That uncapped encounter was the ideal preparation for a crucial Six Nations in which the Welsh women will attempt to secure qualification for the 2017 World Cup. It took me a few weeks to get over it physically and mentally. Interesting calls and Schmidt admits all are open to question.
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Key to doing so will be starting with a bang in Dublin against an Ireland side chasing a historic hat-trick of titles. Perhaps it will be pay-back time in Dublin on Sunday, 7 February.
Clubmate Tommy O’Donnell starts alongside him at openside after a hamstring injury to Sean O’Brien reduced coach Joe Schmidt’s options.
Wales are many people’s dark horses for the championship this year and possibly a Grand Slam.
“But we’d have no concerns about next week for France”.
“That’s healthy for everyone and it puts positive pressure on the bigger nations, and it helps us strive to be more successful”. I thought they were very narrow, at times.
“If you look at the pattern across the Six Nations, a number of teams have their highest penalty count when they play Wales”, he said. “We kicked 11 times and, despite what might have been said, they kicked 22 times”.
“As they are the defending champions it is going to be a huge challenge for us”.
“We have been impressed with Tom James’ form for Cardiff Blues and we are excited by the mix of the back-row which has played well together before. We know how important it is that we start well”.
Wales’ critics will point to a frustrating failure at times of not turning chances into tries – as illustrated by an inability to breach Australia’s defence after the Wallabies had two players sin-binned during a World Cup pool stage loss last October.
WALES Women are looking for a repeat of their exploits at the Dragons’ training base in Ystrad Mynach when they kick off their Six Nations campaign against Ireland on Saturday afternoon. The rest of us were just there to make up the numbers. That’s great for the sponsors, the fans and everyone involved in what is the world’s best championship. “[But] we had the opportunity to slot in the combination we had seen and used right through [last year’s] Six Nations”.
“Last year was probably the most physical Six Nations game I’ve ever played in, and it’s the same year on year with Ireland”.
Leading the broadcaster’s team will be presenter Mark Pougatch, joined by Jonny Wilkinson, Lawrence Dallaglio and Jason Robinson, members of England’s victorious Rugby World Cup 2003 team, along with their coach Sir Clive Woodward, former Ireland captain Brian O’Driscoll, former Wales captain Gareth Thomas, former Scotland coach Sir Ian McGeechan, England Women World Cup victor Maggie Alphonsi, former England global Ugo Monye, and former Italian captain Marco Bortolami.
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“We are in a good place at the moment and we have got some players coming back from injury”.
