IRELAND WOMEN OPENED their November Test series with a 12-10 defeat to a more experienced England team in the UCD Bowl last weekend.
While there was disappointment at the nature of the defeat, there were many promising signs from Tom Tierney’s side. As well as three impressive debuts, Ireland attacked with an expansive mindset, asking their forwards to pass the ball regularly.
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There are many elements of the wide attack that Ireland will need to improve against Canada this Saturday in UCD [KO 2pm], but Tierney’s squad has the skill level and intelligence to develop over the course of the next 10 months.
With a World Cup on home soil to come next August, Ireland are keen to build their attacking game.
“That’s what we wanted to do,” says captain Paula Fitzpatrick of the expansive approach.
We wanted to use this series to try things and to see how we could play. I think maybe we needed to play a little more territory in the first half, but I thought our control was fantastic.
“We were holding onto the ball and we had the majority of possession. Maybe we just needed to play that little bit of territory, but the girls were fantastic and it’s a performance to be proud of.”
Tickets for Ireland’s clash with Canada at the UCD Bowl are available here.
Video analysis: Ireland's expansive ideas excite at start of World Cup year
IRELAND WOMEN OPENED their November Test series with a 12-10 defeat to a more experienced England team in the UCD Bowl last weekend.
While there was disappointment at the nature of the defeat, there were many promising signs from Tom Tierney’s side. As well as three impressive debuts, Ireland attacked with an expansive mindset, asking their forwards to pass the ball regularly.
There are many elements of the wide attack that Ireland will need to improve against Canada this Saturday in UCD [KO 2pm], but Tierney’s squad has the skill level and intelligence to develop over the course of the next 10 months.
With a World Cup on home soil to come next August, Ireland are keen to build their attacking game.
“That’s what we wanted to do,” says captain Paula Fitzpatrick of the expansive approach.
“We were holding onto the ball and we had the majority of possession. Maybe we just needed to play that little bit of territory, but the girls were fantastic and it’s a performance to be proud of.”
Tickets for Ireland’s clash with Canada at the UCD Bowl are available here.
Footage from Irish Rugby TV.
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Analysis November Tests Passing England Women Ireland Women video analysis Width