In the latest Women’s Six Nations fixture, Wales faced a tough challenge against Ireland at Rodney Parade. The match ended in a disappointing 40-14 defeat for Wales, leaving them winless in the tournament so far. Ireland’s Linda Djougang scored a try early in the game, putting Wales on the back foot. Despite Wales briefly taking the lead, Ireland’s dominance shone through with Aoife Wafer and Dorothy Wall adding tries for the visitors. Even with Ireland temporarily reduced to 14 players, they continued to build their lead, securing a bonus point with another try from Wall and a further score from Djougang. Wales managed to pull one back through Hannah Bluck, but it was not enough as Ireland sealed the win with Wafer extending their advantage. The defeat leaves Wales at the bottom of the tournament standings.
The game started with Wales capitalizing on a mistake from Ireland’s Amee-Leigh Costigan, allowing Carys Cox to score early on. However, Ireland quickly turned the momentum in their favour with Djougang breaking through the Welsh defence to level the score. The visitors continued their assault, putting pressure on the Welsh tryline and scoring through Wafer. Despite being temporarily down a player, Ireland managed to add two more tries before half-time through Wall, showcasing their skill and composure. Djougang’s second try of the match further extended Ireland’s lead in the second half, highlighting their dominance over the Welsh side.
Wales fought hard to stay in the game, with Bluck making an immediate impact off the bench by scoring a try shortly after coming on. Bevan’s conversions helped narrow the gap, but Ireland’s relentless attack proved too much for the Welsh defence. Wafer’s break from a scrum resulted in another try for Ireland, effectively sealing their victory. The match highlighted the gap in performance between the two teams, with Ireland showcasing their clinical finishing and defensive solidity throughout the game. Despite Wales’ efforts, they were unable to match the pace and precision of the Irish side, ultimately succumbing to a comprehensive defeat.
With this loss, Wales now find themselves in a challenging position in the Women’s Six Nations tournament. Their upcoming fixture against Italy will now be a wooden spoon decider, with both teams vying to avoid finishing at the bottom of the standings. Wales will need to regroup and address their weaknesses in order to bounce back from this defeat. Meanwhile, Ireland will look to build on this convincing win as they continue their campaign in the tournament. The contrasting performances of both teams in this match underline the competitive nature of the Women’s Six Nations and the level of skill on display. The result serves as a reminder of the fierce competition and high stakes in international women’s rugby.