MARIE-LOUISE REILLY has seen it and done it all before. She has the war scares, the tales and the medals and now she’s hoping to help the next generation pick up the baton.
The experienced lock is preparing to play at Twickenham for the second time this evening as Ireland look to get their Six Nations campaign back on track.
Defeat to France in Perpignan last time out left a sour taste in the mouth but Tom Tierney’s charges are re-energised and refocused ahead of tonight’s [KO 7.15pm] tough assignment.
“Hugely disappointing, there were a lot of sad faces in the changing room afterwards but we analysed it last week and put it to bed,” the 35-year-old said. “We’ve a good idea where we went wrong. A lot of it was just individual errors that you can’t afford at international level.
“Our defence will have to be quite tight and again that’s individual errors and we need to tighten up on that. I think it’s going to be a very exciting, enjoyable game. We’re going to play rugby and enjoy playing at Twickenham.”
England are sitting at the top of the standings after two games and have scored 30 points in each of their outings. Add in the fact Ireland have never beaten today’s opponents on enemy soil and the magnitude of the task becomes greater.
But Reilly and her team-mates aren’t daunted by the prospect of facing an in-form team in the cauldron that is Twickenham. Those days are long gone.
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Marie-Louise Reilly hopes to help Ireland to a famous victory tonight. Ryan Byrne / INPHO
Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO
“We’ve never beaten England and to have it at Twickenham is going to give us that added impetus to go and get a famous win away from home. Just really looking forward to being part of a squad which can get a result on Saturday.
“My job as one of the more senior players in the team is to make sure there’s a good atmosphere in camp and we’re all pulling in the same direction and we realise the players who have gone before us and the history to it.
“We get asked questions about the likes of Fiona Coughlan and Lynne Cantwell and what was it like so many years ago and it’s to remind players we’re only here for a short time and it’s our job to leave the jersey in a better place and just do the best job.
“When I started there was this big myth around England and they were built up to be this great team and as the years have gone on we’ve realised we can stand toe-to-toe with them and get the win we’re looking for.”
With the women’s game beginning straight after the men’s, it’s expected most of the Irish supporters will stay behind to lend their support to Niamh Briggs and the side.
Although finding a quiet area inside the ground to focus on the job in hand and warm-up could be a problem with the first of the Six Nations double-header in full flow.
“I think we’ll be able to block it out, we’ll be focused and I think when the whistle goes everything else goes anyway,” Reilly said. “If memory serves me right, the seats in Twickenham are green so we’ll feel right at home.
“Hopefully a good crowd will stay behind. At the end of the day you’re playing in a world renowned, iconic rugby stadium. If you’re not going to perform in a stadium like that then you’re probably in the wrong game.”
'The seats in Twickenham are green so we'll feel right at home'
MARIE-LOUISE REILLY has seen it and done it all before. She has the war scares, the tales and the medals and now she’s hoping to help the next generation pick up the baton.
The experienced lock is preparing to play at Twickenham for the second time this evening as Ireland look to get their Six Nations campaign back on track.
Defeat to France in Perpignan last time out left a sour taste in the mouth but Tom Tierney’s charges are re-energised and refocused ahead of tonight’s [KO 7.15pm] tough assignment.
“Hugely disappointing, there were a lot of sad faces in the changing room afterwards but we analysed it last week and put it to bed,” the 35-year-old said. “We’ve a good idea where we went wrong. A lot of it was just individual errors that you can’t afford at international level.
England are sitting at the top of the standings after two games and have scored 30 points in each of their outings. Add in the fact Ireland have never beaten today’s opponents on enemy soil and the magnitude of the task becomes greater.
But Reilly and her team-mates aren’t daunted by the prospect of facing an in-form team in the cauldron that is Twickenham. Those days are long gone.
“We’ve never beaten England and to have it at Twickenham is going to give us that added impetus to go and get a famous win away from home. Just really looking forward to being part of a squad which can get a result on Saturday.
“My job as one of the more senior players in the team is to make sure there’s a good atmosphere in camp and we’re all pulling in the same direction and we realise the players who have gone before us and the history to it.
“We get asked questions about the likes of Fiona Coughlan and Lynne Cantwell and what was it like so many years ago and it’s to remind players we’re only here for a short time and it’s our job to leave the jersey in a better place and just do the best job.
With the women’s game beginning straight after the men’s, it’s expected most of the Irish supporters will stay behind to lend their support to Niamh Briggs and the side.
Although finding a quiet area inside the ground to focus on the job in hand and warm-up could be a problem with the first of the Six Nations double-header in full flow.
“I think we’ll be able to block it out, we’ll be focused and I think when the whistle goes everything else goes anyway,” Reilly said. “If memory serves me right, the seats in Twickenham are green so we’ll feel right at home.
“Hopefully a good crowd will stay behind. At the end of the day you’re playing in a world renowned, iconic rugby stadium. If you’re not going to perform in a stadium like that then you’re probably in the wrong game.”
Ireland Women (v England):
15. Niamh Briggs (UL. Bohemians / Munster) Captain
14. Elise O’Byrne-White (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
13. Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara / Leinster)
12. Sene Naoupu (Galwegians / Connacht)
11. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
9. Larissa Muldoon (Skewen)
1. Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians / Connacht)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union / Leinster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
5. Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
6. Ciara Griffin (Tralee / Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol)
8. Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse)
Replacements
16. Zoe Grattage (Tralee / Munster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians / Munster)
18. Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians / Munster)
19. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
20. Heather O’Brien (Toulouse)
21. Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
22. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union / Ulster)
23. Jackie Shiels (Richmond)
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