Women’s rugby victory: Simply superb

By doing what no senior Irish team has ever done before, the sensational victory of Ireland’s women rugby players over virtually unbeatable New Zealand has thrown down a gauntlet to their male counterparts in the green jersey.

The victorious Irish women now enter the annals of history alongside the legendary men of Munster who famously beat the All Blacks in Thomond Park on a never-to-be-forgotten Tuesday, October 31, 1978. Like their modern female counterparts, dubbed the Black Ferns, that Kiwi team was also one of the greatest of all time.

The defeat was the first loss by New Zealand in 23 years. Ireland still have a long way to go in the World Cup competition and it would be tempting fate to dismiss next Saturday’s game against the women of Kazakhstan as a walkover. But if they get through, this magnificent group of Irish women would be in the semi-finals, with potential glory in sight. All amateurs, their strength lies in playing the game of rugby as a combined squad rather than relying on talented individuals. Hats off to their marvellous achievement.