IRELAND SKIPPER LUCY Mulhall has described her side’s historic Olympic qualification as “surreal” and stressed that their feat is just one good-news story of many in Irish women’s rugby, which has endured another difficult year on and off the pitch.
With a place at Paris 2024 up for grabs, the IRFU prioritised the sevens programme over the XVs this year and while the Six Nations campaign was an unrepeatable disaster, Mulhall and her teammates will adorn the headlines for all the right reasons after getting over the line in Toulouse this morning.
Speaking immediately after their nail-biting 10-5 victory over Fiji in what was ostensibly an Olympic playoff, captain Mulhall saluted her teammates, their families, and sports psychologist Siobhain McArdle whose work with the team she described as a “turning point”.
“We obviously had a good start to the season and then kind of had a bit of a blip the last two tournaments”, said Mulhall, “and it’s amazing that we were able to just get on top of our rugby and start playing some good rugby again.
“It was always going to come down the wire but to come through a straight shootout against Fiji, it was amazing.
“It just feels really, really good and the game itself was, like, so up and down. We’re so relieved.”
With the clock red, Ireland led 10-5 thanks to two Amee-Leigh Murphy-Crowe tries but hearts were in mouths as Fiji’s Younis Bese launched one final attack, booting downfield and giving chase.
Stacey Flood had other ideas, however, winning both the ball and a penalty to kill the game, and Mulhall said that the Railway Union star’s intervention at the death typified Ireland’s defensive output.
“The heart within the group, the connection in the line… We never seemed to question that they were ever going to score because we were just so connected.
“And on the last play, for Stacey to chase the whole way back, for Be (Beibhinn Parsons) to be right on top of her… And luckily we got a penalty, but even if we didn’t get the penalty, we were already going to be there, which just shows how much fight was in this group.”
Mulhall paid tribute to Ireland’s sports psychologist Siobhain McArdle, who has been on the IRFU’s books since last September.
McArdle’s influence on the side has been “amazing”, Mulhall said, and a “real turning point”.
“Siobhain’s been so good and we’ve even kind of captured the team of bees and working together as bees, and she’s helped us to be able to be present.
“She’s really worked on us being able to shake off all those external noises that might be around us or lacking in confidence and just be able to be in the moment.
“And whenever we are in the moment, whenever we’re present as a group, we always feel very connected and it’s definitely brought out the best in us.”
Mulhall got “shivers” as she and her teammates left the field to the acclaim of a huge contingent of travelling support, all of whom were able to witness in person a landmark moment for the women in green.
It made it extra special, she said, to be able to seal the final automatic Olympic spot in front of loved ones who fuel the team irrespective of results on a given weekend.
“It’s like it was just meant to be this way, to have all of our family here,” Mulhall said.
“The growth even in the last couple of years… It’s the largest group (of supporters) ever.
“We have some random people who came over to support us who are not connected to any families and that’s amazing for us: to have young kids wearing Irish sevens jerseys just because they’re sevens fans.
It’s amazing to share with the people who are normally at home in bed watching and going through all the ups and downs of the heartbreaks with you but not able to be there. And they’re the ones that often pick you up when you get off a flight and you’re a bit disappointed after a tournament, or they’re the ones that are there with a big smile at home the second you do get in.
“It takes so long and we put in so much work to get here, so it’s great to have a year now and actually focus on performing really well for the Olympics because we’re very aware that this does a lot for growing sevens in the country.
“But what’s even more would be an Olympic medal, so that definitely has to be our next goal and it’s just really exciting that we can actually have time now to build towards that.”
Allan Temple-Jones’ side need look no further than their male equivalents — and the extent to which the men’s team was able to capture the public’s imagination even in what transpired to be a disappointing Tokyo Olympic campaign — for evidence of their own capacity to transform their sport in Ireland.
Even as she caught her breath only moments after full-time, Mulhall was acutely aware of the positive implications of her side’s Olympic qualification.
“We just want to grow the game of rugby in Ireland, and in particular for women, and show that there’s loads of good news stories out there — plenty of them,” she said. “It’s just great that we can add one and hopefully get some young girls being able to see and aspire to be playing for their country because it’s an amazing sport. And in Ireland in particular, I think it suits our DNA of just being ‘fighting Irish.’
“It’s just nice to have some good news around and hopefully we do inspire the next generation.”
