Ireland v Wales
Donnybrook, Saturday, 1pm
Instead of building on the unexpected Six Nations title Niamh Briggs led Ireland to in 2015 – following on from the completely unseen 2013 Grand Slam, never mind a marvellous fourth place finish at the 2014 World Cup – those who control the long-term strategy of women's rugby in Ireland still see Sevens as the number-one priority.
At least there’s a silver lining. A parallel plan of attack (and defence) before the 15-a-side World Cup comes to Dublin and Belfast next year.
Briggs will be leading Ireland on to a pitch she likens to playing on “cushions” at lunchtime. Donnybrook’s 4G promotes open, attractive rugby – providing those who grace the surface possess the necessary skill-set.
In this respect, Ireland are entering an unknown period as only scrumhalf Larissa Muldoon and fullback Briggs return from the backline that shredded Scotland, to the tune of 73-3 in clinching last season's championship (Italy catching France cold most surely helped the cause).
Sevens absentees
Despite being stripped of some key attacking weapons, with Ali Miller and Jenny Murphy both being in Sydney with the Sevens squad (before they go to Brazil towards the end of the month), there are others making their Six Nations debut on merit.
Railway Union's Nikki Caughey is named at outhalf ahead of Nora Stapleton, while Jackie Shiels is also benched as coach Tom Tierney goes with Sene Naoupu and Aine Donnelly in the midfield.
Victory should come due to a familiar-looking Irish pack from Ailis Egan through Maz Reilly and Sophie Spence into that balanced exiles backrow of Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy and Heather O'Brien.
New caps come in the form of hooker Zoe Grattage and right wing Elise O'Byrne-White.
Here’s where we found the best story.
“I started playing when I was five with mini-rugby in De La Salle Palmerstown,” O’Byrne-White informs us. My dad [Geoffrey] was always around the club and I was friends with his friends’ older children.
“One day they said, ‘are you coming to rugby on Sunday?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, definitely.’ So my Dad had to buy me a gumshield and the gear.
Formally retired
“I played with the boys until I was 12. And I was captain of the boys team for two years. Then I formally retired. That was the end of it, I didn’t think about it again.
“I went and played hockey. I was okay at it. Not hitting people was difficult.”
Rugby ended for all girls at that age in Ireland because there was no place to keep playing it.
Holy Child Killiney provided O’Byrne-White with the space to play hockey before she rediscovered social rugby in Trinity College.
After a degree in zoology there came an Ad Astra scholarship to UCD, as a veterinary student, as she travelled a well-known pathway from Old Belvedere to Leinster and now Ireland.
Trinity influence
“Trinity was where I got my love of rugby back. We lost a lot of games but losing was nearly a rite of passage to get better.
“I was in the Sevens programme in 2012 but then I injured my ACL. Coming back from that I decided to aim for 15s. That was the big decision; that was the game I would love to play.”
Miller, Ashleigh Baxter and Hannah Tyrrell are some ruthless wingers to find a way past but the opportunity presents itself now due to her form and others playing Sevens.
"I have always looked up to the likes of Lynne Cantwell and Fi Coghlan," said O'Byrne-White.
“I just think the Six Nations is the most magical tournament in the world. I’m really excited. Can’t really believe it. You don’t ever really think it is going to come and you are never guaranteed it.
“I don’t think you get what you deserve in sport a lot of the time.
“You can work so hard and sometimes you still might not get there. I’m so grateful for the opportunity.”
You know the first person she called when told about selection.
“He was always the person bringing me down on Sunday mornings.”
