Irish attack gains ‘redemption’ in Italy win – Peat

Lindsay Peat, a former Ireland international, believed that the team’s “nice variety of tries” in Sunday’s Women’s Six Nations victory over Italy gave them “redemption.”

Although the 27-15 defeat to France in round one a week prior had many positive aspects, Ireland had stumbling at times with the ball in hand and relied on their set-piece for scores.

They scored four times in each half against Italy thanks to what Peat called “little tweaks” at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.

It’s a fantastic outcome to give Italy more points than England did last week, Peat told BBC Sport NI.

“This was about returning and regaining.” From last week, they had unfinished business.

Ireland scored their first try after just two minutes with Aoife Dalton receiving the player of the match award.

Just before half-time, the center made a crucial defensive save by holding the ball up over the line to force a turnover and maintaining its clever running style throughout.

Former Ireland star Eliza Downey was moved by the midfielder’s confidence in her partnership with Eve Higgins, who had hoped that their partnership would be a big part of the victory.

She was “on the end of everything,” according to Downey, “a deserved player of the match.”

She says, “She’s confident beyond her years, and how she’s collaborating with other players and how she’s collaborating with Higgins is really exciting.”

Fly-half Dannah O’Brien kicked off the tee with a brilliant effort in addition to the eight tries.

After missing all three conversions eight days prior, the 21-year-old added the extras from the touchline after Dalton’s opening score, with Peat feeling that the kick gave her performance the direction she desired.

After a subpar performance by her standards last week, Peat said, “There was a lot of pressure on those young shoulders.”

Ireland has a young nine-10-12 axis thanks to Aoibheann Reilly, 24, who is capable of linking well with the 21-year-old pair of O’Brien and Dalton.

There is skill and talent, Downey continued.

They can be coached and are malleable, they claim.

“Those young players have great depth and leadership,” he said.

Before wrapping up their campaign with trips to Wales and Scotland, Ireland will next face England in Cork on April 12th.

Ireland will hope to finish strongly in third place in the standings before turning their attention to the World Cup, which begins in August, following their impressive victory in Parma.

At the tournament in England, Ireland will compete against Spain, Japan, and New Zealand in a pool.

“You have to look at areas where things don’t go right for you, and when you correct the wrongs, you grow,” Peat said.

The key developments from the previous week to this week will unlock this team’s potential, they say.