Having a great session so far but with the depth of backrowers it will be very hard for him to make the Ireland match day squad
Lets see can we get to 10 post before Paul the “bandwagon” Sheehan post some crap about Munster supporters
I’d have him over Heaslip – he’s not exactly impressing.
Heaslip was top class last Sunday. With SOB out he has returned to heaslip been the main go forward player and I think this suits him better
But Heaslip is an 8 and TO’D is a 7. Don’t think he’s ever played 8 so wanting him over Heaslip is absolutely crazy.
I would have him as second choice 7 behind Henry atm. I think Ryan has had his best ever run in a leinster jersey, it’s so refreshing to see him stay fit, but TO’D is a more rounded player. Not as destructive in the tackle but a better poacher. His link play is better than Ryan’s as well who plays like 6 in attack.
The bitterness is strong in this one.
Tod has played 8
Maybe a backrow of Tod, pom and Heaslip for the Australia game could work well might need more power for south Africa do
Sean i really seem to have hit a nerve with you on this.That suggests to me that my comments are very close to the truth because if they were way off they would not elicit the same levels of vitriol that has been directed my way.
Look on it as me doing you lot a favour as it may make you think twice before ye embarrass yourselves spouting your red army pashun gibberish the next time you manage to fill the toyota arena.
That is all.
Toyota have nothing to do with Munster Mr Waaaaaterford !
I’ve never spouted any such red army crap .
I’m a long standing sessions tickets holder with Munster and massive Ireland supporter.
Belive me I know there is bandwagon fans I’ve meet them in every rugby ground in Ireland .This not an issue Exclusive to Munster rugby .
Your constant post about the Munster bandwagon is just getting very old.
I’m posting here to talk to other rugby fans about the game we love not to bicker with a sad troll who is hung up on 1 subject and drags the tread in to the mud every chance he gets.
Well said Sean. It’s getting very old. A lot of so called rugby supporters on here spouting the same old s**t in every article posted. I’m not even sure what they are trying to prove any more.
Stupid troll is stupid.
The trolls here are pathetic at least develop your argument lads or find another area topic to troll. I’m all for abit of witty banter between the provinces but ye lads don’t seem to have the intellect to think of something new to troll with
What ar u doin on d twitter and ya meant to b learnin in school? Expect a skelping off ur da wen ya get home
Whayaay.flash just got owned.
Stop creating twitter profiles to back up your own trolling. As I said before. You’re fooling no one.
We’re dishin up d turnips luv
O’Donnell is definitely one of the better if not the best openside in Ireland right now. His movement around the paddock (as the Kiwis like to call the pitch) reminds me a bit of the great All Black openside flanker, Josh Kronfeld
The Kiwis run from the shed out onto the paddock at the start of a match. Just like the cows at home on a Tuesday morning!
Great to see Tommy return to form after a serious case of ‘second season syndrome’. Had to improve at the breakdown to see off Dougall never mind challenge Henry for the Irish jersey. That said given the absence of Sean O’Brien, Cian Healy and any serious ball carrying centre he should really come into consideration for a start over the autumn internationals. Looking at the squad it’s hard to see where the go forward ball will come from, Cronin is an obvious option but that mean sacrificing your line outs, which would be suicidal against the Boks.
Don’t want to post too soon but I think there gone!
Back to the rugby how do you think Munsters backrow will do Friday? Saracens have some power in that department
The backrow will be a lottery. We weren’t allowed compete at all last week which I guess will starve them of info. Garces is the opposite. He allows anything goes at the breakdown. Saffacens are very good, but so are we. Intriguing.
I must say I I’m proper nervous about the game Friday players like TOD Casey Archer Folye need to step up another notch this Saracens pack made easy work of Clermont last session.
Munster need blitz them from the start and let the bench finish them off .
I think will see Hurley at 12 again. Would like to see him get more 1st up ball hopefully he will soften them up for JJ
Seán, I wouldn’t worry too much. Munster have a knack of upping their tempo big time when it comes to the European cup. Ye always seem to peak at the right time. Financially, the further the Irish provinces go in this competition the better, for the development of Irish rugby and keeping our players in Ireland.
Actually no. Believe it or not, a rabo semi and final is worth more bucks. Irfu take most HC prize money
To be fair, a lot of Munster (and other provincial) rugby fans were in their early to late teenage years when rugby really took hold in this country. If you’ve been supporting a team since 2000, that’s 14 years ago which is a hell of a long time. Every team has their bandwagon supporters but you can hardly discuss anything rugby-related on the Score without these two guys yapping on with their bandwagon obsession. We get it. You don’t like it. Anything else to add?
