Greg McWilliams has backed young out-half Dannah O'Brien to help turn Ireland’s fortunes around when they face France in Cork on Saturday.
Off the back of a harrowing TikTok Women's Six Nations defeat to Wales, McWilliams has made five changes to his side as they take on a visiting outfit who finished third in last year’s World Cup.
Already without the sevens players, who are on duty in Hong Kong, Ireland have lost 17-cap centre Enya Breen to injury, while Nicole Cronin, who has 22 caps, drops to the bench in favour of 19-year-old O’Brien.
The entire backline has a total of 32 caps, three of which belong to O’Brien, who made her debut in Japan last summer.
"She’s got a very strong kicking game, she’s very skilful," McWilliams told reporters.
"You just want her to be herself, to understand what’s she good at, you want to let her play.
"She’s really talented, she’s relatively inexperienced but I believe she is the right person to start at 10 this week, as do the players and the staff.
"She’s growing all the time. I’m looking forward to her going out and sticking to a good plan that we have for the French and if we do that you’ll see Dannah control the game really well."
Speaking before the team was announced, O’Brien (above 2r) said she believed she was ready to take the reins.
"The last six months I’ve kind of been preparing for these games," said the Carlow native, who has been working with Ireland U20s boss and kicking coach Richie Murphy this week.
"I think the team backs me and I feel comfortable playing in that position. If that is the case, I think I am ready for it.
"It’s hard to know which way [the game will play out] on the day, but definitely I’d say we might feed the backs a bit more this weekend."
The Irish pack was overpowered last weekend in Cardiff and McWilliams admitted that the home team's hopes for the 3.15pm kick-off at Musgrave Park depend on breaking even in the contact area.
"Rugby is a simple game, it's really important that you have parity at the contact points, set-piece is massive, scrum and lineout," said McWilliams, who took over at the end of 2021.
"John [McKee, senior coach] and Denis [Fogarty, scrum coach] have done a huge amount of work this week with the players.
"Primarily the players are the ones who have reviewed their own performance and they have come to us with what they believe is important to them as a group and there’s no doubt that we need to front up against a very physical French pack.
Ireland not in damage limitation mode, says @HannahOConnor22 ahead of #IREvFRA #RTERugby #TikTokW6N pic.twitter.com/L4Dy438ibG
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 30, 2023
"We learned a huge amount against Wales and the true test is how the players respond.
"As a head coach it’s lovely to sit back and watch a group of players grow this week and it’s been incredibly positive, they understand it’s a massive challenge.
"I’m looking forward to them going out and putting in a good show at Musgrave Park."
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