Ireland wing Beibhinn Parsons insists she will feel no extra pressure when representing her country in a Women’s Six Nations game in her native Galway for the first time.
Saturday’s contest against Italy (17:40 BST) will mark the first time Connacht’s Dexcom Stadium has staged a Six Nations match.
Born and raised in Ballinasloe, just under 40 miles east from the 12,500-capacity stadium in Galway city, Parsons has played numerous games at the Dexcom and as recently as February with the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge.
“Definitely the latter,” Parsons said when asked if playing for Ireland in the West will be a burdensome or liberating experience for her.
“I’ll feel really well supported going into Galway and I feel like all my friends and family are there so I’ll just want to do them proud.
“We’ve felt the green wave growing and this is an opportunity to see how much it has grown over the World Cup with a game back on Irish soil.”
Parsons, who made her Ireland debut aged 16 in 2018, said “dominance” is one of the buzzwords in camp this week after leaving “a lot to be desired” in last week’s opening 33-12 defeat by England.
“Cliodhna Moloney in the changing room after her 50th cap said ‘I can’t wait to be here when we perform and we don’t just enjoy the occasion’,” added Parsons, who missed last year’s Six Nations because of a broken leg.
“That’s our next step, to not be in awe of these teams, to just have belief.
“It’s something Erin [King, captain] spoke about before the game, too. I think we all thought we could beat England but there are just a few tweaks we need to fix up on.”
