Australia game begins Ireland's 'next chapter'

Ireland captain Edel McMahon says coach Scott Bemand's policy of giving "voices to the players" has generated "buy-in from everyone"

Ireland captain Edel McMahon says Saturday's game against Australia in Belfast (14:30 BST) will begin the team's preparations for the 2025 World Cup and the "next chapter of where we're growing as a squad".

After all the turmoil that enveloped Irish women's rugby after the failure to reach the 2022 World Cup, Exeter Chiefs back row McMahon says the team is now in a better place following the arrival of coach Scott Bemand 14 months ago.

"There's been a massive shift in how we prepare. The off-field stuff and culture is really good at the moment," said the Ireland skipper.

McMahon's words will be music to the ears of the IRFU after the tumultuous days of 2021 and 2022.

In December 2021 - three months after Ireland's shock failure to qualify for the last World Cup - a group of 62 players past and present wrote a letter to the Irish Government saying they had lost "all trust and confidence in the IRFU".

The fallout included the departure of IRFU women's rugby director Anthony Eddy, with Greg McWilliams' stint as national coach lasting only 18 months as he left after Ireland's dismal 2023 Six Nations campaign.

"The staff have been brilliant and how we're performing as a high-performance environment is really starting to click together," said McMahon of Ireland's coaching set-up under Bemand.

"Players having voices in how that's shaped is massive and adds to the buy-in from everyone."

The Ireland squad will wear retro-style jerseys for the game against Australia, which will officially begin Irish Rugby's 150th anniversary celebrations

McMahon says the coaching team's "collaboration with the players" has been a huge factor in Ireland's improved form, which was highlighted by the team securing World Cup qualification by finishing third in last season's six Nations.

"What's working for players, what's our language. Working with the staff, it's not a one-way system.

"It's a two-way system so that's probably the biggest impact we've been seeing."

The Ireland skipper says Bemand's approach of bringing in an "ethos where we're competing in every training session has been huge as a driving force".

"The competition is massively high but have to keep performing as players to earn that jersey.

"We're only going to get it for 80 minutes and then we're back fighting for it again. He's driving competition and competition rewards performances on the pitch."

Saturday's contest at Kingspan Stadium is the official beginning of Irish Rugby's 150th anniversary celebrations and the Ireland women will be wearing specially produced retro jerseys to mark the occasion.

"It's great we’re getting the opportunity to wear these jerseys and the represent Irish rugby," said McMahon.

The Ireland captain will be up against her former Exeter club-mates Lori Cramer and Michaela Leonard and is expecting a tough test in the first meeting with the Wallaroos since the sides earned a win apiece in their two meetings at the Irish-hosted 2017 World Cup.

Recalled full-back Eimear Considine and replacement front row Cliodhna Moloney are the only Ireland survivors from seven years ago.

"They are going to keep the ball alive and play with ball in hand and will test us massively with their width," concluded the Ireland skipper.