Hello and welcome to our live blog from this hotly-anticipated semi-final between Ireland and England.
Ireland boss Philip Doyle has named the same side that caused a sensation by beating by beating the Black Fern in the second pool game in Marcoussis.
And he insists his charges won’t be daunted by the occasion as they prepare for the biggest game in the history of Irish women’s rugby.
“Look, the girls have great experience,†said the Dubliner. “Thankfully we played in our national stadium, the Aviva, earlier this year against Italy in front of 10,000 plus people.
“We played in Twickenham in font of 15-odd thousand people so that’s not going to affect the team.
“To be honest, I think the girls love the bigger stage the better, so it doesn’t get much bigger than this.”
So stay with us as the ladies attempt to make history. Let’s hope they can do it!
We’ll have all the team news for you when we get it.
Hello and welcome to our live blog.
We’ll be taking you through today’s game as our women’s team attempt to make history by reaching the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014.
We have some team news for you.
Philip Doyle has named the same team that beat New Zealand last week.
Ireland: Briggs; Baxter, Cantwell, Davitt, Miller; Stapleton, Rosser; Coghlan (capt), Bourke, Egan; Spence, Reilly; Fitzpatrick, Molloy, O’Brien.
Here’s how England look ahead of kick off; Waterman; Merchant, Scarratt, Burford, Wilson; Mclean (capt), Mason; Clark, Fleetwood, Hemming; Taylor, McGilchrist; Matthews, Alphonsi, Hunter.
Kick off is less than 40 minutes away.
The ladies are 3/1 outsiders to beat England today.
Philip Doyle’s charges succumbed to English pressure earlier this year – but they did beat them on their way to an epic Six Nations Grand Slam in 2013
Excellent picture here showing the focus and concentration in the dressing room.
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More from Ireland gaffer Philip Doyle now.
He said: “We’re actually really looking forward to it, it’s going to be a great occasion and magnificent venue.
“We have had a fantastic campaign so far and that has only come from hard work and dedication. We don’t intend for it to end here.
“New Zealand was obviously a good game for us and the girls applied themselves incredibly well.
“And we just decided that for all the different types of combinations and the opposition that we’re playing, this was the best 15 that we could put out.
“There are a lot of disappointed girls in the camp. They were told on Monday night and they’ve got over it now, and they’re fully behind the squad.â€
Niamh Briggs gets in the zone ahead of kick off.
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Remember these scenes? Hopefully we see more of this today. COYGIG!
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Skly’s pundits are highlighting the battle of the kickers between Briggs and Waterman.
It was Briggs who sent that excellent kick sailing over the bar to beat New Zealand.
Hopefully she has her kicking boots on today.
Kick off is less than 10 minutes away.
Show your support for the ladies on Twitter with the COYGIG hashtag and we’ll put the best ones in our blog.
Ireland’s Call is ringing around the stadium and kick off is only moments away.
Ireland have a noisy following as usual.
Ireland kick off and the action begins.
England immediately look to make some hard yards but Ireland turn it over and win a scrum in English territory.
England looking very big and strong as they burst through the Irish defence.
They eventually hand over possession thanks to a knock on.
Ireland need to get ball in hand and settle down.
Another relentless England attack ends as they give away a penalty.
Ireland kick to touch and win possession before marauding forward.
Ireland then concede a soft penalty to end the attack.
Huge pressure here from Ireland right on the England try line.
They came so close to scoring but the England defence was impeccable.
Ireland then win a penalty and kick for touch.
The resulting line out is won and Ireland roll forward and they appear to have scored.
The ref is going upstairs…
TRY! Ireland take the lead!
Niamh Briggs steps up and rattles the conversion over the bar! Fantastic stuff.
7-0 as we enter the 19th minute.
What a great spell of pressure that was from Ireland.
Fantastic rolling maul and determination to make the hard yards at the England line.
The quality of play was then matched by Briggs’ fantastic kick.
