Improving Ireland a real threat

Doyle says his side have put a huge focus on strength and conditioning over the past year, while he has been aiming to build the squad’s strength in depth ahead of the start of the tournament.Despite playing no games since March of last year, Ireland head into the 6 Nations weeks in a positive mood. Ireland finished third last year, losing to France by just a point in their bid to get into the top two for the first time.

Doyle’s squad has been strengthened by the growth and inclusion of a number of players from the reformed Irish Exiles squad and the players are also match-fresh from the recent Interprovincial Series.

Ireland side welcome England and France at home at their favoured Ashbourne RFC venue, giving them real chances of a best ever finish this season.

“Over the past year S&C has been a major focus while the players have been with their Clubs,” he said.

“We’ve widened the base of players involved in that over the last 12 months so that if and when a player is called up to the senior squad they have the required fitness needed.”

The re-emergence of the Irish Exiles squad over the past couple of years has been a real positive for Doyle with a number of overseas based players now firmly in the mix for senior selection.

“It is hard to really say where we are at the moment as we’ve not played in a year but the IRFU have been working closely with Mark Blair who is in charge of the Exiles and we have been working closely with them finding Irish girls playing in the English leagues. To date we have eight players in the squad coming from that process which is fantastic. This year we’ve also worked with the coaches from each of the Interpro teams to reinforce aspects of the technical direction we are moving in and to develop closer understanding and co-operation between us all.”

Set-piece and strength in depth is an area that Doyle feels Ireland need to continue to improve on.

“Set-piece is always an area that we need to improve on especially the scrum and we are working hard on that. Looking back on last season, we did well in so many areas but when you look back at the English game when we were keeping up with them until the last 20 minutes, you know we have got to develop our depth. England were able to bring on a bench, who to be honest could have easily started the game, and they went up a gear and pulled away from us in the end.”

Ireland will, Doyle believes, benefit from their involvement in Sevens action over the past year, with the side remarkably qualifying for the World Cup later this summer on limited preparation.

“Young players got fantastic game time and experience of playing at that level and that will be invaluable to them and for us though obviously it can’t replicate the experience of playing at XV level. It is always really hard to sit by and watch other nations playing Autumn Internationals, but with the Interpros going on recently we will be in good match-shape. Next year, if we do qualify for the 2014 World Cup, we will hopefully get more matches under our belt.”

Doyle says the competitiveness of the recent Interpo series involving Munster, Leinster, Connacht and Ulster, will also be of major benefit to Ireland.

“It is always good to see the girls playing at a higher level than club and also great to see the Exiles coming over to play Leinster and Munster in friendly matches. Ulster have turned a corner I feel in the right direction and Connacht were a very well coached team, but the results just didn’t go their way. The final match between Munster and Leinster was and always is a very tight affair which is all good for me as that is when you can really see the players at their best.”

“On the negative side of things, it is still the case that we have players playing that will not put themselves forward for the Irish squad or foreigners playing in positions where I would like to see young Irish players getting a chance. Of course everyone wants to win every game but we need to think about the future and the cost of doing that.”

Doyle picks out some faces to watch this season.

“Jenny Murphy certainly has a lot to offer this season and hopefully now with her Sevens experience behind her that, she can show what she can do. Ashleigh Baxter of course came on the scene last season and is one for the future definitely. Siobhan Fleming is a back-row player who has certainly been showing great form with Munster this season and has carried this into the training camps with us and will be one to watch. Also Nicole Fitzgerald as a half-back option is also going very well and certainly brings an added attacking option to our backline.”

He adds that he will be relying too on experienced leaders in his squad this season.

“We have lots of players who lead by example like Claire Molloy and Gillian Bourke on the pitch and then we have the likes of Lynne Cantwell who just demands the best at all times from herself firstly and then her team mates, Joy Neville who just loves pressure and our captain Fiona Coughlan who is professional to the highest degree on and off the pitch”