Griggs warns Ireland to expect the unexpected from France
Women’s Six Nations
Ireland v France
Today: Energia Park, Donnybrook, 7pm
Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
TV: Live on RTE2
Daire Walsh
Ireland coach Adam Griggs has told his players to expect ‘the unexpected’ from France in this evening’s Women’s Six Nations Championship clash in Donnybrook.
Following their shock defeat to Italy a fortnight ago, the hosts enter the game with the 2018 champions as rank outsiders.
Griggs said: “I watched the French game against Scotland that they played a couple of weeks ago, where they [France] probably left a few tries out there as well.
“There’s no doubt about it, they’re a strong side. They’re going to be physical and their pack is a big pack.
“They can also move around and then you’ve got halves who control the game brilliantly.
“Our message to the player this week is that ‘you’ve got to be expecting the unexpected’. Like any typical French team, they are pretty good at playing off the cuff and what they see in front of them. We go back to talking about scrambling and adapting and problem solving on the move.
“That’s going to be a big thing for us this weekend.”
When the Ireland team was announced on Thursday night, it featured five changes from the defeat to the Italians.
Juliet Short was selected alongside Nichola Fryday in the second-row, but has since been ruled out through injury. Her place now goes to Railway Union team-mate Aoife McDermott, who will make her ninth consecutive start in an Irish shirt. With Michelle Claffey (ankle) and Leah Lyons (AC joint) already sidelined for the remainder of the tournament, Griggs promoted debutant Enya Breen and Fiona Reidy to the starting line-up.
There are also some tactical changes in the Irish pack, where Cork’s Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird and the versatile Claire McLaughlin deputises for Emma Hooban and Anna Caplice respectively.
Having made her first start in the Italian game, Kathryn Dane is retained alongside place-kicker Nicole Fowley. Amidst the disappointment of the defeat in Parma, Griggs was encouraged by the performances of his new half-back pairing.
“Kathryn, in her first game [against England] she got 10 minutes off the bench. The next game [Scotland] she gets 20 plus minutes.
“From those performances she earned her start. There’s a reason she played the full 80 as she was doing really well. We like her speed of service, her pass is accurate. It also gave Nicole a lot more time on the ball. Those two are a great example of giving them time and letting them steer the team around. Now they’re starting to grow into that more and more.”
There has also been a late alteration to the Irish bench for this evening’s game. Leinster star Megan Williams is ruled out after sustaining a knock in training. Her spot will be filled by Ballinasloe’s Beibhinn Parsons, who – at just 16 – became Ireland’s youngest senior debutant in last November’s Test reversal to the USA.
IRELAND: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemian/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (UL Bohemian/Munster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian/Munster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht); Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian/Munster), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster).
Replacements: Emma Hooban (St Mary’s College/Leinster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Anna Caplice (Richmond), Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian/Munster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht).
FRANCE: Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat); Caroline Boujard (Montpellier), Yolaine Yengo (Stade Rennais), Gabrielle Vernier (Lille Métropole Villeneuvois), Lan Jason (Stade Toulousain); Pauline Bourdon (AS Bayonnaise), Yanna Rivoalen (Lille Métropole Villeneuvois); Lise Arricastre (Lons Béarn Pyrénées), Caroline Thomas (Romagnat), Clara Joyeux (Blagnac); Celine Ferer (Bayonnaise), Audrey Forlani (Blagnac); Gaelle Hermet (Stade Toulousain), Coumba Tombe Diallo (Stade Français), Romane Menager (Montpellier).
Replacements: Laure Touye (Blagnac), Dhia Maylis Traore (Stade Toulousain), Chloe Pelle (Stade Français), Laetitia Bobo (Stade Toulousain), Fiona Lecat (Stade Toulousain), Emma Coudert (Romagnat), Camille Imart (Stade Toulousain), Marine Menager (Montpellier).