A new dawn in Irish women’s rugby has coincided with a new arrival for Sarah Lennon…
Firstly, an apology. This column has been on ice recently following the arrival of my new son and all that entails. His arrival corresponded with a time in the season that many believe represents the pinnacle of rugby, the 6 Nations!
In my preview of the Women's 6 Nations, I spoke of Ireland targeting a win against France and 2nd place in the table... well, I was half right. Ireland will not finish 2nd in the table, because they have gone one better in securing a maiden 6 Nations title.
It has been a marvellous odyssey for the Irish women, with fantastic wins so far against Wales, England, Scotland and France and victory on Sunday in Milan against Italy would secure a remarkable Grand Slam.
Ireland began their season with a win against Wales, no mean feat as they haven't achieved this for 8 years. It was a very close match with a late Gill Bourke try needed to pip Wales 12-10. The following weekend, England were in town, well Ashbourne. The Irish women had fallen short in Esher last season after a magnificent first half display, but this season there was to be no let up. Ireland didn't just win, they won with 4 tries and kept England scoreless in the process. A magnificent Ali Miller hat trick was among the scores. You could certainly point to the many changes that England made to this team with the 7's World Cup and Olympics in mind and that is a factor. England had scored more than 70 unanswered points in round one though and this was by no means a team of mugs and you can be certain that England will be as disappointed as Ireland will be delighted.
Rightfully, this result ensured that the media sat up and paid attention to this team. Perhaps the abject performance by the men's team against the same opposition helped. Playing for a triple crown, the Irish women's team were exposed to unprecedented but fully deserved media coverage, albeit belatedly.
Onto Scotland, and a triple crown at stake, it is perhaps not unexpected that with an historical achievement on the line, this was a tense affair. Scotland took the lead before Ali Miller struck again to give Ireland a narrow 8-3 halftime lead. The second half followed a similar pattern as a dogged Scottish team threatened to spoil the party, but Irish quality and fitness shone through and the floodgates finally opened and Ireland secured a 30-3 win, with it the dual prize of the Triple Crown and World Cup qualification.
Having secured the Triple Crown, you would forgive a team for allowing themselves a moment of congratulations, but Ireland knew this historical achievement was not enough. A victory against France would almost certainly be enough to secure a championship with England having lost two games and France's opening day defeat of Italy.
Ireland lost agonisingly to France last season by a single point, and they were determined not to suffer the same fate again. A fantastic crowd of over 3,000 people gathered in Ashbourne and the game was streamed on RTE's website. One of these days the national broadcaster may show this senior team on the actual television but this occurrence does indeed represent progress. Those in attendance or watching online will attest that the quality on display was superb, with Ireland playing an expansive running game. Niamh Briggs scored a superb try following a fantastic team move involving forwards and backs. France took the lead to halftime however, courtesy of a mauled try and penalty. Ireland emerged determinedly in the 2nd half though and took to the forwards themselves for a try with an excellent maul from a lineout leading to Ailis Egan's first international try. A narrow 2 point lead was a nerve-wracking margin as the Irish knew that a drop goal or penalty could see their hopes dashed, but when Ireland were awarded a late penalty, Niamh Briggs made no mistake and struck the three to give Ireland a much needed buffer and delirium greeted the final whistle.
England defeated Italy on the following Sunday meaning that even defeat in Milan will mean Ireland captain Fiona Coghlan will lift aloft the 6 Nations trophy. A Grand Slam however, is historic, after all the Irish men have only achieved two in over a century of rugby and this women's team will want to achieve history on St Patrick's day in Milan.
Sarah Lennon (@sarahlennon08) is passionate about all things rugby. A Leinster Season Ticket holder since the Donnybrook days, a supporter of the Irish teams home and abroad and can regularly be seen cheering on Junior Rugby at Stillorgan RFC (a labour of love). As well as spectating, she dabbles in playing a bit and is a member of Old Belvedere RFC and fully paid up member of the front row union.
