Ciara Griffin: An easy day at the office? Think again, Ireland

ROUND TWO: Ireland's Nicole Fowley impressed at ten against France and gave a secure boot to clear threats in the Irish 22m. Pic: @INPHO/Ben Brady

With every point crucial in the race for Women's World Cup qualification, no stone can be left unturned.

On Sunday, Ireland hosts Italy at home in the RDS and it provides an opportunity for our first points in the championship since 2022. 

The opening round performance against France - who did not look like they got out of third gear - will have given warranted confidence to this young team. Ireland showed a marked improvement in their physicality and tenacity in the defensive line. Double hits really limited the French off-loading game and allowed the Irish line just enough time to fold around and set for the next wave of French attack.

While some may think Italy will be an easier day at the office, I would not put all my Easter eggs in the one basket. Although Italy lost 48–0 to England last weekend, they really impressed me. They strung attacking phases together and really brought the ball to the gain line in counter attack phases. The Azzurri looked to play with width and speed in their attack with a number of running options off both 9 and 10. Dummy lines sat down the Red Roses defence and saw them having to scramble at times.

Despite conceding 48 points, the Italian defence looked solid. They too had double hits but, unlike Ireland who tackled and bounced out to fill the defensive line, Italy contested every breakdown. Italy forced England to commit numbers to secure their own ball, which was extremely clever but energy-sapping. 

In doing so, Italy forced the Red Roses to break from their attacking structure or pods of three. It is much easier to tackle one player that is isolated from support than to stop a latching pod. Italy showed a very high rugby IQ which you would expect from a team with such experienced players as Rigoni, Tounesi and Madia.

Italy held England to just 10 points in the first half and really frustrated their playmakers. The Italian wingers Alyssa D’Inca and Aura Muzzo showed extremely high in the defensive line which put the usual trail blazers of Jess Breach and Abbey Dow under real pressure. 

The Azzurri will more than likely use a similar approach to reduce the attacking threat of Ireland's Parsons and Higgins. Ireland will need to clear the breakdown threat early on, secure their own ball and reduce the disconnect between the ball carrier and support players. Ireland showed too much daylight between the ball carrier and first arrival last week and were turned over on five separate occasions - a statistic I am sure the Italians have highlighted as an area to target.

Nicole Fowley really impressed in the 10 shirt and gave a secure boot to clear threats in the Irish 22m. Fowley also introduced more high ball options for full back Delaney to chase, which gave Ireland some good territory. Last year, Ireland kicked the least amount of all six nations, something Scott Bemand appears to be changing immediately.

Both Ireland and Italy made north of 150 tackles and had close to 300 gain line metres last weekend. A question: will Ireland's extra recovery day give them the upper hand? I would not read too much into it, but it was interesting to see Bemand use his bench from the 50th minute on – making sure regular starters were rested while impact players got invaluable test match minutes under the belt.

Scotland head into Saturday with a spring in their step after winning away to Wales for the first time in 20 years. Scotland entertain France who traditionally do not travel well. I am not saying a Scotland win is on the cards, but it is a game they can target for losing bonus points or points difference for/against at the end of the competition. 

Scotland are extremely aware of the value of points difference at the end of a competition – they pipped Italy to pole position in WXV2 this year via points difference. With three nations fighting for the coveted third spot and guaranteed World Cup qualification every point counts.

England go into Saturday's tie with Wales with a point to prove with many English media commentators calling the performance last week against Italy ‘lacklustre’ and ‘sub par’. 

Calling a 48-0 victory lacklustre and sub-par just drives home the high standards. The Red Roses need to be on their best behaviour discipline wise after a red and yellow card last week (both bunker reviewed), which adds extra scrutiny from the officiating team and TMO.

Often referees get headlines for all the wrong reasons and particularly in the recent men’s Six Nations. The power of the TMO, indecisive refereeing and inadequate questioning were highlighted. Some would argue Ireland were robbed of two tries against Scotland with poor wording from Matthew Carley and his team. 

Perhaps they should tune into the Women’s Six Nations for a refresher course because Kat Roche gave a masterclass on how to use the TMO to inform decision making on the field. Roche's wording was matter-of-fact and to the point with no sense or risk of ambiguity about it. She even went on to use her common sense in going against the TMO’s decision to rule out a clear try for France, instead she used her positioning and experience to stick with her on-field decision. It was refreshing to watch a game of rugby that was free-flowing and not taken over with TMO intrusion.