Tommy Martin: Men forever loom large but Ireland women carving their own space

A 4.45pm kick-off, pretty close to Saturday tea-time sports primetime, all set to put on a show…and what do the blokes at the European Champions Cup do? Plonk the biggest club game in world rugby this year right on top of them.

HUGE STEP: Ireland's Aoife Wafer is congratulated by Beibhinn Parsons, Enya Breen, Aoibheann Reilly, Brittany Hogan and Eve Higgins after she scores her teams first try. Pic: Ben Brady

TALK about mansplaining your Saturday evening rugby viewing.

There they were, the Ireland women’s team, ready to have a crack at Wales after two encouraging but losing performances in the Six Nations.