World champions England left it late for the second match in a row to seal victory, Katy Mclean's conversion of Izzy Noel-Smith's 72nd-minute try proving the difference in a tight battle with Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 hosts Ireland at UCD Bowl on Sunday.
The Red Roses had edged France 10-5 at the Twickenham Stoop on Wednesday and it was an equally tight affair against Ireland at a venue which will host the pool stages of WRWC 2017 from 9-17 August.
England had not tasted victory on Irish soil since 2011, but ending that five-year wait has an added bonus as it helps lift the Red Roses above Canada back to second place in the World Rugby Women's Rankings, meaning their meeting with New Zealand at the Twickenham Stoop on Saturday will pit the world's top ranked nations.
The early exchanges at the UCD Bowl were in the middle of the field and it was only when England's lineout began to function did they score the opening try, fittingly through prop Rochelle Clark on the day she surpassed Jason Leonard as England's most-capped player and drew level with former Scotland captain Donna Kennedy's record as the most-capped women's player with 115 caps.
Her fellow front-row Vicky Fleetwood broke off the back of a maul six minutes before half-time but when she was hauled down five metres short of the line, Clark collected the ball and had the power to go over the line to the delight of her team-mates.
Ireland cut the deficit to 5-3 at the break with a penalty from fly-half Nora Stapleton and the hosts began the second half on the front foot, keeping England pinned in their own half until Stapleton pounced on a loose ball and went through a gap to give her side a 10-5 lead after she converted her own score.
Luck of the Irish for record-breaker
The Red Roses, though, weren't to be denied and scored their third try of the week from a driving maul through Noel-Smith with Mclean, who had failed to convert a single kick at goal into points against France, slotting the conversion from out wide to give England a lead they wouldn't relinquish.
“I just saw my opportunity and went for it," said Clark. “I drove my legs as hard as I could and it was awesome to get across the line.
“To be the most-capped England player now is fantastic. I’ve really enjoyed the day and it must be the luck of the Irish that I managed to squeeze over the line.
“It was amazing running out on my own and hearing the cheers of the crowd before the game. I’m very proud of the girls for digging deep and getting the win.
“We want to get a few more wins on this pitch during the World Cup next year. It was a really tough game but it was great to experience this arena and we’ve set our marker here now.”
France and Ireland have seen their rating points reduced on the back of the defeats by England, but they remain fourth and fifth in the World Rugby Women's Rankings respectively.
While England now look forward to facing four-time Women's Rugby World Cup winners New Zealand, Ireland will look to bounce back when they tackle Canada at UCD Bowl on Saturday with a match to come against the Black Ferns themselves on 27 November.
Photo credit: Inpho