Ireland are heading to Twickenham looking to earn respect. The team is serious about their goals and has a clearer plan this time.

Progress under Scott Bemand

Scott Bemand is two Six Nations into his tenure as head coach, having taken charge in the summer of 2023. The progress since then has been steady rather than spectacular; signs of improvement are visible in performance and selection, and the coach has set a long-term target that frames every match. He confirmed a new contract stretching to the next World Cup in 2029, and said he believes this group can travel to Australia as genuine contenders. That goal colours how each game in the coming seasons will be viewed.

One match that still stings is the 88-10 defeat at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham in 2024. Close to 50,000 people were at the ground that day and the scoreline left a mark. But the team turned a painful week into a positive one shortly afterwards, beating Scotland to secure World Cup qualification and promotion into WXV1.

Progress has come step by step. After playing Kazakhstan and Colombia in WXV3 back in 2023, Ireland have climbed into WXV1 and are now talking about breaking the Anglo-French hold on the Six Nations. This isn't overconfidence; it's how the coaching staff view the team's standing among the top sides in women's rugby.

Selection, continuity and a new captain

Sixteen members of Ireland's Twickenham matchday squad featured in last year's 49-5 defeat to England in Cork. On paper that loss looks heavy, but England had trailed 5-0 with just over 30 minutes played — a detail that suggested Ireland were competitive for a period before the game swung decisively.

Keeping most players over the past two seasons shows the squad is forming a solid core.

That said, there have been few wholesale changes since the World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Exeter. That match remains the team's most recent outing, and players and staff have used the intervening time to reset rather than rebuild.

On the coaching bench, Alex Codling left his role as forwards coach. He has been replaced by Alan O'Connor, the recently retired Ulster second row. The change brings someone familiar with Irish provincial rugby into the national setup, and his playing experience at second row is now the professional background he brings to coaching.

Mastheads

At the player level, Nicole Fowley and Eimear Corri-Fallon have retired from international rugby. Amee Leigh Costigan is sitting out this championship because she is pregnant. Leadership has also shifted — Erin King steps into the captaincy role after Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon had shared that responsibility in recent seasons. King taking over the armband is a clear signal that the staff want a single leader on the pitch as the team looks to sharpen its identity.

What Twickenham means this year

The fixture in London has layered meaning. It's a chance to measure improvement against a side Bemand coached previously as an assistant, and it's an opportunity to narrow a gap that still exists at elite level. Matches against England provide both a barometer and a chance to make statements — on tactics, on defensive organisation, and on physicality.

Point is, the head coach has framed these internationals as building blocks on the road to 2029. The goal for this Six Nations, staff voices have said, is three wins at home. Anything less would be disappointing by the standards the camp has set. Those expectations show how the mood inside the squad has changed since 2023 — there's now pressure to deliver results, not just to show improvement.

For players who featured in that Cork game and who are still in the squad, the personal narrative is clear: the same faces are being asked to finish plays and close out tight periods. For those who are new or who have returned, the short-term aim is to fit into a system with growing clarity of purpose.

Wider significance for Irish women's rugby

Ireland's steady rise from WXV3 opponents like Kazakhstan and Colombia to WXV1 participants reflects structural shifts in recent seasons. The team has moved from qualifying for tournaments to aiming to influence the outcome of major competitions. That change has consequences for selection policy, training investment and player pathways.

Still, the pathway is long. Ireland haven't played since their World Cup quarter-final defeat to France in Exeter, and each match between now and the next global tournament carries weight for development, assessment and confidence-building. How those contests go will shape how the squad is judged by coaches and selectors.

On matchday, the immediate yardsticks are clear: tackle success, set-piece stability and the ability to sustain pressure for long periods. Over the course of a campaign, the measures broaden to include squad depth, handling of injuries and adaptability to different opponents. The panel Bemand has selected aims to tick those boxes, but performance on the pitch will be the final arbiter.

Impacts beyond the pitch

Success at this level tends to reverberate off the field. Increased media interest, higher attendances and commercial opportunities often follow improved results and more competitive displays against top teams. While the coach's contract and the team's promotion to WXV1 are concrete indicators of momentum, how that momentum translates into funding, sponsorship or broader support will depend on sustained progress and the visibility of the programme.

This visibility also has political importance. Women's sport continues to feature in national conversations about equality, funding and access to facilities. A more competitive national side can sharpen those debates and make the allocation of resources a more immediate question for administrators and policymakers. Any shift in public attention could put pressure on governing bodies to respond with clearer plans for grassroots growth and elite support.

But immediate priorities remain squarely sporting. The squad's focus is on performance, with the coaching team insisting that every test is a chance to chip away at the gap with England and France. The long-term aim — a realistic tilt at the 2029 World Cup — gives each selection and training session extra meaning.

For supporters, the narrative is no longer about beginnings. Ireland's women have moved from crawling to walking, and now they're ready to run. Today's game at Twickenham will show whether the legs are strong enough to keep the pace.

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Bemand confirmed his contract runs through to the 2029 World Cup.

This article was created with AI assistance.