“Scotland will be a lot better than what people give them credit for” – Fitzpatrick
IRELAND’S Paula Fitzpatrick is not taking the challenge of Scotland lightly as they two sides prepare to meet in the Women’s Six Nations in Donnybrook this Sunday.
While the Scots are without a win so far in this season’s campaign, a one-point defeat at the hands of Wales and a solid first half showing against France suggests that they can cause problems for Ireland who sit third in the table with two wins from three.
Paula Fitzpatrick is not taking lightly the challenge of Scotland in this Sunday's Women's Six Nations clash
“I think Scotland are going to be a lot better than what people give them credit for, based on the last couple of years,” Fitzpatrick told The Echo.
“They proved a real threat against France. It was tight in that game up until halftime.
“They have a strong pack and some good young wingers and their captain [Lisa Martin] is a very experienced centre.
“But I feel we’re more experienced in terms of the structure of the game.
“Scotland are good at playing to the conditions. If it’s wet and windy I think it will suit them more whether it’s better for us if it’s dry,” she said.
Ireland have been im-proving steadily in this year’s Six Nations follow-ing their heavy 24-0 defeat at the hands of French in their opener in Toulouse.
A 21-8 victory over the Italians in Donnybrook followed before they also played host to the Welsh to whom they served up a 35-12 defeat with a more liberated performance.
“We want to be playing that free-flowing rugby and not going back to what we did in the World Cup,” insisted Fitzpatrick.
“We executed a lot of our chances and there was a lot more that could have been executed, what with some passes going out over the sideline when we were going forward, but we were happy with the performance,” said the Tallaght woman.
Making it three straight wins on home soil will be a boxed ticked for the Irish according to Fitzpatrick who said “From the start we were always targeting these three [home] games and anything after that was a bonus.
“France away was always going to be a tough task and England away will be a tough task too. France play England this weekend and I’d say England will just edge that.
“They could then be going for the championship and, while it would be great to disrupt that, it will be very tough.”
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