Ashbourne RFC, the scene of Ireland’s two previous victories over les Bleues in 2009 and 2013, plays host to what promises to be an absorbing encounter between Tom Tierney’s girls in green and France, the current table toppers and reigning Women’s RBS 6 Nations champions.
2015 WOMEN’S RBS 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 13
IRELAND WOMEN (2nd) v FRANCE WOMEN (1st), Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm (live stream on www.IrishRugby.ie/live RTÉ 2fm)
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Tom Tierney has made two changes to the team that overcame Italy for tonight’s eagerly-awaited Women’s RBS 6 Nations clash with France at Ashbourne RFC.
Katie Fitzhenry has been promoted from the bench to line out at inside centre with Jackie Shiels named among the replacements.
It will be Wexford woman Fitzhenry’s second cap and first start for Ireland as the girls in green take on defending champions France, who beat Scotland 42-0 in the opening round.
In a late switch, announced this morning, a concussion injury sustained in training has forced Hannah Tyrrell’s withdrawal from the team. Shannon and Munster’s Aoife Doyle comes in to win her first cap on the right wing.
Tierney, whose first game in charge finished in a 30-5 win in Florence, said: “It was great to get the result last week and there was some good things we can take out of the Italy clash. This week sees another step up for the players in terms of opposition.
“Playing at home is a great plus for us and hopefully we will have a big Ashbourne crowd to make it a good atmosphere to help give those home supporters a good performance and a win.”
Tonight’s round 2 match will be streamed live on www.IrishRugby.ie with a commentary team that includes former Ireland Women’s captain Fiona Coghlan. Match tickets are priced at €;10 for adults and €;5 for OAPs, students and children. Supporters can pay at the gate.
Meanwhile, unsurprisingly, French coaches Jean-Michel Gonzalez and Philippe Laurent have made just one change to the team that started last weekend’s impressive 42-0 dismissal of Scotland in Nantes.
Laura Delas drops to the replacements bench with Perpignan’s Caroline Boujard taking over from her on the right wing. Camille Cabalou, who had an assured Championship debut at out-half, and full-back Jessy Tremoulière caught the eye in the seven-try win over the Scots, with left winger Julie Billes running in a hat-trick.
France’s pack, marshalled by hooker and captain Gaëlle Mignot, remains a big strength for them and the battle between the forwards could well decide the outcome in Ashbourne – especially with goal-kickers of the calibre of Briggs and Tremoulière on hand.
Women’s RBS 6 Nations Fixtures/Results
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Munster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen); Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster).
Replacements: Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exile), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht).
FRANCE WOMEN: Jessy Tremoulière (Romagnat); Caroline Boujard (Perpignan), Elodie Poublan (Montpellier), Céline Héguy (Bayonne), Julie Billes (Perpignan); Camille Cabalou (Bayonne), Yanna Rivoalen (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq); Lise Arricastre (Lons), Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier) (capt), Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise), Manon André (Blagnac-Saint-Orens), Marine de Nadaï (Montpellier), Coumba Tombe Diallo (Stade Bordelais), Laetitia Grand (Lons), Safi N’Diaye (Montpellier).
Replacements: Wendy Divoux (Perpignan), Elodie Portaries (Montpellier), Céline Ferer (Bayonne), Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier), Cécilia Saubusse (Bordeaux), Carla Neissen (Blagnac-Saint-Orens), Laura Delas (Tarbes), Christelle Chobet (Perpignan).
Referee: Claire Hodnett (England)
Assistant Referees: Helen O’Reilly, Dermot Blake (both Ireland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 4/7; Draw: 19/1; France Women to win: 13/10
Pre-Match Quotes – Nora Stapleton (Ireland Women): “We know in the back of our mind what France are like. You’re always thinking they’re huge because they haven’t changed their team much. Their pack are very big, they run hard, and if you go high on them at all they’ll simply shrug you off with the shoulder.
“It’ll be a case of tackling around the knees and ankles, trying to get them to ground early. In saying that, you still have to have an aggressive line speed and come up and put them under pressure, which we will do I’m sure.
“The last time we had France over, there was close to 4,500 people at the game. I just remember (it) being absolutely wedged. When we were on the field, it was a really foggy night, and there was just people everywhere around the ground.
“I remember thinking this is a hell of a lot more people than we have ever got outside the Aviva (Stadium) before. You can cater for that in Ashbourne and it would be good to get that kinda crowd out there again.”
Heather O’Brien (Ireland Women): “The French game is always a big one because they can play any type of rugby. They can make the hard yards and they can play the fancy stuff so you don’t know what to expect with them which is brilliant. It’s what makes rugby exciting so we’re definitely looking forward to it.
“It was a bit scrappy (against Italy) with the conditions and they’re always a physical team to play against. We haven’t had a whole lot of time together as a squad so it was a relief to get a win under our belts.
“We’re conscious that it wasn’t perfect and there are things we need to improve on but scoring a few tries away from home is definitely a great start.”
Pre-Match Links –
Stapleton Relishing Ireland’s Return To ‘Fortress Ashbourne’
Coghlan Joins Irish Rugby TV Commentary Team
In Pics: Italy Women 5 Ireland Women 30
Winning Start For Ireland Women In Florence
Match Facts –
– The Ireland Women are seeking to get their Six Nations campaign started with a pair of victories for a third successive year
– Ireland have won their last eight home games (seven at Ashbourne) since England beat them there 31-0 in March 2011
– The France Women have lost just one of their last 13 Test matches: 18-16 to Canada in last year’s World Cup
– France have not lost in the Six Nations since Ireland beat them at Ashbourne in 2013
– Ireland Women’s only two victories over France in 22 previous meetings have both been at Ashbourne in 2009 and 2013
Recent Meetings –
2013: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 15 France Women 10, Ashbourne RFC
2014: Women’s Six Nations: France Women 19 Ireland Women 15, Stade du Hameau, Pau; Women’s Rugby World Cup 3rd-4th Place Play-Off: Ireland Women 18 France Women 25, Stade Jean Bouin, Paris
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