The Irish women's rugby team stunned New Zealand in Vancouver on Sunday, defeating the World Champions 29-27 in a thriller.
A 'moral victory' appeared to be on the cards with Scott Bemand's team losing by five points with time almost up, but Erin King crossed the whitewash to level the game up.
That gave fly half Dannah O'Brien the opportunity to win it and she held her nerve with the conversion to seal an opening round WXV1 victory for Ireland. O'Brien's left footed effort hit the post on its way over the bar, sparking jubilant scenes among the Irish players and supporters.
Ireland flanker Aoife Wafer was named the player-of-the-game, with the Wexford native scoring two tries in an outstanding performance, earning praise from all over.
New Zealand assistant coach Tony Christie didn't appear to know Wafer's name before the game, describing her to RTÉ as the "6/8 in the red headgear."
It's fair to say that, given the quality of the 21-year-old's performance, they certainly know her name now. The same goes for match-winner Dannah O'Brien who was another the New Zealand camp didn't refer to by name before the game.
Clutch from Dannah! 🤌#IrishRugby pic.twitter.com/2DXl8WrykS
— Irish Rugby (@IrishRugby) September 30, 2024
"Their first-five [out-half] has a massive left boot so disrupting the quality ball she gets (will be key)," said Christie.
The Irish team faced an uphill battle when prop Niamh O’Dowd was sent to the sin bin in the second half but they withstood huge pressure from New Zealand to stay in the game. At times, the margins were fine with New Zealand denied tries by the TMO on three separate occasions.
Player of the game Wafer said this was the stuff of dreams for her, with clashes against Canada and USA to come in the WXV1. Ireland qualified for the WXV1 after finishing in the top three in the Six Nations, with the top three from the Pacific four also in the reckoning.
"I suppose for me, as a kid growing up in rugby I've dreamed of this day," said Wafer. I've dreamed of facing the Haka, dreaming of beating the Black Ferns and we've done that today. I'm so proud of everyone in our squad.
"The girls like to give me the ball a little bit and I just run through a brick wall for them," she added.
The Irish team will compete in the 2025 World Cup next year, having booked their spot at the tournament after defeating Scotland in April, in the Six Nations third place play-off. It certainly marks a huge turn-around for the team, having finished last in the 2023 Six Nations.
