Ruthless New Zealand top Pool C with Ireland win

New Zealand (19) 40

Tries: Waaka, Viliko, Sorensen-McGee 3, Joseph Cons: Holmes 5

Ireland (0) 0

Teenage wing Braxton Sorensen-McGee scored a hat-trick of tries as reigning world champions New Zealand showed their class to beat Ireland 40-0 and secure top spot in Pool C.

Both sides had already booked a quarter-final spot but New Zealand dominated the game from the moment Stacey Waaka crossed for the opening score after she was set away by Sorensen-McGee.

Prop Chryss Viliko added a second, and then Sorensen-McGee scored the try of the half as she beat three players to give New Zealand a 19-0 lead just before half-time.

Sorensen-McGee scored her second try of the game with 22 minutes remaining and the 18-year-old completed her hat-trick before Maia Joseph added some gloss in the final minute.

It is a first defeat of the tournament for Ireland, who will now face the winner of France and South Africa at 16:45 BST.

As well as securing the theoretically easier quarter-final tie, against the loser of the Pool D decider, New Zealand also got revenge on Ireland for the defeat in WXV1 last October.

Both New Zealand and Ireland had beaten Spain and Japan easily in their opening Pool C matches and Sunday's game decided who would progress as top seed.

The Irish camp had acknowledged that New Zealand would be looking at the chance to avenge the shock defeat in WXV1 last year.

That win was one of the most impressive in Ireland's history, and announced their return to the top table after a number of years in the international doldrums.

There had been optimism that Scott Bemand's side could repeat that performance - and they started the game well.

They piled early pressure on the New Zealand line as Eve Higgins charged through, but Brittany Hogan knocked the ball on.

It was a fierce and physical contest, but New Zealand soon began to go through the gears.

An overlap on the right allowed New Zealand to work the ball through the hands and Sorensen-McGee's basketball pass found Waaka, who was able to cross unchallenged.

Dannah O'Brien pulled off a try-saving tackle to deny teenage wing Sorensen-McGee, but the second try came after 20 minutes.

If the first was a flowing move from the backs, the second was the power of the forward pack as Sylvia Brunt was stopped just before the line before prop Viliko barged over from close range.

Ireland were forced into a change when full-back Stacey Flood, who had played a key role in charging down Holmes' second conversion attempt, was forced off with an ankle injury seven minutes before half-time.

Sorensen-McGee consolidated New Zealand's dominance when she danced past O'Brien, Higgins and prop Niamh O'Down to score her fourth try of the tournament, and Holmes added the conversion.

Ireland made a blistering start to the second half and Aoife Dalton's break helped them pile pressure on the New Zealand line, but the Black Ferns' defence held firm.

It wasn't long before New Zealand were back on the front foot and Jorja Miller was denied by Emily Lane's try-saving tackle.

Ireland's afternoon was summed up when O'Brien's kicked forward and the chasing Amee-Leigh Costigan looked like she had a clear run to touch down - but at the last moment the ball bounced left and into touch in the in-goal area.

Such was the luck of the bounce of the ball, or lack of, head coach Bemand was left with a wry smile on his face.

In the blink of an eye, New Zealand had wrapped up the bonus point as Waaka and Holmes moved the ball quickly through the hands and Sorensen-McGee raced over for her second score of the game.

Ireland had another period in the New Zealand 22 but could not breach the resolute Black Ferns wall in front of them, including from a rolling maul which was held up over the line.

New Zealand thought they had crossed for a fifth try with seven minutes to play when Holmes raced over after another ruthless attack, but the try was ruled out by referee Hollie Davidson for a knock-on by Miller.

However, the holders ended the game in style as Sorensen-McGee rounded out another flowing move to score her second hat-trick of the tournament, as replacement Joseph crossed with the final play of the match and Holmes landed her fifth conversion.

South Africa currently lead Pool D and, if they beat France at 16:45 BST, they will face the Irish next Sunday in Exeter at 13:00 BST.

New Zealand: Renee Holmes; Braxton Sorensen-McGee, Stacey Waaka, Sylvia Brunt, Portia Woodman-Wickliffe; Ruahei Demant (co-capt), Risaleaana Pouri-Lane; Chryss Viliko, Georgia Ponsonby, Tanya Kalounivale; Maiakawanakaulani Roos, Alana Bremner; Layla Sae, Jorja Miller, Liana Mikaele-Tu'u.

Replacements: Vici-Rose Green, Kate Henwood, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Kennedy Tukuafu (co-capt), Maia Joseph, Theresa Setefano, Ayesha Leti-I'iga.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Beibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (co-capt); Grace Moore, Edel McMahon (co-capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Siobhan McCarthy, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corr-Fallon, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Nancy McGillivray, Anna McGann.