Blunt spear remains a major issue for Ireland

Ireland need someone to stand up and make a name for themselves in front of goal in this European campaign.

Ireland manager Vera Pauw speaks to her team after the game. Picture: INPHO/Laszlo Geczo

Forgive the crossing of sporting borders but there’s a yarn from rugby country that tells us something about where Vera Pauw’s Republic of Ireland women’s team stood prior to this World Cup qualifier in Tallaght.

It goes back to the summer of 2003. Eddie O’Sullivan’s Ireland had just lost two Tests away to the Springboks, a 14- and a nine-point defeat par for the course in terms of results but margins of defeat that were suggestive of a side moving up in the world.