How have Ireland really fared so far this Women's Six Nations?

As the Women’s Six Nations surpasses the halfway point, it’s a good time to take stock of how the campaign has been going for Scott Bemand and the Irish side that everyone has been talking about since they beat the Black Ferns earlier this season. 

After the first round against France in Belfast, Ireland were disappointed to have not capitalised on some fine opportunities that they created for themselves and to eventually come out on the wrong end of a 15-27 scoreline. 

Their ambition and intention were marred by handling errors and missed territorial and scoring opportunities.   

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

‘This Energy Never Stops’ – Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025

However, France had to perform clinically with a dogged Irish side snapping at their heels the whole 80 minutes. One match report headline read “France survive Irish scare to claim victory in Belfast.” 

Despite the evident disappointment of feeling like they let Les Bleues slip from their grasp, the objectives before the tournament would not have been “We have to beat France in order to make this a successful tournament.” 

Task one: Scare France. Tick. 

Next up, the return to Parma.  As stated by Aoife Wafer in a post-match reflection, “there is bad juju in Parma for this team.”  Alongside losing to Italy in Parma, Ireland also lost to Spain and, crucially, Scotland in a Rugby World Cup 2021 qualifier, which may be deemed as the lowest point in Irish women’s rugby since its beginnings.  

This Six Nations offered a chance to change that, and my goodness did they do just that.  A 54-12 win for Ireland saw a beautiful, well-rounded performance for Ireland which included a hat-trick from Anna McGann, one of the least experienced members of the squad, but now one of the most earmarked by opposition. 

Task two: Rid Parma of bad juju. Tick. 

Next up, a week off to rest, recover, regather and get excited to host tournament favourites and age-old enemy England in Cork the following weekend. 

Given that France and England are the two hardest teams to beat in the Women’s Six Nations, and you’ve already managed to scare France but not quite overtake them, how should you prepare to take on England?  Do you need to beat them?  Again, no.  A scare would be good.  Getting under their skin for a sustained period – even better.   

England left Cork with 49 points versus Ireland’s 5.  On paper, it looks like a comprehensive result, but paper only tells one story.  First of all, Ireland drew in a record-breaking crowd with 7,754 fans turning out to watch.

 A sure sign that this team is garnering attention on this impressive journey, with more and more people wanting to say: ‘I was there’.

Secondly, sevens star and new captain of the team, Amee Leigh Costigan, became the first Irish woman in eight years to dot down behind an English line.  

Thirdly, the halftime score was an eyebrow raiser with England leading the hosts by 7 points to 5.  The sustained pressure from Ireland kept England searching for answers to the problems posed by a bullish Ireland.  

And more importantly, a much more clinical Ireland that had run out on the opening day of the tournament in Belfast. 

When England turned the screw as they usually do, they were able to pump up the scoreline by dominating the final 20 minutes.  But did the world number one team leave Cork dusting off their palms, thinking “job done – that was easy”?  They most certainly did not. 

Task three: Get under England’s skin.  Tick. 

So, for tasks four and five, what should Irish ambitions be?  Next up for Scott Bemand’s troops are away trips to both Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales and DAM Health Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland.  If Ireland want to show real progress on this journey, they have got to keep winning away from home.  

Ireland were able to get the better of all opponents on home soil last year, so can they reproduce the winning away magic from Parma?  With Wales looking for their first win of the championship and Scotland potentially fighting for a third-place finish, neither team is going to go down easily.   

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Tasks 4 and 5 will be straightforward: Win. 

Winning the Six Nations is not Ireland’s goal – for now.  Least not in a World Cup year where you are looking to build on solid foundations and forge as much strength in identity as possible. 

For a team in a growth stage, a loss can still be seen as progress.  With this team’s trajectory, I have no doubt that this narrative will eventually ebb away.  That this team will become strong enough that only wins, home or away, become acceptable, and third place will no longer earn a pat on the back. 

Until then, this Irish team is putting in the work to leave these jerseys in a better place for the young girls in the stands.