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Ireland looking up ahead of World Cup year

PICTURE:
OCTOBER 24 2024

Successful WXV1 campaign has Ireland looking up again ahead of a huge World Cup year

This time last year, Ireland were reflecting on a disappointing season during which a winless, bottom-placed Women’s Six Nations campaign ended with Scott Bemand’s side having to scrap it out in the lower echelons of WXV3. 

Far away from the bright lights of the Six Nations, and the scrutiny that has come with the smart decision of playing the women’s tournament in a separate window to the men, Ireland went about rebuilding their confidence, which had been shattered on the back of a very tough period.

Hammering Kazakhstan and Colombia en route to edging Spain and clinching their first major title since the 2015 Six Nations may not have been seen as a big deal at the time, yet fast forward 12 months and Ireland’s success in Dubai has proven to be a real fork in the road moment.

Having rediscovered that all-important winning feeling, Ireland bounced into this year’s Six Nations with a renewed sense of vigour and determination that helped them beat Wales and Scotland. Sure, there were regrets at slipping up at home to Italy, and while the gap to England and France remains, Ireland’s pair of victories was enough to finish in third place, and crucially, saw them secure qualification for next year’s World Cup, which is already shaping up to be a huge event in England.

Suddenly, in the space of a few short months, Ireland have gone from getting their hands on silverware to winning Six Nations matches again. The power of momentum should never be underestimated in top-level sport, and although, on paper at least, Ireland faced a difficult autumn schedule, they ripped up the script to offer further belief that they are on the right track once again.

A dominant, six-try 36-10 win over Australia in Belfast last month marked the start of the IRFU's 150th anniversary in style, while it also served as the ideal launchpad to kick on in WXV1, as Ireland went from taking on lesser rugby nations to being pitted against the world’s best.

With a new coaching staff in place and fresh faces such as Aoife Wafer, Dannah O’Brien and Erin King emerging as real stars, Ireland were confident that they were in a good place, as they faced three daunting tests against New Zealand, Canada and USA – the latter two of whom are much stronger in the women’s game than the men’s, it is worth pointing out.

The fear, from the outside looking in at least, was that things could quickly turn sour if Ireland were to lose all three games in Canada, which was a real possibility given the significant step up that was about to be demanded of them. But this squad is nothing if not resilient, and while most of the country was sleeping, Ireland created history by beating the defending world champion Black Ferns for only the second time in their history.

A truly stunning performance against New Zealand ended with the kind of jubilant celebratory scenes that were a throwback to the good old days of women’s rugby in this country, as Scott Bemand’s side continue to write their own unique story.

With Wafer announcing her arrival as a force to be reckoned with on the world stage, the outstanding Leinster back-row inspired Ireland to the kind of victory that will hopefully inspire the next generation.
Still only 21 years old, Wafer is an outstanding athlete whose powerful ball-carrying has given Ireland a fresh dynamic. With King, a Sevens specialist who represented Ireland during the summer Olympics in Paris, also emerging as a potent weapon in the back-row, Ireland have a couple of big-game players, who they can build their pack around going forward. 

O’Brien had to hold her nerve to kick to match-winning conversion for a remarkable 29-27 victory, but in doing so, the out-half, like Wafer and King, showed that she has the temperament required to succeed at the very highest level.

Coming down from that emotional high and backing it up six days later against the hosts was always going to be a huge ask, and so it proved, yet even in a 21-8 defeat to Canada, Ireland provided enough evidence to suggest that they are closing the gap.

Finishing their WXV1 campaign on a high was important, and although another loss wouldn’t have undone any of the strong body of work, a win over USA would have rounded off a positive year in the best possible manner. Not to be deterred by falling short to Canada, Ireland again showed tremendous character by bouncing back with a commanding 26-14 victory.

King was once again to the fore, as the recently turned 21-year-old scored one of four tries in a bonus-point win that was good enough for a second-place finish in what was Ireland’s first appearance in WXV1.
That alone highlights the major progress that has been made in the last year, and with the IRFU putting a strong coaching team, led by Bemand, in place, things are looking up again ahead of another big year.

The injection of youth coupled with the welcome return of veterans like hooker Cliodhna Moloney and back-three player Eimear Considine, not to mention Sevens stars such as Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe and Eve Higgins also adding huge value, Ireland are well set heading into 2025, even if there is an awareness that they still have a way to go on what has fast-become an exciting journey.

When the Six Nations opener at home to Wales rolls around on March 22, Ireland will aim to build on the feel-good momentum that has them primed for another strong tournament ahead of the World Cup later in the year.

After some dark days, the clouds have parted to reveal a brighter future, as Irish women’s rugby continues to make up for lost time in impressive style.