Alan Quinlan

But maybe they'll get it in the final and maybe in a few weeks' time they'll...

I think if they can navigate the next two games, obviously in the URC and have a home quarter, home semi, they're well capable of winning that as well.

So it hasn't been this free-flowing season for them.

Morning, lads.

How are you?

Yeah, I think you've...

I think Scott Beeman spoke about the gap being closed, closing a little bit during the week, and they're not really focusing on that.

But I think, look, everybody who's been watching the Irish rugby team the last couple of years has seen improvement.

There's excitement around this current group, the depth in, you know, even coming off the bench, getting Erin King back from her long-term injury, Dorothy Wall back, who starts tomorrow.

There's only one change.

yeah I think they have a really good chance obviously France same as their men's teams you know if they get their confidence up and they get their flow into their game they can be extremely dangerous so I'd always be nervous again if I was a player here

I was a little bit surprised.

You know, Stacey Flood saying they should be worried.

I think you don't want to give any sort of motivation or edge to this French team if they're listening into anything that's been said in the press conferences during the week.

But the reality is Ireland have a really good chance here and you never know.

You've got to perform, Colm.

It doesn't matter if the stats and the results show that there's improvement there.

for any team ever going to France, if you're not right and you're not aggressive and you don't bring the right kind of tempo and attitude, particularly at the start of the game, you could have big problems.

The flip side of that is if you can frustrate any French team and settle in away from home and start to do the simple things well, not overcomplicate things, they have a really good chance because

I think what's been developed in this team is their physical presence, their accuracy around the breakdown, their defensive setup and speed and connectivity has been much better.