USA stun Ireland with comeback WXV win in Dublin

Tries: Elmes Kinlan, Moloney-MacDonald, Wafer, Higgins, King, Wall Cons: O'Brien (3)

USA (12) 40

Tries: Perris-Redding, Rogers, Treder (2), Taufoo, Tafuna Cons: Vogel (5)

The United States staged a remarkable second-half comeback to beat Ireland 40-36 in their WXV Global Series opener at Tallaght Stadium.

Scott Bemand's side raced into a comfortable lead after 20 minutes following tries from Vicky Elmes Kinlan, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Aoife Wafer and went in 24-12 ahead at the break.

Erin King added a fifth try early in the second half as Ireland looked to be cruising at 31-12 up, but a loss of control and discipline aided USA, who under the guidance of their Irish head coach Jack Hanratty, managed to turn the game around.

Elmes Kinlan's yellow card was a turning point, with USA taking advantage of their numerical advantage as they scored four successive tries to take an unlikely win.

In the first women's rugby Test match to take place at the home of football team Shamrock Rovers, Ireland started with intent and, after persistent pressure, they made the breakthrough on seven minutes.

Bemand's side carved USA open with a slick passage of play as Moloney-MacDonald found Stacey Flood with a quick offload and she drove forward before feeding Elmes Kinlan, who finished in the corner.

Their second try arrived on 14 minutes with Moloney-MacDonald scoring off the driving maul before Wafer then forcing her way over soon after to further extend their advantage.

The Eagles, who were without Ilona Maher, responded well after that tough start and co-captain Georgie Perris-Redding got them on the scoreboard as she bundled over on 25 minutes, with teenager Bella Vogue nailing the conversion.

Ireland re-established their comfortable lead just two minutes after USA's try as Anna McGann galloped forward and offloaded to Eve Higgins to dot down, with Dannah O'Brien adding the extras.

USA came again at the other end and the experienced Hope Rogers crashed over after patient play to narrow the gap again before the break.

Ireland: Flood; O'Connor, Dalton, Higgins, Elmes Kinlan; O'Brien, Lane; O'Dowd, Moloney-MacDonald, Djougang, Wall, Tuite-O'Sullivan, Adams Verling, King (capt), Wafer

Replacements: Jones, McGrath, Cahill, Clohessy, Hogan, Reilly, McGann, Gallagher

USA: Canett; Uhatafe, Hann, Heinrich, Coulibaly; Vogel, Paton; Rogers, Treder, Sagapolu-Senele; Taufoou, Ehrecke; Humphreys, Perris-Redding (co-capt), Tafuna.

Replacements: Leatherman, Hill-Huse, Woods, Jarrell-Searcy (co-capt), Bailey, Zackary, Bargell, Mason.