Fast start key to Ireland hopes, insists Monaghan

Monaghan is expected to feature on Saturday as Scott Bemand’s charges aim for a third-place Championship finish and - by extension - qualification for next year’s World Cup finals.

JOB TO DO: Ireland's Sam Monaghan barks out the orders. Pic: Ben Brady, Inpho

They are a side that have caused them plenty of heartbreak in recent times, but co-captain Sam Monaghan remains confident Ireland can get the better of Scotland in the final round of the Women’s Six Nations Championship at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast this Saturday (kick-off 2.30pm).

In just her third international test appearance, Monaghan was part of an Irish team that suffered a last-gasp 20-18 defeat to Scotland at Parma’s Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in September 2021 - a result that ended their qualification hopes for the following year’s Rugby World Cup finals in New Zealand.