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We were never going to use it as an excuse and we haven’t and we won’t.”
England ran out 34-7 winners over Ireland in the Women’s Six Nations on Friday night in Donnybrook. With England turning professional this season, Ireland captain Niamh Briggs admitted that they brought an intensity to the game that was hard to match over the full 80 minutes.
“As the girls said afterwards, you could live with it for a certain amount of time and in fairness to England, they took their chances when they came,” Briggs said on last night’s episode of The Clubhouse on TV3.
However, she refused to use Ireland’s amateur status as an excuse for the loss.
“We said coming into this campaign that we are like the other countries. England are a professional entity and we were never going to use it as an excuse and we haven’t and we won’t.”
Briggs works as a Garda in Limerick, balancing her training around her day job. Presenter Joe Molloy pointed out that the show’s other guest Donncha O’Callaghan could sit at home and watch TV while she was out working.
It turns out that the Worcester Warriors man is all about Countdown, in case you were wondering.
However, the Irish captain said that the players knew what they were getting into and that it’s something they’re used to.
“We can’t turn around and say ‘Oh, I’d love to be off.’
“So say I work six days on, four days off. On the four days off, I’m idle. I don’t really know what to do with myself.”
Briggs added that balancing her work and rugby commitments is something that she’s adapted to over the years.
“I like the fact that my days are structured and routine. I get up, I go to the gym in the morning, I go to work, I go back and train in whatever session it is and I go to bed.”
The above clip is also notable for a verbal stumble from Joe Molloy, which Donncha O’Callaghan was quick to pounce on!
The next episode of Clubhouse will air on Tuesday at 10:30pm on TV3.
The Clubhouse has teamed up with the Heineken Rugby Club to provide a weekly on-air competition which will send lucky winners to the Champions Cup final in Edinburgh in May. The Heineken Rugby Club offers exclusive rugby content and your chance to win prizes, tickets and more at the Heineken Rugby Club website.
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