I second that Michael
and I apologize to all the posters on here for feeding these monkey today
Sean . There used to be a rugby forum on the bbc called 606. It had some good moments but also had a lot of wum. Wind up merchants. Really its Best just not to answer thereby excluding them from the dialogue. In the end the babysitter will discover theyre out of bed and turn the computer off.
I miss 606. Mostly…. There were some brilliant wums on it. Intelligent ones. Subtle. Some not so much but lots of great posters from around the world. Redstag. OnASideNote. MBTOG were big munster ones. Mickado from Leinster. Umm from Connacht. Englishmaninwales. Silverghost from NZ. Waleswillwin. Good times.
Stick to your guns Paul Sheehan. The truth will always win out. Everything you say about Munster and their fans (who only discovered rugby football in 2000) is spot on. It drives the Munster fans mad that what you say is actually true, even if it is unpalatable for them to accept. Interesting that they never argue with the valid points you make but instead resort to abuse and name calling. Keep telling it the way it is mate.
RobsonKeane and Paul Sheehan I’m guessing your the same person.
As for backing up anything I say with facts and figures I’ve openly admitted that there is a bandwagon element in Thomond I’m not trying to defend that.
What yee? Seem to not understand is that “red army ” ” Passion ” and ” SUAF” catch phrases where coined by the media of the time of Munsters success in the H-Cup.
But for some reason your pea brains can’t separate the press hype from the real supporters.
The fact is a winning teams brings a crowd there will be gobshits in that crowd it happens in every team not just Munsters which yee happen to be fixated on .
I only really discovered rugby in 1999-2000, then again I was only 8! Not everyone in the world in 30 plus. I suppose you’d only be happy if there was 5000 ‘real fans’ attending Irish games and if we were scraping the arse of the barrel for 15 players. Bandwagon fans are good and bad for a sport but mostly good, and every, now listen to me, EVERY TEAM IN THE WORLD HAS THEM.
Apologies to everyone having to read this but the ba*tards finally got to me
Sorry sean but you mentioned my name on this thread before i had even read it.and then you castigate me for replying.i am entitled to my opinion just as you are entitled to yours but what you are not entitled to is your own version of the facts.Fact is munster fans are bandwagon jumpers like a lot of fans but what separates munster fans from the rest is the notions they have about their special support.and no its not media driven, i have seen these fans on match nights(in pubs) spouting their inane munster bullshit.fair play if you are a genuine fan and if you are my comments are not directed at you but you are getting so worked up about it i suspect you are exactly the kind og chest thumping johnny come lately that i speak of.
That is all.
Calm down sparky .I think you may be having a conniption.
I am calm Paul/Robson. But the fact that you are a giant tool doesn’t help
No I’m not getting worked up at all Paul I’m cool beans .
I see your still singing the same old tune your FACTS as you call them are not facts but your opinion which you are entitle too but opinions are like ass holes everyone has got one.
You pointless and repetitive opinion of Munster supporters is beyond boring change the record man I’m sure I’m not the only poster on here that is feed up of hearing your same old tune.
Where here to talk rugby with real fans new and old not bitche about lads down pub .
Don’t feed the troll….
I know Cian but there are a good few posters on here that are board of the constant ramblings of these trolls
Im one. Ignore them and they’ll go back to their GAA pages and abusing people on twitter.
They can feck off from the GAA Cian
I hear ya but if you look at Robsons twitter you’ll see what I mean.
Guessing wrong so sean.you think i am some lone voice who is sick to the back teeth of being forcefed this tripe from the munster fans,well i have news for you there is loads of us out there.also ill try one last time to explain it to you lot.
I do not care who you support i just dont want to hear how wonderful that support is.
That is all.
Paul your up early today get the 1st shot in good man.
You have been shown up for what you are a troll it’s a simple as that you won’t debate subject of any give storys or your own agenda just repeated the same old lines .
I won’t be drawn into to you deluded little bitter debate anymore .
In your own words Paul
THAT IS ALL
Get over yourself seanie,someone having an opinion which you may find unpalatable does not make them a troll.as for me not debating the stories i am commenting on , when have you ever tried to actually debate with me,its just personal abuse and stamping your feet like a spoilt toddler.You said yourself that you never went in for that munster pashun suaf best fans red army nonsense but i see you are spouting that exact same drivel on todays score.ie.s article on the munster rugby franchise.was that you or did the media make you do it.
That is all.