Latest news with #BBCTwoNI
BBC News
30-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ireland expecting tough Italy 'challenge'
Women's Six Nations, Italy v IrelandVenue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Date: Sunday, 30 March Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website & app from 14:45 Ireland coach Scott Bemand says his players are mindful of the "incredible challenge" they will face in Sunday's Women's Six Nations game in Parma against an Italy side who defeated them in last year's Irish looked in potential Wooden Spoon territory a year ago after they lost in 27-21 to the Italians in round two at the wins over Wales and Scotland secured a third-place championship finish that earned qualification for this year's World Cup but Bemand says he and his players have the height of respect for the Italians as they aim for Ireland's first away win in the competition since go into Sunday's game after competing well against France in last weekend's opener in Belfast only to eventually lose out 27-15."Italy have got a more structured version of themselves these days. It used to be quite fun watching them as in anything could happen," said the Ireland coach. "Now they've got a little bit more sensible with what they are trying to do. So we know that we're expecting a strong box-kick game and we've been preparing ourselves for that."Our aim, as ever, is to get our best game out there and if we do, we'll be alright but the Italians are certainly not going to roll over and make it easy for us."Ireland followed their third-placed finish in last year's Six Nations with autumn wins over Australia and world champions New Zealand and Bemand feels his players now have a belief that wasn't there when they faced Italy a year ago amid the scar tissue from the 2023 Six Nations when the Irish lost all five of their games under previous coach Greg McWilliams."We said it after the game [against Italy]. You lost a game that you should have won and in the previous Six Nations they were losing games that they didn't deserve to win. "There was a big performance step but almost with not having the permission or the confidence to do it. Now they are a group that think differently."
BBC News
29-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Injury setbacks will 'stand to me in the future'
Women's Six Nations, Italy v IrelandDate: Sunday 30 March Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 14:45 Having to overcome two anterior cruciate ligament [ACL] injuries in the space of nine months would be enough to break the spirit of many in the case of Ireland scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly she is determined to use her experience of those setbacks to help her navigate her future rugby career and give her further initially battling her way back from her first serious knee injury in the autumn of 2023, the 24-year-old suffered a second ACL tear in last summer's SVNS Grand Final in injury dashed her hopes of playing for Ireland Sevens in the Paris Olympic Games and the Roscommon woman only returned to competitive action when she played a part in the Clovers' Celtic Challenge matches in early week Reilly was introduced off the bench as a replacement for Emily Lane to participate in the closing 25 minutes of Ireland's 27-15 defeat by France in their opening Six Nations encounter in week she has been named in the starting line-up for Sunday's away encounter with Italy in Parma."I did my right ACL the first time and my left the second time. I had nine months of playing in between both. It was mentally very tough but I knew hopefully once I got it right that would be the end of me in terms of long-term injuries," explained Reilly."Coming back from the first one, I wanted to go to the Olympics and I also wanted that nine jersey for Ireland in the 15s game. I was really focused on putting my hand up for both teams."It was very tough but I had so many team-mates around me to support me and my family were amazing. Although it was a really tough moment, it really builds me as a player and builds my resilience. "It was an experience that I wouldn't wish on anyone but I think it will really stand to me in the future." 'A very emotional moment' Reilly added that turning out for Ireland against France last weekend after all her injury problems was a special moment."It was a very emotional moment standing there for the anthem. "When I tore my ACL before the Olympics for a second time I was just focusing on getting back for that France game and I knew everything had to go right on my rehab journey to get back on the pitch. "That was a big moment for me and my family wearing the green again."Having gone down to the French in their opener, Reilly believes Ireland can get their first win of this year's tournament on the board when they face Italy in Parma on Sunday."After last weekend we weren't happy with the performance we put out. At times we had phases that were really good but then we also weren't clinical enough."This weekend that's a big focus for us. Going after the win that we know we're capable of."We know we have skilful players but at times we force things. In pressure moments, we just need to hold on to the ball and that's where we really need to execute. "These away games we really need to go after. It's so important going into the World Cup in England being able to go away from home and get a win. "
BBC News
28-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
McMahon returns to captain Ireland against Italy
Women's Six Nations, Italy v IrelandDate: Sunday 30 March Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma Kick-off: 15:00 BSTCoverage: Live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website from 14:45 Edel McMahon will lead Ireland out in Sunday's Six Nations game against Italy as coach Scott Bemand makes three changes for the Parma started on the bench in last weekend's 27-15 defeat by France in the opener but is named at blindside flanker in place of Brittany Reilly comes in at scrum-half for Emily Lane and Fiona Tuite takes over from Dorothy Wall in the second says his side are "in good health" ahead of the match at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchiir. Ireland came close to causing an upset in Belfast but in the end lost to France, who won despite a 20th-minute red card for Gabrielle started their campaign with a 38-5 away defeat by England last Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O'Brien, Reilly; O'Dowd, Jones, Djougang, Campbell, Tuite, McMahon, King, Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Moore, Wall, Hogan, Lane, Breen.
