Ireland scrum mixing it with the men ahead of Italian test

Ulster hooker Neve Jones (23) had no worries packing down with men and, as chief dart thrower, will be especially vital in sorting out Ireland lineout.

25 March 2022; Neve Jones during the Ireland Women's Rugby captain's run at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

IRELAND’S women scrummed down with a men’s side yesterday afternoon in a dramatic bid to improve their malfunctioning set-pieces ahead of the clash with Italy tomorrow (5pm KO, live on RTÉ2/BBC iPlayer).

Head coach Greg McWilliams happily admitted to enlisting the help of a combination men’s team from UCC (U20 and senior) to give his inexperienced pack the sort of set-piece practice and pressure they need ahead of their historic first Six Nations game in Musgrave Park.