Moloney-MacDonald reflects on 8 years since Ireland's last World Cup
It'll be 2,920 days since Ireland's last World Cup finals match when as hosts they lost 27-17 to Wales at Ravenhill [now Affidea Stadium] in the seventh-place playoff. A lot has changed since that day in 2017 and it's fair to say the women's game has been through a roller-coaster in this country.
And through the lowest of lows of missing out on the World Cup to the highest of highs of beating the Black Ferns, heading into this World Cup the lone survivor is Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald. Ireland vs Australia Ireland's Cliodhna Moloney with Nareta Marsters of Australia. Pic: INPHO/Dan Sheridan
The Exeter Chiefs hooker has been on a roller-coaster of her own, from being exiled to welcomed back and now preparing for her second World Cup. Speaking ahead of Ireland's warm-up match against Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork, Moloney-MacDonald spoke about how her World Cup experience may not be as useful in the way we think it would.
'The tournament structure has changed hugely, the numbers that go has changed hugely, Women's rugby has advanced a lot. So, while I think I might have experience and people will be asking questions anyway, that's not World Cup relevant like I've been around a long time. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
'I do know a lot of players from other countries and how they play and I've experience playing against a lot of other countries.'
One of the aspects that will likely transfer from the 2017 is the large Irish contingent. Having hosted in their last appearance in 2017 Irish fans will only have to make the hop over the Irish Sea to see Ireland as they open their tournament in Northampton against Japan.
With the expectation that Ireland should beat Japan and Spain in their pool games before they face the Black Ferns in Brighton, Moloney-MacDonald pointed out that they're taking things one week at-a-time while not putting too much on that first game. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
'We're as close as we can be to a home World Cup so the support element will hopefully be huge. You probably could get in a position where you put a lot of pressure on yourself, especially the first game, but we have already spoken that as a team we are trying to work week to week and that is our main focus.
'So, we won't look past the first game, but we won't put too much pressure on it either. We can break everything down into mini components that will result in success and that's kind of what we've been doing. So, it's not all about opening game or first games meaning so much. It's more like measurable, achievable small things that we know will give us the result we want. '
One of the key players that looks to miss that game is Aoife Wafer. Having suffered a further set back to her knee injury she sustained in this year's Six Nations, Wafer underwent a procedure to assure that she returns in time to play some part in the tournament. While injuries are never something you expect or want to see Ireland scrum Coach Denis Fogarty was all too aware that they are things you have to prepare for. Scrum coach Denis Fogarty. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
'You have to [make contingencies] because we don't have control, like anything can happen within a rehab, but she's actually tracking really, really well, which is a positive. But it's not until you get on pitch, add contact area. We have to, we always have to have a contingency plan, regardless of injuries and stuff.
'But we've been managing that over the last number of weeks and making sure and that's what the warm-up games are actually going to give us, it's looking at different combinations.'
It's been a camp highlighted by games and competitions, including playing foot-golf and competing gym stats over the nine weeks, something that Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald credits Ruth Montgomery with.
Aoife Wafer, who's set to join Harlequins after the World Cup, has remained in camp, something that Fogarty feels has helped her recovery after such a disappointing setback which could have derailed Ireland's World Cup hopes. Aoife Wafer. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
'Yeah, to be fair the day of it was tough, she thought, but once she got a clear plan of 'this is what it looks like, get this procedure' and you know, this is where we're aiming for and we're really, really positive about it.' Then it kinds of clears up so she has something to work towards. She's been in around us all the time now and around the group, which is really, really good and important for her.
'But that's also making sure that when she's ready, she can fall into place straight away because she knows where we're at and what we're doing. But she's been good, she's been positive and she's working incredibly hard which is good.'
Ireland begin their warm-up games this coming Saturday as they host Scotland at Virgin Media Park in Cork. Kick-off is slated for 2pm which coverage live on irishrugby+, BBC iPlayer and RugbyPass TV.
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