England bulldoze forward down the left wing before cutting inside to the Ireland 22.
The pressure builds as England go through phase after phase of possession.
They are now just inches from the try line as Ireland fight desperately to keep them out.
It eventually ends up in the hands of Hunter who barges over and touches down.
7-5.
Scarratt misses for England and the score stays at 7-5.
A certain rugby legend has piped up on Twitter.
Ref not playing knock ons….
— Brian O’Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) August 13, 2014
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Fantastic pressure from Ireland to go over for the opening score of the game.
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What fantastic play that was from England!
England take the lead with a penalty.
8-7 after 34 minutes.
Try for England!
Poor tackling from Ireland sees England go over for the second time.
Scarratt was the scorer. Great run.
13-7
Scarratt then adds a cracking conversion to extend England’s lead.
Fantastic effort from a very difficult angle.
15-7 after 38 minutes.
Scarratt adds a penalty and England are 11 ahead as the half time whistle goes.
Ireland are not out of the game by any means, but England really took over as the half progressed.
The positive start in the first half will encourage Ireland.
They need to hit the ground running in the second 40 minutes.
England with a scrum near the halfway line as the action resumes.
They win it and immediately press the Irish back line to try exploit a weakness.
A knock on costs England possession near the Irish 22.
The ball is won and kicked to touch to give England a line out.
They win the ball and get the ball through the hands before winning a penalty.
Scarratt will take it. This is bad news for Ireland.
Scarratt steps up and rattles it over the bar.
Excellent kick again from Emily Scarratt.
Ireland are now 14 points behind England.
We need points on the board – but it’s England who are pressing forward.
They win a scrum on the Irish 22.
What a great picture of both line outs in action.
Lineout action from Stade Jean Bouin #IREvENG pic.twitter.com/bXAfbFBxPZ
— IRB Women’s Rugby (@irbwomens) August 13, 2014
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England go over but the referee needs a second opinion.
She goes upstairs and the try is awarded for England.
This isn’t looking good for Ireland.
The conversion is missed but the damage could be done already.
Ireland now trail 26 – 7 in Paris.
Ireland win a penalty and go for the corner.
They need tries fast!
The line out is won and a maul builds. The referee awards another penalty and it’s kicked into the corner again.
But the line out is lose this time and England win it back.
That was a great chance to get some points on the board.
England now spring another attack against a tired looking Ireland.
The pressure builds around the Irish line and the referee eventually awards a scrum to England.
The scrum drives forward towards the Irish line and England appear to have scored again.
But it was held up by Ireland! Scrum to England again.
England with a line out near the Irish 22.
They win it and burst forward, spreading the ball through the hands.
Play is now stopped due to a nasty looking injury to Cantwell.
Thankfully she gets up and walks off. That looked like a heavy knock to the head.
Another penalty is awarded to England on the Irish 22. This is very kickable.
They put it in the corner instead and look to get something from the line out.
The ball eventually ends up just yards from the Irish line.
It falls to Hunt who drives over for a try. That could be curtains.
The resulting kick flies over the bar to make the lead look even worse for Ireland.
33-7 after 71 minutes. England are showing no mercy here.
Try for England. This has become embarrassing now!
38-7 with just over five minutes remaining.
The conversion goes over to compound Ireland’s misery.
40-7.
Credit must go to England.
They have been phenomenal since Ireland scored that opening try.
Their pace, power and intensity has caused endless problems for Ireland.
And that’s full time.
The Irish dream dies at the semi-final stage – but they can hold their heads high.
England were just too good on the day.
40-7.
Thats all from us folks. Thanks for joining us.
The ladies might have been neaten today but they will come back stronger.
They now have a third/fourth place playoff to look forward to.
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Article source: http://www.westerndailypress.co.uk/Bristol-need-chances/story-21183474-detail/story.html
Ireland v England LIVE: Updates from the semi-final of the Women"s Rugby ...
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