By Aoife Hogan.
If you were the betting sort you might think it safe to put your money on Ireland when they take on Italy this weekend.
The girls in green probably have the ideal opener to their 6 Nations campaign with a home tie against the Italians on Friday night, but newly appointed captain Fiona Coghlan thinks otherwise as she admitted that little is known about Italy or their game plan.
“Last year they were beating us in the second half so we can’t afford to write them off. We gave ourselves a scare in that game and they put it up to us so we can’t afford to write them or any team off in this competition”.
Finishing third last year was Ireland’s best finish since the competition started, but Coghlan is hopeful that they can improve on that this year and a new coaching set up is helping that. Since his appointment as head coach in October, Kevin West has added a new professionalism to developing the Irish squad, bringing in strength and conditioning coaches and video analysis.
“The coach doesn’t want to change too much but wants to bring in his own game plans and we’ve all supported the way he’s going. It’s stepped up a notch this year compared to last year.”
West was somewhat hampered by the cancellation of this year’s Interpro final due to bad weather when he lost the chance to view his top players performing at that high level but Coghlan is adamant that this would not have posed to much of a problem.
“It probably only affected the coach a small bit as he didn’t get to see players playing at that higher standard but he’s gone to club games and he’s gone around the country to see these players so it won’t hinder us too much”.
The game against Scotland in Belfast before Christmas was good preparation both for the players and the coach as they gear up for the 2010 6 Nations. Ireland and Scotland played each other in three 25 minute thirds and West fielded two different teams in the first two thirds and a mixed team for the final third, giving him the opportunity to look at many different formations.
“It’s always valuable to get international opposition. For both us and Scotland it was a training game and for Kevin it was his first game with us so it was very important for him. The score line didn’t reflect the game as Scotland had a lot of possession but we took our chances well.”
Ireland have been taking their chances since their first game of the 6 Nations in 2009 when they achieved a record win against France and the momentum from their best 6 Nations finish is still with them. Coghlan credits the rise of women’s rugby in Ireland to the strength and support that the national squad gives each other.
“We’re like thirty sisters. People just come in and they gel straight away and that’s one of the most important things in our squad.”
Developing new players in this atmosphere is crucial to Ireland’s long term plans and with this being a World Cup year one expects West to try out new formations with some of the younger players. Coghlan admits she can’t help but think about the World Cup, but the 6 Nations is foremost in her mind.
“We haven’t spoken much about the World Cup as with the 6 Nations we have to take each game as it comes, but with new players in, if they’re good enough they have to be given their chances and if that means we’re developing them [in this competition] for the World Cup, well and good.”
She is full of praise for utility back Niamh Briggs and the excellent competition she had last year at fullback as well as wing Amy Davis and the newest player to the fold Claire Molloy who at just 21 is already challenging for the number 7 spot.
With New Year preparations going well and no serious injuries in camp Coughlan expects there to be big competition for places and a full strength squad for Friday. Whether the Italians throw up a 6 Nations surprise or if the Irish can get this year’s campaign off to a winning start remains to be seen but with such a strong bond between the Irish “sisters” one couldn’t help putting their money on that bet.
To see the Irish team to play Italy see here
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