Enya Breen: Ireland ‘evolving’ and ‘growing’ under new Women’s Rugby backroom team
Despite some significant alterations to the backroom team since she last featured on the international stage, Cork native Enya Breen has insisted there haven’t been radical changes to the way the Ireland women’s rugby team operates.
When Breen lined out at inside centre in a final round Women’s Six Nations victory over Scotland at Ravenhill in Belfast on April 27 of this year, John McKee (senior coach), Declan Danaher (defence coach) and Larissa Muldoon (assistant backs and attack coach) were members of Scott Bemand’s coaching ticket alongside scrum specialist Denis Fogarty.
While head coach Bemand and Fogarty are still on board ahead of Ireland’s test encounter against Australia in Ravenhill this Saturday, the remainder of the backroom set-up have since moved on with McKee taking up a new position within the Women’s High Performance Programme in the IRFU.
In addition to Hugh Hogan taking over from Danaher as defence coach, Alex Codling (forwards coach), Gareth Steenson (kicking coach) and former women’s international Marie Louise Reilly (World Rugby coach intern) have also been added to the mix.
This has naturally introduced fresh voices and perspectives to the Irish camp, but Breen believes the new coaches are adding to what had already been put in place rather than starting from scratch.
“It’s new knowledge, but it’s kind of the same knowledge really at the same time. Obviously Hugh is putting his own stamp on our game and everyone is really excited. I wouldn’t say it’s a lot of change, I think we’re just evolving and I think we’re just growing,” Breen explained at a press conference in the IRFU’s High Performance Centre on Tuesday.
“We’ve taken what we’ve learned so far and we’re just adding to that. I don’t think it has changed the whole system now it’s the start of a new campaign. I think we’re just adding to what we’ve already learned.”
A game that is set to mark the start of the IRFU’s 150th Year Celebrations, Ireland’s showdown with Australia on Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm) will also serve as a precursor to the forthcoming WXV 1 tournament in Canada from September 29 to October 12 – where Bemand’s side will take on New Zealand, the Canadians themselves and the United States.
Whereas Ireland are still on a high after claiming World Cup qualification at the end of this year’s Six Nations, Australia come into this weekend’s clash on the back of a heavy 62-0 defeat to New Zealand in the Laurie O’Reilly Cup back in July.
Breen expects a stern challenge on Saturday in spite of this result, but the Munster and Blackrock College star also feels the Irish are capable of imposing their own game on the Wallaroos.
“Australia are a team that likes to play, but so do we. We’re just focusing on us at the minute. We’re trying to get our connections together. Work out what way we want to play and put our stamp on the game.
“Whatever Australia throws at us, we’ll have our own game to throw right back at them,” Breen added.