Irish Women's Summer Tour to Japan 2022

[riocard911]

Four uncapped players named in Ireland side for opening Japan Test

Sinead Farrell
18.8.2022
thejournal.ie

Four uncapped players have been named to start in the Ireland side that will take on Japan in the opening Test of their first-ever summer tour on Saturday [KO 7pm local time/11am Irish time, TG4].

Méabh Deely, Natasja Behan, Aoife Dalton and Dannah O’Brien are all set to make their Ireland debuts in the backline, while second row Taryn Schutzler and centre Leah Tarpey are named among the replacements for the clash.

Deely comes in to make her 15s debut after making her Ireland Sevens bow at the opening leg of the Rugby Europe Championship in June. Behan earns her first cap on the wing having been included in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations squad earlier this year. Aoife Doyle completes the Ireland back three.

Nineteen-year-old Dalton, who along with O’Brien and Tarpey completed their Leaving Certificate in June, starts in midfield alongside Enya Breen, with out-half O’Brien combining with Ailsa Hughes in the half-backs.

Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Katie O’Dwyer complete the front row, with captain Nicola Fryday and Sam Monaghan partnering up in the second row. Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon and Hannah O’Connor will slot into the back row.

“Our extended squad of 51 players have worked incredibly hard all summer and we have got through a really pleasing body of work since arriving in Japan last Friday,” says McWilliams.

“The players have adapted brilliantly to difficult conditions and it has been a good week of preparation for us.

“It is a hugely exciting time for everyone involved in the programme as we prepare to face Japan in these two Summer Tests and for us, it’s all about hard work, development and opportunity. With that in mind, it is exciting to include a number of young players this weekend and we are all looking forward to seeing them pull on the green jersey having worked so hard over the last couple of months.

“Saturday marks another important staging post on our journey as a group and we will come up against a really strong Japan side who are finalising their preparations for the Rugby World Cup. We will learn and grow through this experience and that is invaluable for us.”

Saturday’s match coverage is live on TG4 from 10.40am Irish time.

Ireland XV

15. Méabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)*
14. Natasja Behan (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)*
13. Aoife Dalton (Tullamore RFC/Leinster)*
12. Enya Breen (TBC/Munster)(14)
11. Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(10)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Tullow RFC/Leinster)*
9. Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(14)
1. Linda Djougang (TBC/Leinster)(22)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)(11)
3. Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(10)
4. Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(27)(capt)
5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby)(9)
6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(15)
7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby)(19)
8. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(12)

Replacements:

16. Emma Hooban (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(11)
17. Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(5)
18. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(4)
19. Taryn Schutzler (Saracens/Ulster)*
20. Grace Moore (Saracens/IQ Rugby)(3)
21. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(20)
22. Leah Tarpey (Tullamore RFC/Leinster)*
23. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(2).

[Ruckedtobits]

Good luck to all the new caps, in particular those who just finished their Leaving Cert. A wonderful opportunity and great support from Coaches and team-mates. Imagine another Irish international O'Brien from Tullow!

[deco]

Listening t0 the wireless whilst making the dinner last night, I was taken aback to hear that Shelbourne are a only play-off away from making it into soccers Champions League, that Ireland were off to a flying start in the hockey AND that so soon after our summer tour in the rugby, Ireland are playing Japan this weekend.

So in the spirit of the new media norm of not referencing the sex of the sports team they're reporting on, could the OP remove the reference to women from the thread title?

Unfortunately, Rovers got hockeyed in the Europa League (soccer) play-off when I was doing the washing up.

[heno]

So in the spirit of the new media norm of not referencing the sex of the sports team they're reporting on, could the OP remove the reference to women from the thread title?

I was going to post something sarcastic, but I genuinely want to know what the point of this change is. I assume its to do with a perceived slight that the mens team is generally listed as Ireland v England, so when listed beside that, Ireland Women v England Women looks a bit lessor, not the real team. But I also assume the saw and rejected the low hanging solution of rebranding the mens teams as Ireland Men v England Men.
So now on a 6 nations weekend we will have Ireland v England, Ireland v England and Ireland U20 v England U20. How is that going to improve anything for anybody? And of course the real issues of equality such as more money for facilities, coaches, travel arrangements, etc. I assume thats all sorted now and the branding is the only issue holding them back?

[riocard911]

Anyone got a stream? There's nothing on viprow.

[Oldschool]

After a poor start, Ireland are well in it at HT.
HT score.

