Women’s Six Nations 2026: Ireland need to be ‘more clinical’ in final two games

Assistant coach Alan O’Connor admits Ireland must be “more clinical” as they try to turn the page on last month’s Women’s Six Nations defeat to France.

Despite a dominant first-half performance, Ireland were tied 7-7 with the French at half-time in Clermont and the hosts went clear to win 26-7.

And after regrouping in the final week of the tournament, the Irish aim to get back on track when they welcome Wales to the Aphidia Stadium on Saturday (18:30 BST, live on BBC One Wales, BBC Two NI and BBC iPlayer).

“We had a good week last week, we trained twice. It was a lot better than that French game, so we’re trying to build on that,” said forwards coach O’Connor.

“The first half was really good. I think we got close to the line about 12 times, but we weren’t clinical enough. Based on that, we have to be more clinical.”

Ireland have lost two of their first three matches at this year’s tournament, before an emphatic 57-20 win over Italy before a 33-12 reverse defeat by England.

With victory against England or France no longer possible, they still have the chance to finish the competition with a perfect home record, with Scotland visiting Dublin’s Aviva Stadium after playing Wales in Belfast.

“I think we could move the ball a bit more as a forward pack and get more short passes into our game,” O’Connor added when asked what improvements were needed.

“Wales’ strength will probably be set-pieces. They are good at the breakdown so we have to make sure we are on the money there.”

O’Connor joined Scott Baymond’s backroom team in January as a replacement for Alex Codling, who left Ulster last year after 13 years in the province.

And the 33-year-old said he preferred cutting his coaching teeth with the national team as his playing career failed to yield a Test cap for the men’s side.

“The girls are great. There’s a lot of passion for the badge and the country,” he said.

“I’m involved with Ireland, it’s always been a dream of mine so to be back here in the green shirt as a coach is class for me.”