ONE TROPHY’S IN the cabinet and the Ireland women will attempt to put a second piece of silverware in their this afternoon in Scotland. A 27-point win is required to overhaul France, but Ireland are 33-point favourites – so it should be easy, right?
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Hello everyone! You are all looking surprisingly chipper for a nation who just celebrated an epic Six Nations win.
The Irish women will look to keep the party going this afternoon. A 27-point win and there will be two homecomings in Dublin this week.
Here are the team’s for today’s game.
SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Melrose); Nuala Deans (Wasps), Gillian Inglis (Melrose), Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers); Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers); Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lana Skeldon (Melrose), Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (capt), Deborah McCormack (Richmond), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Rachael Cook (Murrayfield Wanderers), Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill).
Replacements: Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), Fiona Sim (Saracens), Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester), Mhairi Grieve (RHC Cougars), Claire Bain (RHC Cougars), Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield).
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen); Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster).
Replacements: Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exile), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Munster).
For anyone wondering, the game is live on RTE 2 from 12.45. A great showcase for Irish women’s rugby.
The future of RTE rugby punditry is on our screens right now. With Tom McGurk retired, Daire O’Brien is likely the man who will move into the main anchor’s seat.
Rosie Foley is talking very bullishly on the panel. A 27-point win seems like a lot – and it is – but Ireland haven’t lost to Scotland since 2006.
They are playing a very boppy up-tempo version of ‘Ireland’s Call’ here. The players even cracked a smile at the melodious version.
Captain Niamh Briggs had her own John Hayes moment in the anthem.
Larissa Muldoon fumbles off the scrum and Scottish out-half Lisa Martin pins Ireland back in their own 22.
A strong rumbling Irish maul makes 40m into the Scottish half and Ireland move towards the Scottish 22.
TRY! Scotland 0-5 Ireland
Niamh Briggs exchanges a one-two with Hannah Tyrrell on the right wing and touches down for the opening try. Ireland have looked pretty rampant so far.
Some wild passing from both sides doesn’t pay dividend for anybody and Ireland will have scrum on their own 22.
Heather O’Brien gets taken high after picking off the scrum but Ireland play on, and centre Jenny Murphy skates into Scottish territory.
Nora Stapleton throws a nice dummy and almost feeds Tyrrell for an easy run in but flanker Karen Dunbar deliberately knocks on. Briggs will kick from straight in front from 20m out.
Scotland 0-8 Ireland
The wind is fierce but Briggs is accurate and Ireland increase their lead.
Paula Fitzpatrick is penalised for coming in from the side and Scotland will go for the posts in a central area on the 22.
Scotland number eight Jade Konkel knocks on from the kick off and Ireland have a scrum in the 22.
A Stapleton chip is taken into touch five yards from the line by the Scottish fullback. Good opportunity for try number two here.
Scotland 3-15 Ireland
Claire Molloy rumbles over from the back of a maul and Ireland have their second five-pointer. The maul has been a potent weapon for Ireland so far.
Scotland 3-13 Ireland
Briggs missed the conversion (contrary to my previous premature update…).
Scotland almost get their first try after a series of pick-and-jams but an accidental offside gives Ireland a 5m scrum.
Hannah Tyrrell has injured her arm/shoulder and has been replaced by Aoife Doyle.
O’Brien and Fitzpatrick execute a lovely back row move to buy Stapleton a few yards of space before she clears. Scotland lineout on the Ireland 10m line.
Centre Jackie Shiels wins a great turnover penalty on halfway. Briggs’ kick is poor and misses touch but a Scottish knock on gives Ireland a scrum on their 10m line.
Fitzpatrick touches the ball down on the line but the referee misses the grounding and a phase later Ireland are held up. Very, very poor execution around the line and equally bad by the referee for missing the try.
TRY! Scotland 3-20 Ireland
A monstrous scrum by Ireland is rewarded as O’Brien touches down at the back of it. A great display of power to make up for the earlier missed chance.
Ireland are back in the Scottish 22 after a powerful carry by Sophie Spence and are gunning for try number four.
TRY! Scotland 3-27 Ireland
Gillian Bourke is the woman at the back this time and Ireland have increased their lead. Their pack are pulverising the Scottish eight at the moment.
Another Irish maul was en route to the line but it split momentarily, resulting in an accidental offside call.
Scotland 3-30 Ireland
Ireland win a penalty at the scrum and Briggs ends the half with another penalty. As it stands, Ireland are champions!
TRY! Scotland 3-37 Ireland
Wing Alison Miller dances past three defenders during a 30m fun-run that finishes under the posts. The championship is in the bag, end of story.
HT Scotland 3-37 Ireland
That is it for the first half. Ireland are in firm control and look odds on to win the Six Nations.
