It really doesn’t get any sweeter than this…
The Ireland men’s team know only too well how hard it is to beat the All-Blacks and they came as close as they ever have to doing that only last year, but before today, it appeared as if beating the Black Ferns, the New Zealand women’s team, was nigh on impossible.
Ireland went into today’s World Cup Pool B clash facing a side that hadn’t lost a game in the competition in 23 years and had only lost two games overall but if Philip Doyle’s side were intimidated, they certainly didn’t show it.
Tries from Heather O’Brien and Alison Miller and some magnificent place-kicking from Niamh Briggs ensured a famous 17-14 victory and considering that Ireland were camped on the opposition line right at the death, the final margin of victory could have been even greater than three points.
Victory was all that matters, however, and Ireland face Kazakhstan on Saturday knowing that a win will ensure passage to the semi-finals (for the first time) as pool winners.
Judging by today’s performance and the measured reaction of captain Fiona Coghlan when being interviewed afterwards, a semi-final berth is the least of their ambitions.
Check out some of the best pictures from an incredible victory in the gallery above.