BBC News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Wafer and Hogan among world's best
Ireland's Erin King believes she is playing alongside some of the best back rows in the world during the Women's Six Nations. King, 21, started her side's 27-15 defeat by France to kick off their campaign last weekend alongside Aoife Wafer and Brittany scored twice in another superb display, while Hogan was instrumental in some stout defensive stands."I'm so lucky to be among some of the best back rowers in the world. I think they're dragging me along," said King, who was named women's breakthrough player of the year at the World Rugby awards in November."There's so much competition in our back row and our squad, I think we just keep pushing each other and helping each other improve."I'm learning so much off them and I'd say they're learning things off me."Such has been the form of that trio, the squad's co-captain Edel McMahon was named on the bench for the France loss."She's helped me so much," said King of the flanker."I'm so lucky to be around such a great person on the pitch and off the pitch."She helps me with anything I need and it's great to have her in the camp."Ireland will travel to Italy for round two of the Women's Six Nations on Sunday, a game that will be be live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 14:45 said Ireland need to be "a little bit more accurate" than they were against France."I think we'll go in with loads of confidence and see what we can do," she added. "I think we can go out there and put in a performance, tweak the things that weren't as good as we know they can be, and just be a little bit more accurate around the park."
BBC News
26-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
All the stats ahead of Italy v Ireland
After defeat to France in their opening Women's Six Nations match, Ireland head to Parma to face match will be live on BBC Two NI, BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website from 14:45 BST on provided by Opta Italy's recent good form over Ireland – Italy have won the last two Women's Six Nations meetings between the sides.– Two of their three wins over Ireland have come at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma (also in Dublin, 2024), where this fixture will take place– Since the start of the 2023, Italy have won just two of their 11 Women's Six Nations - both against Ireland. How the teams stack up – Italy have lost each of their last three Women's Six Nations home encounters, but have only lost four in a row at home once since 2011 (2017-2018).- They have not won their first home game in a campaign since 2014 (v Scotland)– Ireland have won two of their last four Women's Six Nations matches (L2) after losing seven in a row previously.– They will be aiming to avoid losing their opening two games in a campaign for the fourth year in a row, after not doing it in any of the previous 14 editions.– Ireland have won just one of their last 11 Women's Six Nations away clashes (L10), and have lost each of their last seven by an average margin of 39 points, conceding 88 points in their most recent one (88-10 v England). Notable individual player performances – Italy's Alyssa D'Inca (13), Valeria Fedrighi (10), Francesca Sgorbini (9), and Aura Muzzo (9) hit more defensive rucks than any other players in the opening round last weekend– Only England captain Zoe Aldcroft (34) hit more attacking rucks than Ireland's Erin King (32) last weekend. Six Nations debutant King also tallied up the most lineout takes of any player in round 1 (11)– Linda Djougang made three dominant tackles against France, the most by any player in round 1. The most-capped member of the Ireland squad also made the most dominant tackles of any player in the 2024 Championship (17)– Ireland back rower Aoife Wafer was the only player to cross the try-line more than once during the opening round of the 2025 Championship (2), also making the most carries (17), the most metres-in-contact (47), and winning the joint most turnovers (3) of any player.
