Ireland 5

England 49

THE SCORELINE MAY be harsh for Ireland, a bitter pill to swallow after an encouraging start.

But England flexed their considerable muscle throughout a stunning second-half performance at Virgin Media Park — and stepped up their bid for a seventh straight Women’s Six Nations title.

Scott Bemand’s side put it up to the all-conquering Red Roses in the opening period, Amee-Leigh Costigan breaking the deadlock in the 24th minute to power the hosts into a surprise lead.

But England struck back, and were 7-5 up at the break, before completely dominating from there.

A yellow card on the restart proved costly for Ireland, England scoring 14 points in the absence of Niamh O’Dowd — sin-binned for repeated scrum infringements — and turning on the style thereafter with their bench impact key.

The world’s number one ranked side finished with seven tries — courtesy of Sarah Bern (two), Morwenna Talling, Zoe Harisson, Meg Jones, Ellie Kildunne and Kelsey Clifford — and a 100% record off the tee.

Out-half Harrison scored 17 points in all as the visitors easily recovered from early Irish resistance in Cork.

England, hosts and favourites for this year’s Rugby World Cup, moved back to the top of the table above France after they beat Wales 42-12 earlier in the day.

Ireland remain third in the standings, before fourth-placed Scotland host Italy on Sunday.

Costigan celebrates her first-half try. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO

“For 55 minutes, it was a competitive game. We defended valiantly. We’re a step forward than we were last year, but we’ll get back on the wagon very quickly,” Bemand told RTÉ afterwards, while captain Costigan added that Ireland “fired shots” early on, as was the plan.

The hosts conjured up some big defensive wins and grew in belief as they held out England and began to threaten themselves. They landed the first blow on the scoreboard when the excellent Costigan turned on the afterburners and dotted down to send the home crowd of over 7,000 wild. 

It came after a lineout malfunction: Neve Jones’ throw went up and over everybody, but Aoife Wafer kept it alive and Dannah O’Brien’s clever dink in behind left Costigan beating Abby Dow for pace and securing the dream start.

All that was missing was the conversion from O’Brien, but Ireland were off the mark first.

Captain fantastic Amy Lee Costigan gives Ireland the lead against England in Cork!
📺 https://t.co/uHRfiPJEjQ
📱 https://t.co/cnzNzGFTpA pic.twitter.com/zA9yc1i7Sc

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 12, 2025

England looked to respond immediately, and in the 35th minute, their pressure told as they drove over from a lineout maul. Talling got the score, and Harisson added the extras to send the red-hot favourites in 7-5 up at the break.

They were denied the perfect restart, the TMO chalking off a Jess Breach try after Costigan did just enough to drag her towards touch with a last-gasp tackle.

England were moving through the gears, though, and were boosted when O’Dowd saw yellow after conceding another scrum penalty. They really should have extended their lead sooner — Kildunne fumbled under pressure from Aoife Dalton beyond the try-line –but Harisson soon danced through. Jones followed suit, finishing off an excellent team move, as the bomb squad arrive.

Bern, front and centre of that contingent, was next on the sheet with her double either side of the hour-mark. Both passages saw pressure and power aplenty, as England steamrolled on. 

World Rugby's women's player of the year Ellie Kildunne capitalises on lax Ireland defending.
📺 https://t.co/uHRfiPJEjQ
📱 https://t.co/hgACVyoPkf pic.twitter.com/whfTCP2LAD

— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) April 12, 2025

There was little reprieve for tiring Ireland through one-way traffic: World Rugby Player of the Year Kildunne got in on the act with a superb individual try in the 71st minute, before Clifford completed the rout, barrelling over to join fellow replacement prop Bern on the scoresheet.

Maud Muir was named Player of the Match as the visitors fell just short of breaking the 50-point barrier, the second half a chastening one for Ireland. 

But Bemand and co. will take encouragement from the first-half display and improvements made from last year’s 88-10 hammering at Twickenham.

Their focus switches to Wales in the penultimate round, while the title race will come down to the last game of the tournament between England and France in London on 26 April.

Scorers for Ireland:

• Tries: Amee-Leigh Costigan 
• Cons: Dannah O’Brien [0/1]
• Pens: -

Scorers for England:

• Tries: Morwenna Talling, Zoe Harisson, Meg Jones, Sarah Bern (two), Ellie Kildunne, Kelsey Clifford
• Cons: Zoe Harisson [6/6], Holly Aitchison [1/1]
• Pens: -

IRELAND: 15. Stacey Flood
, 14. Anna McGann
, 13. Aoife Dalton, 
12. Eve Higgins, 
11. Amee-Leigh Costigan
, 10. Dannah O’Brien, 
9. Emily Lane; 1. Niamh O’Dowd, 
2. Neve Jones, 
3. Linda Djougang
, 4. Fiona Tuite
, 5. Dorothy Wall, 
6. Brittany Hogan, 
7. Erin King
, 8. Aoife Wafer.

Replacements: 16. Cliodhna Moloney, 17. Siobhán McCarthy, 18. Christy Haney, 19. Ruth Campbell, 20. Grace Moore, 21. Aoibheann Reilly, 22. Nicole Fowley, 23. Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

ENGLAND: 15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Abby Dow, 13. Megan Jones, 12. Tatyana Heard, 11. Jess Breach, 10. Zoe Harrison, 9. Natasha Hunt; 1. Hannah Botterman, 2. Lark Atkin-Davies, 3. Maud Muir, 4. Morwenna Talling, 5. Abbie Ward, 6. Zoe Aldcroft, 7. Sadia Kabeya, 8. Alex Matthews.

Replacements: 16. Amy Cokayne, 17. Kelsey Clifford, 18. Sarah Bern, 19. Rosie Galligan, 20. Maddie Feaunati, 21. Lucy Packer, 22. Holly Aitchison, 23. Helena Rowland.

Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France).

Additional reporting from – © AFP 2025

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