In one of the most stirring comebacks in the history of the women's Eagles, the USA came back from a 31-12 deficit to beat Ireland in Dublin 40-36.
The Eagles didn't look bad, per se, in the first half, but they looked outmatched. Ireland was playing faster and smarter and torched the USA on quick passing and taking the ball at pace.
The USA hardly got any go-forward ball and only entered the Irish 22 twice. However, they scored on both occasions. On the first they thought they'd made the line only to realize they had crossed one of the soccer lines on the field. We've all been there. But finally skipper Georgie Perris-Redding picked up and dove across the line.
At that point, Ireland had scored three times. Silly mistakes by the USA didn't help—certainly Perris-Redding would have liked to re-do the clearout she performed in her own 22 where she was deemed to have cleared out someone too far. It wasn't necessary, and it cost them.
A breakaway try from Ireland was a good response to the USA's try, but then a penalty and a maul led to Hope Rogers popping off the back, getting tackles, and jumping up to come back to the next ruck and crash through. That was an important try and the teams entered the locker rooms with Ireland up 24-12.
The reason? Ball was far too slow out of the ruck for the USA. Ireland played fast and caught the USA team flatfooted. And the USA's continuity was not good.
In the second half Ireland immediately marched down the field and thundered through. Up 31-12 the hosts were in control.
But then something happened. The Eagles ran on some reserves to jump-start the attack. But they also just got a bit smarter. It was Ireland who started to struggle with their discipline. The Eagles punished one penalty with a nice touchfinder from Bella Vogel and then a long, winding maul where Kathryn Treder just patiently held onto the ball at the back until she could score.
An excellent break through them middle by Erica Jarrell-Searcy saw the lock get into the Ireland 22. She was tackled but Ireland killed the ball in the ruck and were rightly punished for a professional foul. Penalty, yellow card, and another lineout. Same story, and this time Treder didn't even have to dive and just waited for the maul to march, in its entirety, into in-goal before she dropped down.
Vogel's goalkicking was excellent and that really helped as it was was now 31-26, and the USA was within a score.
That score came quickly Another penalty, another long maul, but this time it was from pretty far out. Still the Eagles marched on and lock Hallie Taufoou worked her way over. That tied it, and Vogel's conversion nudged the USA ahead.