TRY! Scotland 3-44 Ireland
Miller runs in an early try in the same manner as earlier and Ireland are queuing up now at the moment.
TRY! Scotland 3-49 Ireland
Fitzpatrick touches down on the back of another rampant maul and Irish fans can begin to celebrate.
The game feels a little like a training match now and although Scotland are playing a little better now, they haven’t been able to threaten the Irish line.
TRY! Scotland 3-56 Ireland
Sophie Spence caps her hard-working day by touching down under the posts after a powerful carry.
Ten minutes to go until Ireland women are crowned Six Nations champions for 2015. A really strong performance by the pack today, who utilised the maul expertly.
Sorry for the lack of updates… but there really hasn’t been a whole lot going on in the last few minutes. Ireland are just going through the motions now, content with a job well done.
TRY! Scotland 3-61 Ireland
Tania Rosser peels off the maul to touch down in the corner.
TRY! Scotland 3-68 Ireland
Miller completes here hat-trick in style, sprinting past three defenders to cross in injury time.
TRY! Scotland 3-73 Ireland
Centre Jenny Murphy flies down the left wing to finish in the corner. Murphy deserved a try after her ball carrying performance.
What a result well done ireland
If it wasn’t on tv ye would all be giving out! Women are doing Ireland proud today and definitely this team is increasing the interest in women’s rugby lately , best of luck to them onwards and upwards to lift another cup!!
Great match to watch. Finished a great weekend of rugby. Shame not many of us made it to the match after making the way to Scotland for yesterday’s match.
The stage is set. Another mammoth task. Good luck ladies. What a wonderful weekend if they pull this one off. Ireland – home of rugby!
Congratulations to the Irish Women. A little premature, I know, but I really cannot see Scotland coming back from 3-56 down.
Is it on TV ?
RTE2
Id say 999 in a 1000 of the people who watched the men’s game yesterday won’t bother watching this,
Unfortunately, you’re right.
What game yesterday?
It’s on tv because our girls are great
I must respectfully disagree Paul…. I think you will find that there is huge interest in this match. It’s about time Mna na hEirann were properl…… Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!
Best of luck ladies.
Well done ladies…fantastic rugby
Go on Ireland !!!
Brilliant first half from Ireland. Come on and lets put 50/60 on them.
Fantastic ladies, well done, so proud. Enjoy the celebrations
Absolutely delighted for the ladies team,enjoy the well deserved celebrations
The refs a bit of alright!!!
Steve Walsh will be ragin
He’s retired now thank feck.
Some crowd there. 100 people? Why is this on tv?
Because not all of us were able to go to Scotland to see it. What do you think should be on instead at 1pm on a Sunday?
Looks like an awful lot of people weren’t able to go to Scotland to watch it. Disappointing lack of mud as well. I’d have anything but this on, sure there’s lots of other sports on today with much bigger crowds but when Ryle Nugent is head of Rte sport what do you expect.
And chances are most of those in attendance are Irish supporters because this Scotland team are rubbish.
But credit where it is due to this Irish team, they’re playing some excellent footie, players like Spence, Murphy, Briggs and Stapleton are very impressive, skilful talents. I’m really enjoying this game and performance.
Why not just change the channel and watch “Summer Suppers” on RTE1? I’m sure it’s brilliant
Fabulous try!
Fair play to her!
Great game, amazing talent!!! Well done to the team, they did us proud. Am going to have to celebrate (again)
Certainly a lot more entertaining than the time Ireland beat Italy that time to win the GS, there’s been some really excellent tip-downs for the Ladies, congratulations to the whole squad, they did the jersey very proud and what a weekend for Irish Rugby!
And Murphy scores a cracker of an individual try – really impressive footie Girls in Green!
The Irish are dominating. Enjoyable game!
Wayne Barnes in drag reffin. Clearly a try. Sophie Spence is such a good ball carrier.
If it is, he’s lookin well.
To the begrudgers.. RTE basically got guilted into providing live TV coverage as the scots weren’t planning any TV coverage or web-stream. The women’s team played their first EVER international game in 1993 so to have 2 triple crowns, a grand slam, a second 6 nations title and a world cup semi-final appearance on their record so quickly is huge! and the impact is being seen by rugby clubs around the country.
Womens sport, does anybody care? Attendance and lack of coverage would suggest no.
Begrudger. Well done ireland. Class athletes
The poor scots!
So proud to be Irish this weekend. Well done to the Irish Rugby Women’s team.
And still no mention of the hockey.
Thrilled for the ladies. Ireland is proud of you. Well done.
How come 3 Mobile sponsor the men’s team and not the women?
Matches generally aren’t televised so the ad revenue is low.
Womans rugby , nulas!!!!