Ireland take on Wales this weekend in the opening game of the Tik Tok Six Nations.
The game, which will take place in the RDS, marks the start of a new era for the Irish women’s rugby team after the introduction of a new squad of players as well as new head coach Greg McWilliams.
The IRFU have announced the team for the game which is set to be the first captained by newly appointed Nichola Fryday. It marks a debut and a first start for Aoibheann Reilly at scrum-half. Limerick native Nicole Cronin joins her at 10 with Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins, Lucy Mulhall, Aimee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Eimear Considine completing the backline.
Dorothy Wall will start at blindside flanker with Edel McMahon at openside. Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Katie O’Dwyer will take front row with Sam Monaghan completing the pack alongside Fryday.
A new era for Irish Rugby. Ireland take on Wales this weekend. Exciting to see what this new team can bring.
We've got the full preview with the Her Sport Six Nations show here:https://t.co/ro3YQsSD7V
Also available on Spotify & all podcast platforms. Just search 'Her Sport' https://t.co/KugMpOtflx
— Her Sport (@HerSportDotIE) March 24, 2022
The team will take on a newly professional Wales squad as the Welsh joined England, France and Scotland in offering professional and semi-professional contracts for their players last November.
“Last year Wales wouldn’t have been very happy with their Six Nations campaign, they shipped a heavy defeat to us,” former Irish International Player Hannah Tyrrell told HerSport.
“They’ve a whole new set up now…a whole new group of coaches. They have a lot of ex Welsh players in there who kind of are able to draw on their experiences and help them through and they've a really good blend of youth and experience within their squad” said Tyrrell, who was a part of the Irish team that won against Wales in their last encounter, 45-0.
Despite the introduction of contracts on the Welsh side Offaly native captain Fryday is certain that they can show up “fighting”.
“We’ve had really high tempo and really intense training sessions, so that will stand to us when we get onto the pitch and then it's just about fighting it out against a good Welsh side…we don’t see ourselves as amateur players, everything we do both on and off the pitch is professional” she told HerSport.
“The sacrifices we make as players and individuals that's what a professional rugby player is.I don’t see it as amateurs versus professionals I see it as rugby players versus rugby players”.
For Tyrrell, an Ireland win is expected for the game which kicks off at 16:45 in the RDS.
“I do think that it will be a different team that we will meet, they have some electric players…they will be a challenge but I’m hoping Ireland will have a little too much fire power for them” Tyrrell said.
Follow all the TikTok Six Nations action with HerSport and our new Six Nations Show, brought to you in association with OPEL, exclusive car partner of the IRFU. New episode live every week of the Championship.
The Her Sport Six Nations Show is brought to you by Opel. Follow all the 2022 Six Nations action throughout the Championships with expert analysis, previews, interviews and a lot of laughs! Opel are the exclusive car partner of the IRFU.
