Coghlan needs game-time

Barry Coughlan

Irish women’s captain Fiona Coghlan’s main concern in advance of tomorrow’s RBS Six Nations Championship clash with Wales is lack of game-time.

Ireland take on the Welsh at their now established headquarters of Ashbourne, County Meath (7.30pm) seeking retribution for last year’s narrow (14-15) loss in Wales, and Coghlan hopes that home advantage will benefit her side.

Coghlan is delighted with the squad’s progress through a recent four-week training camp, but her one worry is that Ireland haven’t had a game since last year’s competition, while Wales, Scotland, England and France have all had international games in the intervening months.

“Every team wants more game-time. We haven’t played in a year but you have to just get on with it. As a player you want to play as many games as possible but that’s what we are dealt with. I suppose we are in a positive place, given the preparation we have had.

Last season, Ireland managed to finish third again – their best-ever position and one place above Wales – and the captain admits winning their home games will be crucial for success this time around.

“Finishing third again is something we would hope for as a minimum. We’ve done that the last few years and with our numbers and resources, that’s a good return,” Coghlan said.

“This year we’ve got France and England away which is always the tough year of fixtures for us. Both teams are superb at home and France away is probably one of those games where we have never really managed to do ourselves justice. But we have managed to beat them at home so we would love to go there and do something special.”

The squad unveiled for the Wales clash sees a mix of youth and experience with full-back Ashleigh Baxter and lock Sophie Spence both earning their first caps, and with four uncapped players in the reserves.

In the actual team, newcomer Baxter links up with the more experienced Alison Miller and Niamh Kavanagh to complete the back three, but Lynne Cantwell, Ireland’s most capped player, will be pulling the strings from out half as she forms a new partnership with Amy Davidson.

Spence starts alongside the now established Marie Louise Reilly the back row trio of Joy Neville, Laura Guest and Claire Molloy provides a wealth of experience from which Ireland hope to prosper.

Source: http://feeds.examiner.ie/~r/iesportsblog/~3/OHPi2xX_PtU/post.aspx

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