Hard work finally clicking for Ireland as biggest Six Nations test looms
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Neve Jones believes her Ireland squad can keep building on the momentum created by their Guinness Women’s Six Nations victory over Wales as they prepare for a tough trip to Twickenham this weekend.
After a recovery day yesterday, Ireland return to the training ground at the IRFU High Performance Centre in Abbottstown this morning having broken their championship duck for 2024 with a dominant 36-5 win over the Welsh at Cork’s Virgin Media Park last Saturday.
The five-try performance delivered a first Six Nations victory in two seasons and a maiden championship win for first-season head coach Scott Bemand that lifted the pressure following a wooden spoon under the previous management in 2023.
Ireland have been on an upward curve since Bemand, recruited from his role as England backs coach last July, took the reins. They won the inaugural WXV3 in Dubai last October and showed signs of increased defensive resilience in defeat to France in the opening round in Le Mans on March 23.
There was an added layer of attacking intent at the RDS a week later only for a drop-off in execution in a 27-21 defeat to Italy but having regrouped over the break week, Ireland came out firing on all cylinders last weekend in Cork to put Wales to the sword in a clinical performance, securing a try bonus point a minute into the second half, hooker Jones scoring the third try as her side opened up a 21-0 half-time lead.
Now comes the biggest challenge of the season, as unbeaten table toppers and defending champions England lie in wait for Ireland in south-west London this Saturday but the Gloucester-Hartpury front-rower from Ballymena does not believe they will travel in fear of the world number one side.
“I don’t think so. We’re constantly growing as a team and we’ll do some analysis on them,” Jones said. “Like we know what they bring. Last year we still held them to the half. It’s just what happens after the half and we’ll look at that this week and see what we can bring into that.
“I know quite a few of the English girls myself and same with the Welsh so it’s always nice to play against team-mates that you play with at club so I think we’re looking forward to it."
Head coach Bemand stressed the importance of not getting carried away with one win given the journey still left to travel for Ireland in attempting to qualify for the 2025 World Cup in England, with a berth available to the highest ranked nation after this year’s Six Nations other than already-qualified England or France.
Yet Jones has faith in the steady progress being made and a performance that finally clicked into place with last Saturday’s performance.
"We came off a couple of good wins in Dubai and the management had come in, and all the little things like that that have spurred us on. We've got to do our job when we take to the field and we really did that (against Wales).
"I think over the French week, the Italian week, we've really put a lot of paving stones down, and I think we've really pushed each other at training this week, we've done our analysis and it (was) really proved (on Saturday).
“I think we knew that it was coming, we just had to work hard together and we’ve done so. We’re constantly pushing ourselves to be better so it's just finally clicking and it's nice to see and be part of.
“We play rugby to win and it's fantastic to see and it just helps spur us on for the next game.
"It was all positive really. We're looking to get to a World Cup so it's just building onto those paving stones.”