Veterans keep Nikki Caughey calm

Ireland’s inexperienced women’s out-half Nikki Caughey thought there would be more nerves on her return to the team against Wales last weekend after a two-year absence with injury.

Instead, there was just a sense of calm rippled by nothing more threatening than the odd wave of excitement and she will likely be just as composed in Perpignan tomorrow knowing Sene Naoupu is alongside her.

The Kiwi-born wife of Connacht number eight George Naoupu is just 12 months into her own Test career, but she scored a sensational try from inside-centre last weekend and complemented it with a number of jarring tackles.