Ireland Return To World Cup With 'one Of Our Best Performances'

For Ireland, 8 years was - astatine slightest for now - worthy nan wait.

For women's rugby successful Ireland, nan spread betwixt World Cup appearances featured nan scarring lows of a daze qualifying elimination successful 2021, a Six Nations wood spoon and concerns complete accommodation and playing conditions.

However, nan rebuild nether Scott Bemand complete nan past 2 years has been awesome - and possibly swifter than galore would person anticipated.

There were nan confidence-boosting scalps of New Zealand and Australia past year, and a return to shape successful nan Six Nations.

And erstwhile nan clip for talking was complete arsenic Ireland returned to nan sport's biggest shape connected Sunday, they delivered successful style against Japan.

"It was amazing, I'm truthful proud of each and each 1 of them," said injured Ireland backmost statement Dorothy Wall.

"It's astir apt 1 of nan champion performances we've ever put successful arsenic a team.

"From group portion to really we managed nan game, we executed good and I'm truthful proud of nan full squad."

Former Ireland guardant and BBC Sport pundit Anna Caplice added Ireland had "turned it around" aft a difficult fewer years.

"Japan aren't to beryllium messed astir with," she said.

"It was ne'er going to beryllium a gimme. So to put successful a afloat 80-minute capacity was superb for Ireland."

Ireland's capacity successful Northampton was moreover much awesome fixed that only 1 personnel of nan squad - replacement hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald - had played successful nan World Cup.

It was a caller acquisition for nan 15 players who started nan game, but if location were immoderate nerves, they did not show.

Amee-Leigh Costigan and Neve Jones crossed successful nan opening 10 minutes, while Beibhinn Parsons and Fiona Tuite secured nan bonus-point earlier half-time.

There was a flimsy wobble astatine nan commencement of nan 2nd half erstwhile Japan struck early, but Eve Higgins, who was superb successful Northampton, swung nan momentum backmost successful Ireland's favour pinch her intercept people and Enya Breen rounded retired nan win.

Throughout it all, Ireland were directed by nan precision and trade of fly-half Dannah O'Brien, who is only 21.

"There was a bully cool, calm and collected power this morning," said Irish co-captain Edel McMahon.

"The power was good. This was a first World Cup crippled for nan mostly of nan squad, each barroom one, but it did not consciousness for illustration it.

"The calmness of nan youngsters, they took it successful their stride.

"To beryllium successful an situation wherever you cognize nan girls are fresh to spell is very empowering. It was people to put our champion ft retired location successful nan first game."

While Ireland's caller resurgence had been clear to see, location had been questions complete nan extent of nan squad aft Dorothy Wall and Erin King were ruled retired of nan tournament, and prima subordinate Aoife Wafer was absent for nan opening game.

Parsons' minutes had been constricted aft a number of injuries, and co-captains McMahon and Sam Monaghan had besides been hampered by injuries complete nan past 12 months.

"Over nan past 2 years girls person travel successful and retired of nan squad," added McMahon.

"It's not conscionable nan 23 who are connected nan pitch. It's nan girls who aren't present and nan girls who are successful nan stands.

"There is simply a immense relationship betwixt everyone successful nan squad truthful we've afloat religion successful whoever takes nan jersey connected nan day."

When asked if Ireland were up of schedule successful their development, particularly considering nan injuries, erstwhile Ireland subordinate and BBC pundit Anna Caplice said: "I couldn't work together more".

"[There was] A batch of nan talk astir nan injuries and nan group who missed retired connected nan World Cup, location was possibly immoderate 'will they beryllium capable to nutrient what we had seen?'. But that was what we had seen.

"But 1 to 23, 1 to 30, 1 to 40, which includes Doro [Wall], Erin King and Aoife Wafer, they are present and performing for illustration this because of nan girls who person been for illustration - 'forget that underdog status'."

Ireland's 2nd World Cup crippled is against Spain adjacent Sunday. It was nan Las Leonas who extinguished Ireland's World Cup hopes successful 2021 pinch a daze win.

From that infinitesimal Ireland had deed stone bottom, but now they person a chance to banish those memories for bully and put connected ft successful nan 4th finals.

From there, nan greenish activity will proceed to turn and thing tin hap successful knockout rugby.