Show Spoiler:

15 - 19

[riocard911]

Disaster start by Mná na hÉireann going down 15-0 in the first ten mins. The worst was feared, as the TG4 feed from Japan also went down. Feed came back and the GIG dug themselves out of a hole, starting with a maul over try from a line out 15 yards out at least. Many hard carries, the odd scrum peno, a monster tackle by hooker Neve Jones and Ireland head to the sheds after a try in extra time 15-19 in the lead. Respect!!!

[Ruckedtobits]

Pack workng well on carrying and cleanouts. Line-outs & scrums are dominant. Ireland worth their lead but the performance is sporadic rather than coherent.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Thought that was a bad call not to take the points but a great kick to the corner and good maul proves me wrong! Excellent conversion too.

Considering how long it’s been since they played this has been pretty good aside from the poor start.

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Dalton turning her back so close to the line was a bad mistake there, bet she won’t do that again.

Wonder what odds you’d get on O’Brien becoming our highest points scorer…

[Ruckedtobits]

Playing in this Irish pack must be like what it's like to play in an English pack. Destroy them in the maul, then replace three forwards with even stronger ones.

The Japanese are more coherent with ball in hand and they pass quickly and well. But until that collision under our posts between Cronin & Friday we were defending well and getting better patterns into our game. 22-38 and it's not over yet.

[Dave Cahill]

Wonder what odds you’d get on O’Brien becoming our highest points scorer…

The results aren't out for another fortnight

[LeRouxIsPHat]

Wonder what odds you’d get on O’Brien becoming our highest points scorer…

The results aren't out for another fortnight

Very good!

[riocard911]

FT: 22-57!!!!

[Dave Cahill]

That was an extremely satisfying performance. To come from 15 points down away from home with a very inexperienced team to win the way they did, playing the rugby they did, was exceptional.

[riocard911]

That was an extremely satisfying performance. To come from 15 points down away from home with a very inexperienced team to win the way they did, playing the rugby they did, was exceptional.

Sure was. Was very impressed how they turned the thing around in the first half. They had to dig deep and they did it. Fair play to all involved!!!

[Ruckedtobits]

This was a performance that improved by the minute. Many of Ireland's forwards have really developed their rugby awareness and skills, but most importantly, their cohesion as a pack really dominated after a slow opening quarter.. The pack's selection of options in carrying, their ball placement and clearout techniques are well improved and a credit to Denis Fogarty & John McKee. As the match progresses, the backs began to reflect the efforts of Niamh Briggs & Head Coach Greg McWilliams and demonstrated skills and confidence way beyond their experience.

As the game progressed, Hughes & O'Brien at half-back began to vary the options and increase the pace Ireland played at. Replacement scrum-half Nicole Cronin was very unfortunate to depart shortly after her arrival, following a defensive collision with captain Nichola Fryday, whilst making a tackle on the Irish line. However, back-line replacement Scuffil-McCabe made a great job of covering the scrum-half role for the final quarter and was rewarded for her efforts with a sparkling break from 40m resulting in a great try.

The Irish Squad had lots of stars but Enya Breen, Linda Djougang, Sam Monahan, Nichola Fryday, Dorothy Wall and Hannah O'Connor all led the way with high quality contributions which were very influential.

This was just another example that Irish sportswomen, given leadership and confidence, don't know when to stop. An excellent win but an even better harbinger of things to come.

[jezzer]

Meh.

There were some encouraging aspects, not least the composure of O'Brien at 10, but it was ultimately Ireland doing to Japan what Eng/Fra were doing to Ireland in the 6N. It'll give them a boost and the front foot ball let them try more with ball in hand, which will stand them in good stead.

But what they did with said ball was not very impressive. Laboured delivery from 9 to an insanely static backline, with very little animation or variation.

The running line and pass for the fullbacks try were nice but she went through a massive dogleg.

Still plenty of growth needed.

[Ruckedtobits]

Aesthically, I'd like to see shorter quicker passes across the back-line in front of players. Tactically, I'd like to see scrum-half move ball from breakdown quicker with a pass more like the Japanese S-H, but overall, I'll settle for this team doing what they're capable of, as effectively as possible.

It's not the finished article but it's a very good progression with new half-backs and so many really inexperienced players.

[riocard911]

For comparison's sake, check out the slick passing of the Black Ferns' backline vs Oz yesterday:

https://youtu.be/qK_s6iEWQ_I