Wall thriving on 'competitive Ireland environment'

Ireland flanker Dorothy Wall hopes to be recalled to the starting line-up for the meeting with England

Flanker Dorothy Wall says a healthy competitive environment is benefiting the Ireland camp as they prepare to face England in the Women's Six Nations in Cork on Saturday.

Wall started Ireland's defeat by France in their opener and then came off the bench and scored a try in the subsequent win over Italy.

The back-row is hoping to be recalled to the starting line-up for this weekend's encounter with the defending champions.

"We're all incredibly competitive. Our whole environment is around compete so everything we do there is an edge of compete," explained Wall.

"It's great to learn how to compete well with people as well, that you really respect who you're going against. You put it up to each other in training and then you'll have a chat about it after.

"It encompasses a really good environment where we'll go after it but we're also helping each other in the process. It's quite fulfilling as a player to compete like that."

Wall says being a replacement is a learning experience in itself.

"I had a few things I needed to work on and it's an important skill to know how to come off the bench too.

"It's very different to starting. You have to judge the momentum of the game, how much energy you need to bring. You just need to come in and do a job and not overcompensate in a way and make mistakes that will go against what you're trying to do as a team.

"It was a great lesson for me and I thoroughly enjoyed the 20 or 30 minutes I got and I've really enjoyed the prep this week too."

Wall explained that head coach Scott Bemand's squad are in positive mood heading into their meeting with the Red Roses.

"There's a good feeling in camp. We've trained hard, we've trained well and we're a very connected unit who know what we're trying to do.

"The focus has been very much on us - how we want to control the set-piece, where we want to play on the park and different aspects of the game.

"We've reviewed what they do and we know they've got their strengths in certain areas. The work we've done this week will hopefully counteract those areas."