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Ireland aim to end a tough week on a high tonight. Get closer to the stories that matter with exclusive analysis, insight and debate in The42 Membership. I’m sure she’s chomping at the bit, we back her all the way.”
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“So I’m excited for her to get this opportunity. “You saw her highlights reel at times, her footwork before contact,” said Griffin. There is excitement about the inclusion of Maeve Óg O’Leary on the bench, with the Munster back row set for her Test debut after impressing hugely during her province’s inter-pro championship success in August. There’s a return for Anna Caplice – who, like Sheehan, wasn’t involved in Parma – at number eight but the rest of the pack has a very familar look to it. Griggs has picked a team that features the return of Laura Sheehan on the right wing after her fine form for Exeter, while Eimear Considine moves from fullback to outside centre and Ailsa Hughes comes in at scrum-half. This USA team – ranked two places above Ireland by World Rugby – won’t give them anything easy, particularly after having two games against Canada over the past fortnight to warm up. “There’ll be a fresh start and fresh faces in January when Greg McWilliams takes charge.” “It’s a good opportunity for us to close out as a group after the last few months,” said captain Ciara Griffin yesterday. Within the squad, they see this as the final few pages of a chapter rather than the start of a new one. It is believed that some senior figures will soon retire from international rugby, so there is change ahead.īut this is a chance for everyone involved to start shaking off the pain of that tournament in Parma in September. Some of the players who feature tonight won’t be part of the next World Cup cycle. Incoming head coach Greg McWilliams is expected to watch tonight’s game from the stands along with Eddy, and he will hope to see encouraging signs that Ireland can rebound from their devastating experience in Italy at the World Cup Qualifier. This is all before we consider the fact that it has already been confirmed head coach Adam Griggs will step down after Ireland’s two games this month, meaning the rebuild after World Cup qualification failure is starting under a coach who won’t be sticking around.
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So, a right old mess and one has to wonder how strange it has been in Ireland camp this week. Yesterday also included a report that IRFU performance director David Nucifora had called Moloney directly about the tweet, something the union did not confirm or deny, instead stating that it’s not their policy “to prevent any player from expressing their opinion.” Ireland captain Ciara Griffin yesterday expressed the squad’s disappointment at Eddy’s comments and said he had “apologised in case people took offence to his comments.” On Tuesday, hooker Cliodhna Molony – who starts tonight – voiced her displeasure on social media and by yesterday, many of her team-mates had shared public messages of support. His comments didn’t go down well within the women’s game, with members of the Ireland Women squad frustrated at what they felt was Eddy laying the blame for the recent failure to qualify for the World Cup entirely at their feet. It started with Anthony Eddy, the IRFU’s director of women’s and 7s rugby, giving a media briefing on Monday. We will come to the rugby that will take place against the US at the RDS tonight, but it’s impossible to ignore what has gone on over the past few days. Ireland Women play an important Test match this evening but the build-up has been dominated by off-the-pitch controversy. SADLY, THIS IS an intro we’ve written before.
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Lindsay Peat does a handstand after Ireland's team photo yesterday.