Ireland’s women went joint top of the Six Nations this afternoon with a 20-0 victory over hosts Wales.
Tom Tierney’s side dominated the Welsh in St Helen’s to leap right back into the title race ahead of the final round of games.
Tries in either half from Paula Fitzpatrick and Alison Miller, in addition to ten points from the boot of full-back and skipper Niamh Briggs, were more than enough to secure a win which leaves them in a similar position to their male counterparts, looking at points difference to decide the championship.
And Ireland will be confident of overturning a 20-point deficit to table-toppers France as they face wooden spoon winners Scotland, who have lost all four of their games to date by an average of more than 30 points, while the French travel to Twickenham for the difficult task of beating world champions England on home soil.
Victory over the Scots will also deliver the Triple Crown to Ireland.