Ireland’s leadership trio of Amee-Leigh Costigan (left), Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon
BY RICHARD BULLICK
SAM Monaghan has vowed that Ireland will lift themselves following last weekend’s resounding defeat by New Zealand and be ready to give everything in this Sunday’s World Cup quarter-final showdown with France in Exeter (1.00pm).
Scott Bemand’s side were beaten 40-0 by the world champion Black Ferns in a chastening group game in Brighton, thought that scoreline didn’t reflect what actually felt like a much more competitive encounter in front of a capacity crowd of over 30,000.
But brilliant New Zealand defence prevented Ireland from getting scoreboard reward for their efforts, which included dominating territory and shading possession, while showcasing their own slick attacking game and finishing skills.
This was widely acknowledged to have been one of the great World Cup performances from star-studded New Zealand, who have lost just a single game in the last eight tournaments and are right in the hunt to lift the trophy for a record-extending seventh time.
Their comprehensive victory clinched top spot in Pool C and a quarter-final against surprise package South Africa in Exeter this Saturday while runners-up place in their group gives Ireland a last eight tie with the French to look forward to at the same Sandy Park venue.
“New Zealand are a class outfit and were playing really well. We were passive in defence at times, letting them play to the edges. We needed to shut that down quicker and get on top of them. We know our errors let them into the game,” Monaghan reflected.
“They’re a quality side. They’re world champions, so if you make an error, they’re going to bounce back on top of that and punish you. But, as a squad, we’re quite disappointed in the scoreline and don’t think it reflects the passion and pride we played with.
“At times we had them under pressure and were on top, especially at the start of both halves, and if we had converted that by getting over the line it would have been a different game.
“We let them into the game and our errors gave them tries, so it’s how we manage our composure. That’s what we said against Spain and Japan as well, we need to manage those moments better.
“We know going into next weekend that we need to be more clinical. We can’t give away as many penalties, or have as many errors, and we need to play on top more and be more aggressive in defence.
“We’ve come up against France numerous times in the Six Nations. When we played them earlier this year it was a game we were in but probably let ourselves down a bit by not being clinical enough, so that’s something we will focus on this week.
“That’s on us. At the end of the day, when we are on top of teams, when we are firing, we know we can play, we know we can score. We have some great individual players but in that first half here we just needed to win the physical battle and carry harder.
“We’ll analyse that game hard, but then leave it and go on to what faces us next Sunday. We’ve a World Cup quarter-final to go into and will do everything in our power to win that game. We’ve going to throw everything at it but can’t make as many errors as today.”
It was still an unforgettable occasion as Ireland’s women were roared on by the biggest support then have ever had and an emotional Monaghan paid tribute to the fans who had turned Brighton green for the big game.
“I know we’re all extremely disappointed, with the scoreline especially, but it was an incredible occasion. We always said this was the closest thing to a home World Cup but the fans turned up in huge numbers and were absolutely fabulous.
“We could hear the screams, the chants, the Fields of Athenry. God, if I could do it all over again I would, even though I am so tired!” declared Meath woman Monaghan, who was actually living in Brighton when she first took up rugby just nine years ago.
Like so many of the Irish players, Monaghan had family and friends from back home in the stands and the big Gloucester Hartpury lock was also cheered on by old team-mates from local Sussex club Lewes RFC, who she started out with back in 2016.
The 32-year-old has spoken about what a rewarding journey it has been over the past decade and the best will be yet to come if Ireland can upset the odds with a first victory over the French for eight years in Exeter on Sunday.
France had an unconvincing victory over Six Nations rivals Italy in their opening group game followed by predictably brushing aside rank outsiders Brazil before securing top place in Pool D with an ominous 57-10 thumping of South Africa at the weekend.
Meanwhile, winger Amee-Leigh Costigan, vice-captain to Ireland’s joint skippers Monaghan and Edel McMahon, is also looking to the French clash as an opportunity for the girls in green to put the lessons learned from the New Zealand defeat to good effect.
“New Zealand are up there as one of the very best teams in the world. We’ll review this game and see where we can improve on heading into next week. We’re in the World Cup quarter-finals and it’s still all to play for.
“Although we are disappointed in parts of that game, there were opportunities too. I think we adapted well when we lost a few of our players to injury and grew throughout, so we’ll have learnt a lot from it.
“As long as we learn quickly this week, and bring those work-ons in and ace them next day, that will be very, very important,” declared the Paris Olympian who was denied a try against New Zealand by a wicked bounce of the ball as she chased a Dannah O’Brien kick.
With McMahon missing the second group game against Japan due to injury, World Series sevens legend Costigan from Tipperary, took over the on-field captaincy when Monaghan had to go off injured in Northampton.
In Costigan and fellow wing wonder Beibhinn Parsons, who like Monaghan missed the French fixture in this year’s Six Nations due to injury, Ireland have real cutting edge out wide with Anna McGann also a prolific finisher.
Bemand’s team ran in 13 tries in their first two group games against Japan and Spain in Northampton, breaking the Irish record for most points in a World Cup match two weeks running before being kept scoreless by the miserly New Zealand.
It was an emotional return to Brighton last weekend for Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan
