Double try-scorer Anna McGann relishing Ireland competition

RTÉ News​

6 days ago

Anna McGann had three international tries to her name before yesterday, all coming in a hat-trick performance in the Six Nations win over Italy in March.
Try number four for the Athlone woman came in the second half of the 47-26 defeat to Canada as Ireland mounted a comeback of sorts in Belfast.
It was a trademark winger's finish, picking up possession ten yards out and beating a defender to touch down in the corner.
It was her fifth try that stood out, however.
The 27-year-old came off her wing, took a pop pass from Claire Boles in midfield before bursting through four defenders to score under the posts.
"To be honest, I only remember dotting it down," she said modestly before reflecting on her progress since the Six Nations
"If you look at Dannah [O'Brien] putting us in the right part of the pitch and that was just building in the second half.
"I think it was just me dotting it down at the end of the day. It was more of a team effort.
"I definitely took a bit of confidence from the Six Nations, but that was four months ago now.
"We're onto a new challenge and we're constantly wanting to get better as a squad as well.
"I definitely took a bit of confidence from that, but I know that this ceiling is a lot higher and I've more to grow."
McGann will be included in Ireland's World Cup squad to be named tomorrow but despite an impressive recent record, knows she faces stiff competition from Béibhinn Parsons (above), who helped herself to a brace against the Canadians, as well as Amee-Leigh Costigan, an a number of other back-three options, to secure a starting spot.
"I think if you look at the squad, we're probably at the most competitive that we've ever been, which is quite reflective of what a good place we're in," said the Railway Union back.
"I think having the best players surrounding me is only going to drive you on more.
"It has been really good to have Béibhinn back in and to have Amee-Leigh Costigan, to have her as well.
"They're two massive players for our squad and two players that I strive to be more like. It makes it more competitive, but it makes it better as well.
"If you take Leigh into consideration as well there's a healthy rivalry between the three of us."
While the squad has been named internally, head coach Scott Bemand said there are always moving parts between the announcement and when the action starts, for Ireland, against Japan in two weeks' time.
"The girls are always giving us something to think about," said Bemand.
"It's a really competitive squad.
"We spoke about two years ago when I first started and you're looking at competition for places across the group. And there was some but it wasn't particularly deep.
"We'll name our squad outwardly on Monday and there'll be some really good players that don't make that squad.
"That's the reality of competing, the reality of having a consistency of our game that you can keep getting your best performances out there."