Ireland Women’s Day 1 woes continued in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series at Clermont with the team failing to record a Day 1 win for the third time. Ireland will end the series having won only two out of their fifteen pool games, failing to qualify for the Cup competition on all occasions.
Their form in the Day 2 Bowl competition has been slightly better, winning three out of the eight games played so far, but, unfortunately, results do mean that Ireland will be relegated from the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series this year, alongside fellow struggler’s Japan.
The disappointing aspect has been Ireland’s inability to change their game, particularly as they have struggled physically, against most of these sides, at the breakdown. Plenty of application and effort from the players but tactics have been minimal, resulting in Ireland taking contact far too often.
Day 1 Results.
| Round 1 | France 40 – 0 Ireland |
| Round 2 | Australia 40 – 5 Ireland |
| Round 3 | Fiji 19 – 14 Ireland |
The Ireland scorers were Lucy Mulhall with a try against Australia and two conversions against Fiji and Aime-Leigh Crowe who crossed twice against Fiji.
The results mean that Ireland will now face Japan in the semi-final of the Bowl, kick off at 13:10 UK/IRE with the winner progressing to the bowl final against either Kenya or Russia, most likely Russia.
Ireland’s chances are somewhat limited having picked up substantial injuries in all three games with Sene Naoupu already ruled out of participation in Day2.
Ireland Squad
Ashleigh Baxter, Aoife Doyle, Kim Flood, Stacey Flood, Alison Miller, Lucy Mulhall, Amee-Leigh Crowe, Sene Naoupu, Audrey O’Flynn, Hannah Tyrrell, Susan Vaughan, Megan Williams.
