Ireland head coach Scott Bemand expressed frustration after his side surrendered a 19-point lead to lose 36-40 against USA in the WXV Global Series opener at Tallaght Stadium. A late try from Dorothy Wall as the clock ticked into red gave Ireland a chance to snatch victory, but they were unable to score again as USA turned the ball over. Bemand praised the team's resilience to fight until the end but lamented the position they put themselves in. "It's a game we should have won," he said. "How we rally at the end, you don't want to find yourselves in a position to do that." Ireland next face Japan twice — first in the WXV in Galway next weekend, then in Cork at the start of October.

Bemand is demanding 80-minute performances after a strong opening 40 minutes proved insufficient. "Every time we have issued a challenge to our players they've responded," he added. "[I'm] really excited with how we can take our learnings today and go and come back better.".