Ireland’s head coach, Scott Bemand, has said that the team isn’t worried about England as they gear up for an exciting Guinness Women’s Six Nations match this Saturday in Cork. After a tough 88-10 loss to England last year at Twickenham, Bemand believes the team has made real progress and is set to show what they can do at home. Ireland Unfazed by England.
That 2023 defeat was part of England’s impressive 31-match winning streak in the Six Nations, going back to their last loss in 2018. But Ireland bounced back by beating Scotland the week after that game. They’ve kept improving since then, finishing second in the WXV in Canada last October and putting in strong performances in the current Six Nations nearly beating France and easily handling Italy.
Feeling Strong and Ready to Compete
Bemand emphasized that the Irish team is a different one from last year. “We talked about last year’s game and the experience, but that’s in the past. We’re a better team now,” he said. While he respects England’s skills, he pointed out that no team is perfect, including the Red Roses. Ireland Unfazed by England.
He also mentioned how playing at home can make a difference. “Last time, we faced 50,000 fans at Twickenham. Now, we’re in Ireland with nearly a full house. That energy can really lift a young team,” he explained. Ireland had a good win against Wales in Cork, and Bemand thinks a solid performance this weekend could shake England and boost the Irish players’ spirits.
Building Confidence and Momentum
Ireland has been preparing intensely. “It’s been a great week of training with a lot of focus and speed,” Bemand said, noting that now the goal is to turn that training into results. He plans to keep most of the same squad for the match, although winger Beibhinn Parsons is still out with an injury.
Bemand knows England has been strong, having easily beaten Italy and Wales in their first matches. Still, the Irish coach, who was once England’s assistant coach, sees Saturday as a chance to show how far Ireland has come. “We’re eager to show our progress. We’re getting closer,” he stated.
A Different Game This Time
Looking at Ireland’s recent performance, Bemand pointed out their ability to score and stay competitive as signs of progress. “We were disappointed not to beat France because we felt we could. Last week, scoring 50 points was huge for us. It shows how much more confident we’ve become,” he said.
Bemand believes Ireland can give England a run for their money. “If we stay in the game and get going, we can create some challenges,” he concluded, showing a quiet but firm belief that this time could be different.
