Fitness issues for Ireland’s women ahead of Wales clash

IRELAND Women are facing the prospect of a lowest Six Nations finish since 2006 unless they can conjure up a victory against Wales on Sunday,

Like Ireland, Wales have won just one game thus far and in front of their home crowd, they will not be short of motivation to finish their own campaign on a positive note.

Adam Griggs is sweating over the fitness of several players following last weekend’s bruising defeat to France in which the gap between the top teams and chasing pack was highlighted even further.

Ireland are hoping to play a Test or two over the summer because the reality they face if they don’t is that they will not have another competitive game until November. For a squad that is very much in building mode, if that situation does transpire, it would be seen as another major setback in terms of their development.

Lindsay Peat has endured a frustrating campaign as she battles back from a neck injury that she suffered back in November.

The 38-year-old will hope to regain her starting place, and she could end up forming a front-row with Linda Djougang, who is pushing for her first Six Nations start.

Griggs will resist the temptation to ring the changes but injuries may force his hand in that regard.

“We have to give it a couple of more days before we know where we are at,” the head coach admitted.

“It’s probably at that stage of the season that if it was 50-50 (call), would we risk them or would we not? We will just have to wait and see what the medical report comes back with.”

Ireland have not finished lower than third place since 2008 and if results go their way, they could still end up in third.

Regardless of when their next game will be, it will feel like a long time away if Ireland finish the Six Nations with a defeat against a Wales team who they are more than capable of beating.