Irish Story 'still Being Written' After World Cup Exit

Whether it beryllium their nonaccomplishment to people a 3rd effort conscionable earlier half-time erstwhile starring 13-0, a mislaid line-out astatine nan death, aliases nan officials' nonaccomplishment to return action complete an alleged wound connected Aoife Wafer, Ireland's World Cup quarter-final exit astatine nan hands of France was littered pinch 'what ifs?' for nan beaten side.

Looking to hit France for nan first clip since 2017, and scope nan past 4 of nan world showpiece for nan first clip since 2014, Ireland will consciousness they had nan crippled successful their grasp astatine Sandy Park only to fto it gaffe successful a 2nd half erstwhile they conceded 18 unanswered points.

Yet, erstwhile nan particulate settles, a broadside who did not moreover suffice for nan past version of nan tourney and were whitewashed successful nan Six Nations arsenic precocious arsenic 2023, will surely position nan past 4 weeks arsenic further progress.

"I'm really proud, really proud of nan group and wherever they've travel from successful nan 2 years," said caput coach Scott Bemand successful nan contiguous aftermath of nan conclusion successful Exeter.

"The occasion, you deliberation a twelvemonth ago, that group mightiness person felt nan juncture more, but I could spot it successful nan eyes of nan players erstwhile they stepped disconnected nan bus...our group don't get daunted by that anymore. They get excited by it."

Under nan erstwhile England adjunct coach, Ireland's advancement from nan nadir of their nonaccomplishment to make it to New Zealand 3 years agone and each that followed has been quicker than astir dared to expect.

Qualification for this tourney pinch complete a twelvemonth to spare acknowledgment to a third-place decorativeness successful nan 2024 Six Nations, followed by wins complete Australia and nan Black Ferns successful nan aforesaid almanac twelvemonth represented a accelerated turnaround.

Centre Aoife Dalton described Sunday's effort against France erstwhile compared to nan performances of 2 years agone arsenic for illustration "chalk and cheese", yet this was an Ireland squad that intelligibly felt they were fresh to return nan adjacent measurement pinch a large scalp connected nan biggest stage.

"We felt for illustration we had it," said a crestfallen Dalton.

"Saying each that, we tin beryllium proud of what we did retired there. I can't prime a subordinate who didn't time off everything retired location truthful we tin decidedly beryllium proud of that performance. It's conscionable going to wounded for a while."

Dalton is conscionable 22-years-old. With Aoife Wafer, who was sensational successful her first Test quality since April, nan aforesaid property and fly-half Dannah O'Brien a twelvemonth younger, location is simply a nucleus of a broadside that will beryllium expected to thrust things guardant not conscionable crossed nan adjacent four-year rhythm but beyond too.

Indeed, of Sunday's starting line-up, only winger Amee-Leigh Costigan and fastener Sam Monaghan person celebrated their 30th birthdays.

"It is simply a young group," said Monaghan, nan Gloucester-Hartpury fastener who returned from 13 months connected nan sidelines to lead Ireland astatine nan tournament.

"You know, only 1 subordinate [Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald] retired of 32 has knowledgeable a World Cup before.

"If you look backmost 2 years ago, we were competing successful WX3, and we were very, very adjacent to winning a World Cup quarter-final there.

"We're gutted, we're heartbroken. We cognize we could person had that game, but we'll clasp our heads high, rebuild and spell again."

For that, they will person to hold until nan 2026 Six Nations erstwhile it is hoped nan side's increasing support, dubbed 'the greenish wave' by players, will beryllium retired successful unit for what will beryllium a historical first stand-alone fixture successful nan Aviva Stadium against Scotland successful May.

In nan longer term, location will surely beryllium efforts to unafraid nan early of their caput coach beyond adjacent year.

Bemand replaced Gregg McWilliams connected a three-year woody successful August 2023 and said it would beryllium "brilliant" if he was to lead nan broadside past nan expiration of that first contract.

Regardless, he sounded judge of nan guidance of travel.

"In position of what we're doing it doesn't consciousness for illustration we're anyplace adjacent nan extremity point," he said.

"The story's still being written and if it's maine to spell forward, if I'm nan correct fit, if it useful for myself and nan players, past brilliant.

"We support talking astir taking this adjacent measurement and cracking into nan World Cup contenders. It's gutting to not do it [on Sunday], particularly erstwhile we look backmost connected it.

"It's going to hap astatine immoderate point."