Ireland player of the match Aoife Wafer said the side’s dominant 54-5 victory over Scotland in front of a record crowd at the Aviva Stadium is her “wildest dream come true”.
It was a ruthless first-half display from Ireland, who scored seven tries in the opening period to give them a 47-0 lead at the break before Brittany Hogan crossed again after the restart.
Wafer was awarded the player of the match for the second successive game as, like in the victory over Wales in Belfast, she registered two tries in another fine display in Dublin in the first standalone women’s rugby match at the Aviva.
“It is unbelievable,” Wafer said.
“That is what dreams are made of. I sat here 12 years ago [when Ireland beat Italy in a double-header with the men’s Six Nations] and now to be out here in front of 32,000 people is my wildest dream come true.
“We knew there was more in us than what we have shown over this campaign so far, so I am so incredibly proud to be part of this team and hopefully we can inspire more young girls.”
The victory, their third home win of the campaign, helped Scott Bemand’s side to finish third in the Women’s Six Nations table.
Ireland will have home games against this year’s top two sides, France and England, in next year’s tournament and Wafer was adamant that this will be the first of many games at Aviva Stadium for her side.
“See you all here next year,” she continued.
“The last seven weeks have been unbelievable. We have lived in each other’s pockets and I couldn’t ask for a better group to do this alongside.
“It all hit me a little bit when the final whistle went, it is a dream come true.”