New captains Ciara Griffin and Gaëlle Hermet will lead their countries for the first time, with Adam Griggs also making his debut as Ireland Women’s head coach, in tonight’s much-anticipated Women’s Six Nations opener in Toulouse (kick-off 9pm local time/8pm Irish time).
2018 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, February 3
FRANCE WOMEN v IRELAND WOMEN, Stade Ernest Wallon, Toulouse, 9pm local time/8pm Irish time (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only)/France TV/YouTube Live Stream (UK & Italy))
Team News: For his first competitive game in charge, Ireland head coach Adam Griggs has included one new cap in the starting XV with Megan Williams, well-known as a Sevens international, set for her 15s debut following a try-scoring performance in the recent warm-up match against Wales.
Williams is named in the back-three alongside Kim Flood, at full-back, and the hugely-experienced Alison Miller, who has scored a record 19 Six Nations tries for Ireland, on the opposite wing.
Tonight’s match also marks the welcome return to action of former captain Niamh Briggs after a long season out with injury. Selected at out-half, Briggs is partnered at half-back by Ailsa Hughes, who made her debut in the opening round of last year’s Six Nations. Centres Claire McLaughlin and Sene Naoupu complete the back-line.
Up front, Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Fiona Reidy join forces in the front row, with Reidy, a member of this season’s Interprovincial title-winning Munster team, set for her first Six Nations start at tighthead.
Ciara Cooney and Orla Fitzsimons team up in an all-Leinster second row pairing, while Ireland’s newly-appointed captain Ciara Griffin will lead the side from number 8, flanked by Claire Molloy, the skipper from last year’s Women’s Rugby World Cup, and Anna Caplice who makes her Six Nations bow.
The replacements bench has another potential new cap in Galwegians prop Laura Feely who hails from Ballybofey. She is one of five Connacht players among the reserves, including backs Mary Healy and Mairead Coyne.
Speaking ahead of the round 1 clash with France, New Zealander Griggs said: “The opening game of this tournament is always going to be a challenge and France in front of their home crowd is immense.
“However, the squad have had good preparation over the last two weeks and are excited and focused on the challenge at hand to start our campaign off with a positive performance.”
The Ireland Women play Italy on Sunday week in the first of three home games at Donnybrook and tickets are available now via ticketmaster.ie. The IRFU is offering bus subsidy of up to 400 euro per club for private transport hire. For more information on the bus subsidy for the 2018 Women’s Six Nations, contact womensrugby@irfu.ie before purchasing tickets.
Meanwhile, France head coach Samuel Cherouk has kept only five players who started their 21-5 World Cup pool victory over Ireland in the team to kick off the Six Nations. Toulouse flanker Gaëlle Hermet takes over the captaincy from Gaelle Mignot who is now playing her rugby with Richmond in England.
Scrum half Yanna Rivoalen is retained in a new-look back-line which sees Jade Le Pesq make the move from half-back to centre where she is partnered by Camille Boudaud. Bayonne’s Pauline Bourdon gets the nod at out-half.
There is a more familiar look to the French pack, although Safi N’Diaye switches from number 8 to the second row where she links up with Celine Ferer. Romane Ménager, one of the leading lights from the 2017 World Cup campaign, anchors the back row and Montpellier’s Agathe Sochat replaces Mignot at hooker.
With France finishing third in the 2017 Six Nations and losing out to England in last year’s World Cup semi-finals at Kingspan Stadium, new skipper Hermet is eager to make that step up to the next level and push for the title.
“It was a boost to do well at the World Cup because it gave us confidence,” said the openside flanker, who led les Bleues to November wins over Spain (97-0) and Italy (41-21). “But it was also a frustration as we really wanted to win it – we really want to win the Six Nations this year.”
Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
FRANCE WOMEN: Jessy Trémoulière (Stade Rennais Rugby); Caroline Boujard (Montpellier RC), Jade Le Pesq (Stade Rennais Rugby), Camille Boudaud (Stade Toulousain), Cyrielle Banet (Montpellier RC); Pauline Bourdon (AS Bayonnaise), Yanna Rivoalen (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois); Lisa Arricastre (Lons Rugby Féminin Béarn Pyrénées), Agathe Sochat (Montpellier RC), Julie Duval (L’Ovalie Caennaise), Celine Ferer (AS Bayonnaise), Safi N’Diaye (Montpellier RC), Marjorie Mayans (Blagnac Rugby Féminin), Gaelle Hermet (Stade Toulousain) (capt), Romane Ménager (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois).
Replacements: Gaelle Mignot (Richmond RFC), Dhia Traore (Stade Toulousain), Patricia Carricaburu (Lons Rugby Féminin Béarn Pyrénées), Audrey Forlani (Blagnac Rugby Féminin), Coumba Diallo (AC Bobigny 93), Emma Coudert (ASM Romagnat Rugby Féminin), Gabrielle Vernier (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois), Marine Ménager (Lille Métropole RC Villeneuvois).
IRELAND WOMEN: Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster); Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/ Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).
Replacements: Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s/Leinster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht).
Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), tbc (France)
Television Match Official: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): France Women to win: 1/14; Draw: 35/1; Ireland Women to win: 8/1
Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women): “It’s a very tough start for us, but in a way it’s going to set us up well for the tournament. It’s such a tough game. We are kicking off at 9pm which is a challenge in itself, but then leading into three home games that will set us up nicely for the rest of the tournament.
“The atmosphere (in camp) is very positive. Everyone wants to rectify what happened at the World Cup, so we are looking to move forward. The women have shown that they are in a positive head space and they want to put that behind them. We want to show that we are better than what some of those performances were.”
Ciara Griffin (Ireland Women): “There’s a really good team spirit and an ethos of hard work and we’re looking out for one another. So it’s quite positive at the moment, we’re looking forward, not looking back at the World Cup. We can’t change the past so it’s about focusing on the next step, which is the Six Nations.
“(The World Cup) was a disappointment, that’s obvious, it’s been said, but we have to move forward, keep building. It’s a new phase, a new building era for the Women’s game in Ireland and I think we should just draw a line in the sand and keep moving forward. If we look at the bigger picture it’s about developing, so keep developing and getting competitive.
“It’s really exciting (in camp). There’s new girls coming in and they’re doing really well. We’re looking to improve on our previous performances and try new things, get more experience and get the confidence up. You want to be competitive and that’s what we’re aiming to do. That’s exciting. You never know what you’re going to get with France. You have to prepare for all possibilities.”
Recent Meetings –
2015: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 5 France Women 10, Ashbourne RFC
2016: Women’s Six Nations: France Women 18 Ireland Women 6, Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 13 France Women 10, Donnybrook; Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool C: France Women 21 Ireland Women 5, UCD Bowl
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