Quarter-final spot 'best 21st present' for McGrath

Sadhbh McGrath came off the bench to help Ireland beat Spain on Sunday, a day after her 21st birthday

Ireland prop Sadhbh McGrath said that featuring in her side's 43-27 win against Spain which secured their quarter-final spot in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday was the "best 21st birthday present" she could ask for.

McGrath celebrated her birthday on Saturday before coming off the bench a day later to help Ireland beat a spirited Spanish side in Northampton and make it back-to-back Pool C wins on Sunday.

And the Ulster player believes her birthday weekend was better than she could ever have envisaged.

"It's a 21st birthday of dreams, what a weekend. This is where I want to be with the girls," she told BBC Sport NI.

"This is the best present for the 21st, being in the quarter-final. My family and friends came over to surprise me, so it really lifted me and it was really special."

McGrath added that Ireland's performance against Spain "wasn't perfect" but that it didn't dampen spirits in the dressing room as Scott Bemand's side reached the knockout stages of the competition with a game to spare.

"They did their homework, they were physical, but the mood is great," she continued.

"We've been working so hard, that is where we want to be [knockout stages], so I'm so proud of the girls and a big shift needed next week, but happy we are in the quarter-final."

Attention now turns to a massive game against World Cup holders New Zealand in Brighton on 7 September, with the winner of the game set to secure top spot Pool C.

"We're going to focus on a fast start and being really physical and clinical, making sure we know our roles and details."