Fryday looks for positives in defeat

By Mark Stevens
01/04/23

Ireland Women’s captain Nichola Fryday did her best to put a brave face on things as she and her team-mates slipped to another heavy Women’s Six Nations Championship defeat, this time at the hands of France in Cork.

Saturday's 53-3 defeat by France in Cork followed an opening-round loss in Wales, but head coach Greg McWilliams saw positives.

"It's hard. It's a big scoreline but we have inexperienced players who are very talented," he said. "Hopefully, we will look back in time and see these as being really important steps for us."

Likewise, Fryday - who was joined in the Irish squad by club-mate Clara Nielson -thanked fans for their support and for staying with a rookie side that shipped nine tries in Musgrave Park.

"It means a lot to us that people are shouting for us because we are starting out and we want to bring them with us on our journey," she said.

"I'm really proud of the girls for sticking with it for 80 minutes. We showed spells of what we are trying to do and what we want to do on the ball.

"We met them up front but we didn't match the physicality that the French brought and if you're on the back foot like that, it's extremely hard to stay in the game.

"It's invaluable game time for girls. They have been exposed to a different level of rugby and we have learned so much. At times we were on a par with them in terms of physicality and mentality and at times we dipped off and that's where we will take our learnings."

The five-time Grand Slam winners lost Annaelle Deshayes for a high tackle in the 21st minute but still had the bonus point wrapped up by half-time.

Scrum-half Pauline Bourdon scored two of France's five first-half tries.

Dannah O'Brien's first-half penalty was the sole score for Ireland, who had Meabh Deely sin-binned late on.