IRELAND fans beamed that they were “thrilled to wake up” to Scott Bemand’s side’s famous win over New Zealand.
The Girls in Green wrote their names into the history books as Erin King’s late two-try salvo clinched a 29-27 win at the WXV1.
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The celebrations were jubilant, both on the pitch after the final whistle and afterwards.
The IRFU shared a video to social media in which the players were singing ‘Zombie’ – which has become an anthem for the national team following the Men’s Rugby World Cup.
And reacting to the victory, stunned and overjoyed fans said they were delighted to have woken up to the result, which took place in the wee hours of Monday morning Irish time.
Ali Donnelly posted: “That’s absolutely sensational. So thrilled to wake up to this” while World Cup winning ex-England international Maggie Aphonsi said: “Well done Ireland. What a result!”
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Gary Heatley said: “What an amazing result for @IrishRugby, beating world champions New Zealand overnight in Canada 29-27 in WXV 1…
“This time last year Ireland were in WXV 3 so they have had some 12 months while in 21-year-old back-row Aoife Wafer, PotM here, they have a real rising star”
Caolan tweeted: “Oh my word! While we were asleep, Ireland have beaten the Black Ferns What a result, what a win. WOW”
Fi Thomas commented: “Ireland set WXV on alight with a victory for the ages. Sensational. This is exactly why WXV was created – to close the gap between the best and the rest”
Aoife Wafer scored two tries in the first-half against the Black Ferns and was named Player of the Match for her efforts.
And the beaming 21-year-old declared that the win was the stuff of dreams.
She said: “It’s pretty indescribable, to be honest.
“I think it will definitely take a little while for this to settle in because we still have a few big weeks ahead and we are now competing in WXV1 so we have Canada up next and then the USA.
“For me, as a kid growing up in rugby, I dreamed of this day.
“I dreamed of facing the Haka. I dreamed of beating the All Blacks and the Black Ferns and we have done that here today. I am so proud of everyone in this squad.”
New Zealand took the lead early doors through an Atlanta Lolohea try on nine minutes.
However, Ireland responded and went into the break level at 17 points apiece thanks to Wafer’s brace and a Neve Jones try.
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Ireland lost Niamh O’Dowd to a yellow card on 53 minutes but only shipped three points in that time.
Blessington’s Erin King was introduced as a substitute for Eve McMahon on 49 minutes and, on 67 minutes, scrambled over the line to give the Girls in Green a 22-20 lead.
Mererangi Paul’s try on 73 minutes gave the Black Ferns a 27-22 advantage and seemed to break Irish hearts.
However, with the clock approaching the red, King – one of the cohort of 7s stars who competed at the Olympics – once again touched over the equalise.
Dannah O’Brien stuck the conversion to snatch the extraordinary two-point win and spark jubilant scenes at BC Place.
It represents a dream start to the WXV1 campaign for Wafer and co, who face host nation Canada on Saturday night (11:45pm Irish time) before facing the USA the following Friday.
And the 21-year-old is keen for Ireland to use the momentum accrued against the Black Ferns to keep up the winning run.
She said: “We have Canada up next who beat the Black Ferns earlier in the year.
“We will take them on first and then we will go to the USA who put up a really good fight against England today so we have big weeks coming up and we are here to compete.”
