Wales Women 31 – 5 Ireland Women
4 min read
Tries from Alex Callender, Keira Bevan, Sioned Harries, Hannah Jones and Sisilia Tuipulotu secured a bonus-point victory for Wales in their opening Women’s Six Nations match; Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird was sent to the sin-bin for a cynical knock-on in the second half
Last Updated: 25/03/23 4:54pm
Alex Callender shows her passion as she opens the scoring for Wales
Wales secured a 31-5 victory over Ireland after a commanding first half in their opening match of the 2023 Women’s Six Nations in Cardiff.
The first half saw four unanswered tries from Wales, with Alex Callender, Keira Bevan and Sioned Harries powering over before captain Hannah Jones secured the bonus point on the 33rd minute to give Wales a 26-0 half-time lead.
After Ireland’s Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird was sent to the sin-bin on the 48th minute, Sisilia Tuipulotu added another try for Wales in an impressive player-of-the-match performance in her first Test start at prop.
With the game wrapped up for Wales, Ireland fought back and after their first sustained period of pressure, crossed the whitewash through captain Nichola Fryday on the 67th minute to bring the score to 31-5.
However, they could not continue their fightback as Wales wrapped up an impressive victory against the team they lost 45-0 to only two years ago.
Story of the game:
In stark contrast to the close contest between these two sides in 2022 in which Wales scored two tries in the final seven minutes to secure a 27-19 win, Ireland could not come close to their opposition.
The atmosphere was electric in Cardiff as Wales put their best foot forward and just three minutes in Callender took advantage, powering over off the back of the maul.
Keira Bevan crosses over the whitewash from short range
The opening quarter only got better for the home side as they fought hard off the back of a scrum penalty to allow Bevan to scoot over from the back of the ruck, Williams-Morris adding the extras to make it 12-0.
Wales’ pack continued to dominate and once again it paid off as on the 22nd minute, off the back of another huge rolling maul, Harries scored a try from short range.
Wales: Tries: Alex Callender (3), Keira Bevan (13), Sioned Harries (23), Hannah Jones (33), Sisilia Tuipulotu (48). Conversions: Carys Williams-Morris (14), Keira Bevan (24, 34)
Ireland: Tries: Nichola Fryday (67). Conversions: None
Their superiority was then confirmed on the 33rd minute as skipper Jones finished off a Kerin Lake run to secure the bonus point, Bevan adding the extras to make it 26-0 at the break.
The second half started in a similar fashion to the first for Wales as, after Bhaird was sent to the sin-bin for a cynical knock-on, Tuipulotu barrelled over on the 48th minute for a well-deserved try in her first start at prop at international level.
Sisilia Tuipulotu was unstoppable against Ireland
Ireland then finally had their chance to attack and made it count on the 67th minute as, after mounting the pressure, captain Fryday forced her way over the whitewash to get her side on the scoreboard.
However, the visitors could not build on their try and the game finished with a roar from the Cardiff crowd as Wales confirmed their emphatic victory.
Tuipulotu: Words can’t explain my feelings after that
Player of the match Sisilia Tuipulotu to BBC Sport:
« There’s no words that can explain how I’m feeling right now.
« I’m just grateful for the team I have, and for my family and friends for always supporting me on and off the field. I’m grateful.
« It’s always a tough process transitioning position [from lock to tighthead], but with the supporters and coaches I have, I’m enjoying it more and more. »
Cunningham: Tuipulotu could become best in the world
Wales head coach Ioan Cunningham to BBC Sport:
« I’m delighted for the players. They put in so much hard work.
« Up front, we put up a great platform, and we managed to go after that as well, and I was pleased with that.
« I’m delighted with the crowd as well, it gives us such a boost here, and I’m just chuffed with the game-plan and that we stuck at it.
« Scotland will be a tough challenge next week away from home, but we’ve started with a win so we’ll enjoy that, reflect on it, and move on.
« I genuinely believe that Sisilia [Tuipulotu] could be one of the best props in the world. Today she showed what she can do. »
What’s next?
Next week sees Ireland welcome France on Saturday April 1, with kick-off at 3.15pm, before Wales travel to face Scotland at 5.30pm. For England, a home tie against Italy awaits on Sunday April 2, with kick-off at 3pm.
