O'Brien scores 11 points as Ireland make it two wins from two

Carlow's own Dannah O'Brien scored 11 points, including the opening try of the game, as Ireland booked their place in the 2025 Rugby World Cup quarter-finals with a 43-27 win over Spain this afternoon in Northampton.

The Tullow fly half was flawless in the opening game against Japan last week where she kicked all six of Ireland’s conversions, but her accuracy from the tee was found wanting here as she landed just three of her seven kicks.

That statistic only tells half the story, however, as O’Brien was one of Ireland’s top performers in what was an error-ridden display from the girls in green.

O’Brien’s restarts were excellent and her kicking in open play was simply outstanding as she pinned Spain back time and time again, creating huge space in Spanish territory to help her side run in seven tries.

It was O’Brien’s kick into the back field that allowed Ireland to work the ball through the hands with the Carlow star finishing the move off as she crossed over the line for the opening try in just the seventh minute. O’Brien converted her own try to put Ireland 7-0 up.

She only added two more conversions after that, missing another three as well as a penalty, with two shots coming back off the uprights.

But she deserves a lot of credit for her defensive work, fielding incredibly well in the Irish back field and clearing her lines with her cannon of a left boot.

She was called ashore after an hour but will hope to have done enough to earn a starting spot for Ireland’s final pool game next Sunday against the reigning World Champions New Zealand.