<\/b> Cl\u00edodhna Moloney MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Siobhan McCarthy (Worcester Warriors\/Munster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC\/Ulster), Eimear Corri Fallon (Blackrock College RFC\/Leinster), Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC\/Ulster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs\/IQ Rugby), Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC\/Connacht).<\/p>\n There is a late change to our Match Day Squad as Ellena Perry has unfortunately been ruled out through injury, with Niamh O\u2019Dowd coming into the starting team and Siobhan McCarthy onto the bench. #WeAreIreland<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/VImNIRjcjQ<\/a><\/p>\n\n