Ireland delivered a statement performance at Affidea Stadium, powering past Wales 33-12 to claim a vital bonus-point victory in the Women's Six Nations. The win marks their second of the tournament and sets the stage for a thrilling finale against Scotland at the Aviva Stadium.

Coach Scott Bemand had called for a strong response after the team's defeat to France in Clermont two weeks ago, and his players answered in emphatic fashion. The message was clear: finish strong on home soil.

The first half was a whirlwind of action. Aoife Wafer, Beibhinn Parsons, and Brittany Hogan each crossed the whitewash, giving Ireland a commanding 19-7 lead at the break. Wafer was the standout, showing relentless determination to force her way over for the opening try, then turning provider with a brilliant offload to Parsons, who sprinted down the right wing to restore Ireland's advantage.

Wales came into the match with confidence after scoring four tries against world champions England in their previous outing, despite losing their last eight Six Nations matches. They started stronger in Belfast and struck back through Georgia Evans, who dived over from close range, with Keira Bevan converting to level the scores. But Ireland's defense stiffened, and the home crowd roared them on.

The second half was a scrappy affair, with both sides seeing yellow cards and Neve Jones having a try disallowed. But Wafer continued to shine, securing the bonus point with her second try of the match. Hogan added her second in the closing seconds, sealing a much-needed victory that keeps Ireland's momentum alive.

This was Ireland's third win in four games in Belfast, and it sets them up perfectly for their final match against Scotland in front of what promises to be a record crowd at the Aviva Stadium. With the team finding their rhythm and key players stepping up, the future looks bright for Irish women's rugby.