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'I nearly crashed the car': Briggs admits shock at Ireland captaincy call but ready to take on Europe

The goal-kicking fullback modestly says she had never even considered the prospect of leading her country.

WHEN IT ALL boils down, Niamh Briggs sums up her goal in four simple words.

“Win the Six Nations.”

Niamh Briggs James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

The Waterford fullback is enjoying the perks and the pressure of captaining Ireland Women on the edge of a new era.

The excitement of taking up Fiona Coghlan’s leadership mantle was still clear to see when Briggs sat down with  The42 last week. She was honoured, absolutely, and still surprised to get the call.

“It was never really put to me,” she admits wide-eyed, “I just got a phone call on Sunday evening on my way home from the Wales match – high-tailing it back to Limerick for work – when Anthony Eddy [performance director] rang me.

“I didn’t really think I was in the frame for it so… it was unbelievable. I nearly crashed the car because I was like ‘what’s he ringing me for?”

The hands-free kit was called into action while Garda Briggs’ heart was still in her mouth.

Bad thoughts start going through your head then. ‘Did I do something wrong in a match, or have I been dropped?’

Perish the thought. The 45-cap goal-kicker was getting even more responsibility placed on her shoulders.

“I was absolutely delighted, [said] yes straight away. It’s very cliche, but it’s the ultimate honour.”

Ireland Women's Rugby Squad Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

It seems odd that Briggs didn’t consider her claim to the role. She probably wouldn’t have blinked had someone like Claire Molloy, Sophie Spence or Gillian Bourke taken the ‘armband’ instead. Clearly though, Eddy and head coach Tom Tierney have seen the way she deals with pressure, and leads by word and deed.

“I genuinely hadn’t really thought about it, but when you think about like that,” Briggs says as the job description begins to fit.

“It’s not that I had no ambition to be, I just never really thought about it to be honest. I had a bit of an injury problem since the World Cup, so I was concentrating in getting myself get fit and the best I could be for the squad.”

Paul O'Connell with Niamh Briggs Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

That hamstring worry is now at ease after the Limerick-based Garda put it to the test with five weeks of intense training to build up before last week’s photocall in London. There was also an all-too rare out-of-tournament match when Wales visited Ashbourne for a pre-tournament hit-out.

Games like that become all the more invaluable when Tierney adds 12 new names to the squad with half of them primed to win a debut in Italy.

2015 RBS 6 Nations Rugby Championship Launch England captain Tamara Taylor, Scotland captain Tracy Balmer, France captain Gayle Mignot, Ireland captain Niamh Briggs, Italy captain Sileva Gaudino and Wales captain Rachael Taylor James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

And speaking of the Azzurri, Briggs issues a strong reminder that the women in blue pose a much different threat than their male counterparts.

“They play a very good brand of rugby and they’re very into their general movement and seeing where the space is. So defensively you’ve got to be in tune all the time and if not they’ll catch you on the hop.

“They’ve got an extremely good back three that can counter from anywhere. yeah look it’s going to be difficult for us, first game under a new structure so patience is going to be a big thing for us.”

Once she crosses the line though, the game becomes one big step on the way to her over-arching goal:

“Look, I’m very ambitious when I play and I’m incredibly competitive – and we as a squad are incredibly competitive, so…”

Four simple words. Five tough games.

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