Jade Konkel-Roberts expects toughest test of Six Nations campaign to come against Ireland
Scotland second row Jade Konkel-Roberts is known throughout the game as being one of her country’s most formidable ball carriers.
Scotland’s triumph over Italy, which ended a run of 12 straight defeats, saw the forward make 13 tackles, 19 carries, and 95 metres on her way to a Player of The Match performance.
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The victory relieved mounting pressure on a Scotland squad who had not won since they beat Ireland to qualify for the World Cup in 2021
The two sides meet once more for the final game of the women’s Six Nations, with Ireland desperate for a win after a campaign that has been plagued with underwhelming results on the pitch and sexist allegations in the corridors of the Irish RFU.
Konkel-Roberts noted: “They’re not on the best run, but we’ve been in their position, and we know exactly the kind of conversations they’re going to be having.
“It’s not over for them – it’s never going to be over – and they’re going to be giving absolutely everything to every game they’ve got. We know they’re going to do the exact same thing on Saturday.
“It doesn’t matter that they’re chasing their first win. They’re going to be giving absolutely everything to that game, and I know it’s going to be probably the biggest 80-minute fight of this whole campaign.”
The firefighter, who plies her trade at Harlequins, was forced to sit out the opening two rounds of the championship after picking up an ankle injury. Support from Harlequins, including rapid surgery and a tightrope fixation on her syndesmosis allowed Konkel-Roberts to build towards a return to rugby on the international stage.
“To be able to play half against France was class,” she said. “It’s always really exciting to go away to France: I played a season over there, I know a lot of the girls, and the environment and atmosphere were class.
“I have been around for a long time so it is about stepping in and having that belief. Nothing has really changed and rather than me coming in and lifting things, it was the other way as I’ve come back after an injury and everyone has been around me and made sure I’m ok,” she added.
Konkel-Roberts has returned to a squad full of fresh faces who are part of a new phase of Scottish rugby.
As the national side begins to transition into the world of professional sport, young players were forced to step up amidst a wave of injuries and players unavailable through Great Britain 7s selection.
Your TikTok Women's Six Nations Player of the Match, @JadeKonkel!#AsOne pic.twitter.com/VEPRAHeDHG
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The second row has seen many changes since she started out in the Scotland quad. She said: “When I first joined the squad, I just knew you had to hit things. It was just a case of tackle them really hard and run if you’ve got the ball.
“Back in the day you were pretty much paying to play. You would only have a weekend together whilst playing, so the fact that we’re in for an entire week’s preparation for a game is probably the biggest thing for me. That time together is massive.
“It’s having the resources, the structure and everything to make us a professional set-up – whereas ten years ago we’d be coming in on a Thursday, playing on a Saturday.”
“We joke about that they are the young team and they were born in the 2000s which doesn’t seem right, but we trust them because they are giving their all for the shirt and they want to learn, they will ask questions and ultimately it is great to get more younger players in.”
Scotland go into this weekend’s clash with Ireland as favourites. It is a tag they have been unfamiliar with in recent times. After sending Italy home from Edinburgh without a win, they are now just one place behind Ireland who are a shell of the team who won the grand slam 10 years ago.
The Scottish taliswoman knows nothing short of their best will to fulfil expectations of the rugby world.
Konkel-Roberts noted: “It’s probably going to be a replay of the intensity of that World Cup qualifier when everything was on the line, because ultimately everything is on the line. So yeah, it’s going to be real tough, but really exciting.”
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