Griggs wants a winning sign-off to a mixed campaign
Women’s Six Nations
Daire Walsh
Ireland coach Adam Griggs hopes his side’s familiarity with Wales can help them to sign off a difficult Women’s Six Nations campaign on a positive note at Cardiff Arms Park tomorrow (1.30pm, RTE Two).
The nations faced each other in a warm-up game this year, a tie which Ireland won in Donnybrook (29-19).
“We have played Wales a good few times. We play them every pre-season, so we know what they are about as well. Hopefully, we can exploit them. We’re ready to make sure we put in a complete performance and that’s what it’s about,” Griggs said.
Despite coming into this final round encounter on the back of a heavy defeat to France, Griggs has resisted the urge for wholesale changes. Following fleeting appearances off bench against the French, Lindsay Peat and Beibhinn Parsons have been drafted in to replace Laura Feely and Alison Miller, respectively, but the remainder of the starting line-up is unchanged.
“I don’t think this is a time to make drastic changes. We have to make sure we have some consistency with selections and make sure that combinations are there and we are looking to the future,” explained Griggs.
Since their 35-12 triumph over Wales in last year’s Six Nations, Ireland have recorded just one win in eight competitive internationals. While it is accepted that the Irish are in the midst of transition, Griggs’ charges are desperate for a return to winning ways in Cardiff.
“We are keeping it calm, because we as a group know where we’re at. We know what we can do. Our players are all competitors and we’re all here to win. We’re all in this game to try and win.”
WALES: L Smyth; J Joyce, H Jones, L George, J Kavanagh; E Snowsill, K Bevan; C Thomas, C Phillips, A Evans; G Crabb, M Clay; A Butchers, B Lewis, S Lillicrap.
Replacements: K Jones, C Hope, C Hale, A Callender, M Johnes, F Lewis, R Wilkins, L Neumann.
IRELAND: L Delany; E Considine, E Breen, S Naoupu, B Parsons; N Fowley, K Dane; L Peat, D Nic a Bhaird, F Reidy; A McDermott, N Fryday; C Griffin, C Molloy, C McLaughlin.
Replacements: E Hooban, L Djougang, L Feely, E McMahon, A Caplice, N Cronin, E Murphy, L Sheehan.