England eventually overpower Ireland 49-5 in Women's Six Nations
Ellie Kildunne was once again amongst the tries for England
©Photo by Rich Lam - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
England maintained their unbeaten run in the 2025 Women’s Six Nations with a crushing 49–5 win over Ireland at Virgin Media Park in Cork.
While Ireland briefly sparked hope with an early try, England’s ruthless control over territory, possession, and discipline overwhelmed the hosts across both halves.
Ireland had the better of the opening exchanges, capitalising early when Amee-Leigh Costigan dotted down off a clever kick from Dannah O'Brien. The try sent the home crowd into a roar and briefly unsettled the Red Roses. But England composed themselves swiftly. Zoe Harrison responded with a try of her own, which she converted, swinging momentum in England’s favour.
Ireland’s chances took a major blow when Niamh O'Dowd was sent to the sin bin for repeated scrum infringements. England immediately capitalised on the player advantage, asserting dominance in the pack and stretching the field through their backs.
After the break, England kicked into an even higher gear. Meg Jones crashed through to extend the lead, and Sarah Bern, coming off the bench, made an immediate impact with two well-taken tries.
England’s physical superiority up front and their sharpness in broken play proved too much for Ireland, who struggled to exit their own half.
Ellie Kildunne added a superb solo try, showcasing footwork and pace from deep inside her own territory.
Then came a special moment for Kelsey Clifford, who marked her international breakthrough with her first try for England, set up by an unselfish offload from Holly Aitchison.
England’s execution was clinical, and their depth was on full display.
Their control over set pieces, relentless breakdown pressure, and disciplined defense shut down any attempts from Ireland to mount a comeback.
The final scoreline of 49–5 highlighted not just England’s attacking flair but their composure under pressure. Ireland, though brave in patches, were ultimately overpowered by a side firing on all cylinders and chasing yet another Grand Slam.
