Griggs’ women now worthy of middle-class status after dire encounter

Ireland's Beibhinn Parsons after scoring a try during the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff. Photo by Ben Evans/Sportsfile

Ireland head coach Adam Griggs. Photo by Sportsfile

Ireland's Beibhinn Parsons after scoring a try during the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff. Photo by Ben Evans/Sportsfile

Ireland head coach Adam Griggs. Photo by Sportsfile

Ireland's Beibhinn Parsons after scoring a try during the Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship against Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in Cardiff. Photo by Ben Evans/Sportsfile

Dave Kelly

April 12 2021 02:30 AM

For all the fretting about Ireland’s uncertain status, perhaps, even on the limited evidence provided by Saturday’s non-contest, might we assume that they are solidly middle-class?

England and France remain on course to meet in the amended 2021 Guinness Six Nations final but at least it seems, for a second successive season, Ireland will move further away from those nations below them.

And Adam Griggs’ side will seek to confirm their position against the French and, perhaps, eye a shock – all hoping a second successive Six Nations clash in six months against Les Bleus does not succumb to another postponement.

Given justifiable concerns at their lengthy lay-off and the intangible efforts of internal preparations, his side’s emergence from enforced lockdown really couldn’t have gone any better.

Apart, perhaps, from ensuring that it didn’t go beyond the first half, given that they were out of sight by the opening 15 minutes and had piled on 31 points upon a hapless home side.

Still, their dire second act can reinforce the need for constant growth.

Wales had defeated Ireland twice to emphasise Six Nations and World Cup superiority in 2017, so this result represents quite the reversal of fortunes.

The departure of skills coach Rachel Taylor clearly exposed deep fissures and with rumours of internal upheaval in the build-up to this game, they presented as a discordant rabble.

Ireland will not wallow in their demise, having been there so recently themselves.

The women’s game is utterly fickle when not sustainably supported, and it is clear that Ireland are also gaining traction thanks, partly, to the temporary abandonment of the Olympic Sevens Series.

Ireland’s focus on the present is reaping dividends but all were keen to caution that there may, arguably, be more work on their plates this week as they prepare for France.

The pre-match promises of being fitter, faster and stronger than at any time before were in evidence as they destroyed Wales in all facets of play. However, the ineptitude of a feeble home challenge demands context.

And, if that is the case, so, too, does the second half, which descended into a moribund morass – at times unwatchable, simply because the game both teams were attempting was virtually unplayable.

Despite their post-match boasts, the Irish bench options, particularly up front, exposed a weakness that the powerful French can exploit should they travel in numbers – a Dubai Sevens romp may thieve some of their talent – and with purpose.

For the neutral, rather than parochial observer, Saturday was an enervating exhibition of competitive sport; after a quartet now of horrible, one-sided encounters spread over two weekends, this is not the best representation of the sport.

Getting to the finish line at all might be the organisers’ primary concern. Griggs knows what his side need to do to try and get to that stage.

“From watching France against Wales, they’re quite similar to what we are trying to do, getting hard off the line,” he said.

“We weren’t really tested on that because we had a lot of time to play with the ball in our hands, and we won’t be afforded that next week.

“France are a big physical team who will really put you under pressure, and we will have to be ready for that. And, also, we need to work more as a collective rather than trying to work individually.”