A hurting Ireland side face an uphill battle to get their TikTok Women's Six Nations campaign back on track when they welcome France to Musgrave Park this afternoon.
Last weekend’s sobering loss to Wales laid bare the size of the task that Greg McWilliams and his coaching staff have on their hands.
With 10 of the original squad plying their trade in the Premier 15s in England and most of the rest having taken up professional contracts, it was felt that Ireland were in with a decent shot of finishing best of the rest, a mini-group within the Six Nations that includes Wales, Scotland and Italy; England and France are on another level.
But it became apparent after just a few minutes in Cardiff that they were still miles behind the level required so getting back on track, in this instance, means producing a coherent performance in Musgrave Park.
Ireland captain Nichola Fryday wants to right the wrongs of last weekend's loss when France come to Cork #IREvFRA @Womens6Nations #RTERugby pic.twitter.com/nZbePzGHuW
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 31, 2023
"Shell-shocked" was how the head coach described his side as they went in 26-0 down at the break in Wales.
The disparity was even more stark when you consider that Ireland beat Wales 45-0 in the 2021 fixture.
So what now?
Ireland, who have won their last two home games in the championship, don’t have to beat France this afternoon but there is a huge onus on the squad to front up and back up their talk this week.
Prior to last week’s 31-5 defeat, the key messages were about hitting the ground running and being in a good place for the challenge, which turned out not to be the case.
This week’s theme has been about the "fighting Irish" and how closely knit the squad is.
Those are, of course, important traits but completely nullified if France, who finished third in last year’s World Cup, aren’t fighters or have a split in their camp.
There’s no evidence that this is the case so it then comes down to having a plan in place and executing it to near perfection if Ireland are to end a four-game losing streak against today’s opponents.
That’s easier said than done but it starts with the battle up front and Ireland have drafted in Christy Haney on the tighthead side to shore up the front row, with Linda Djougang switching over.
Nichola Fryday was one of Ireland’s better performers in the second half last week, scoring their only try, but Sam Monaghan and Dorothy Wall will both feel they can do much better.
Grace Moore and Deirbhile Nic a Bháird come into the back row and the latter’s willingness to play quick ball last week was a welcome sight.
Ireland out-half Dannah O'Brien will make her first TikTok Women's Six Nations start against France on Saturday as one of five changes to the team. pic.twitter.com/nU6HknDYbu
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 30, 2023
McWilliams has decided that out-half Dannah O'Brien is the right person for this job but at 19 years old and no competitive starts to her name is just starting out her career.
It’s a massive ask for the Carlow woman, who does bring a big boot to proceedings, to run a game where front-foot ball is likely to be at a premium.
In the normal course of events you might expect a novice fly-half to be brought along by senior players inside and out.
However, Molly Scuffil-McCabe at scrum-half has five caps and first centre Vicky Irwin, one of five changes to the side, has two.
In contrast, France out-half Carla Arbez is winning just her second cap but has 46 and 47-times capped Pauline Bourdon and Caroline Boujard for company.
France, under Gaelle Mignot and David Ortiz, beat Italy in Parma last week but needed a late score to secure a 22-12 victory.
They’ve had a number of changes to their squad and set-up since the World Cup, where they lost by a point to eventual winners New Zealand in the semi-final.
IRELAND v FRANCE: ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
But the run-out in Parma will have given them a good idea of what areas need immediate attention so a repeat rusty performance is unlikely. However much Ireland talk about cutting out the mistakes of last week, and there were many, the same applies to France.
Les Bleus, who have brought in full-back Morgane Bourgeois for her first cap and tighthead Assia Khalfaoui, topped the weekly chart for average metres made per maul (8.8m) against Italy so they will again target this area to gain an upper hand in Cork.
"We expect a real battle," said Mignot.
"It’s another step for our team which is still building, we are bringing two new players who have been in the squad for two years, it’s also the culmination of the work done in the academies over the last few years.
"Against a powerful Ireland pack, we will keep playing to our strengths, that is the defence and the set-piece."
Ireland not in damage limitation mode, says @HannahOConnor22 ahead of #IREvFRA #RTERugby #TikTokW6N pic.twitter.com/L4Dy438ibG
— RTÉ Rugby (@RTErugby) March 30, 2023
The Irish team have laughed off suggestions that damage limitation is the correct approach here but, facing a side that has beaten them by at least 24 points in their last four meetings, they should, on some level, set themselves a realistic target in order to get some sense of improvement.
"They understand, they own their performance," said McWilliams on Thursday.
"They were honest they worked hard this week, they understand what's needed to be done and they’ve gone about it and you’re just looking forward to seeing the response.
"There’s lots of great support out there and you’re just hoping that they can see a team that are going out and fighting. I think if you have that, you’ve always got a chance."
Verdict: France
Ireland: Méabh Deely; Aoife Doyle, Aoife Dalton, Vicky Irwin, Natasja Behan; Dannah O'Brien, Molly Scuffil-McCabe; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Nichola Fryday (capt), Sam Monaghan; Dorothy Wall, Grace Moore, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird.
Replacements: Clara Nielson, Sadhbh McGrath, Kathryn Buggy, Hannah O'Connor, Brittany Hogan, Nicole Cronin, Anna McCann, Lauren Delany.
France: Morgane Bourgeois; Cyrielle Banet, Marine Menager, Gabrielle Vernier, Caroline Boujard; Carla Arbez, Pauline Bourdon; Annaelle Deshayes, Agathe Sochat, Clara Joyeux; Manae Feleu, Audrey Forlani; Axelle Berthoumieu, Emeline Gros, Charlotte Escudero.
Replacements: Elisa Riffoneau, Coco Lindelauf, Assia Khalfaoui, Maelle Picut, Gaëlle Hermet, Alexandra Chambon, Jessy Tremouliere, Marie Dupouy.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
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Watch Leinster v Ulster in the Heineken Champions Cup from 4.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, and also watch Scotland v Wales in the TikTok Women's Six Nations (Saturday, 5.30pm) on the RTÉ Player.
Listen to live commentary of Ireland v France (3.15pm) and Leinster v Ulster (5.30pm) on RTÉ Radio 1's Saturday Sport.
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