Rugby World Cup: Marlie Packer thankful for England’s tough draw

Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan, who is aiming to return to action in time for the Six Nations after suffering a serious knee injury in Gloucester-Hartpury’s PWR final win over Bristol in June, said Ireland could not afford to get carried away by their shock win over defending world champions New Zealand in WXV last month.

The two teams are paired together in Pool C, along with Japan and Spain, and have significant history – Ireland knocked New Zealand out of the 2014 tournament in another upset.

It was the Black Ferns’ first defeat in the tournament in 23 years.

“It is such an exciting group,” she told Rugby Union Weekly.

“We can take confidence from our performances in WXV but so much can happen in a year. We need to make sure we kick, keep improving and stay connected in this period up until the Six Nations.”

Ireland failed to qualify for the last Rugby World Cup, after making the previous seven, and a large group of past and present players signed a letter to the Irish government in December 2021 explaining they had lost faith in the Irish Rugby Football Union.

However, under former England coach Scott Bemand, they have climbed from sixth in the 2023 Six Nations final standings to third this year, and claimed a victory over the United States after their win over the Black Ferns at WXV.

“This time last year, we had to have a lot of honest conversations and truths, being brutally honest with each other at times,” said Monaghan.

“There is a great buzz now. We are willing to go to the ends of the earth for each other, and you can see how much we have grown off the pitch.”