The shock 29-27 victory of Ireland over global champions New Zealand in the WVX1 tournament was something the team had been expecting for a while, even though Irish supporters may have been taken aback on a Monday morning when they heard the news. Irish winger Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe clarified that they had maintained their strategy and worked hard on executing their plans, resulting in triumph. There was strong belief and determination within the team to deliver a stellar performance and they proved this with their results.
Following this win and a recent one against the Wallaroos in Belfast, the morale amongst the Irish team is off the roof, giving them a boost as they prepare for the second-round hurdle with Canada. Surpassing New Zealand over the weekend with a formidable win against France, Canada, where the elite tier of the tournament is hosted, now stands as the second-highest ranked team worldwide.
Though the victory over New Zealand lends confidence to the team, Ireland’s defence coach Hugh Hogan maintains that they remain areas for enhancement. He lauds the team’s composed approach and tenacity, their inflexible commitment to the plan and their capacity to cope with the challenges posed by New Zealand. He, however, adds that there will always be scope for refinement, especially in their defence and layers to their attacks which they intend to work on during the contest.
With only six days to adapt for their match against Canada on Saturday (at 11.45pm Ireland time), Hogan indicates that the team has moved on swiftly.
The dedication and rigour that the girls show away from the field is remarkable – they exhibit exceptional assiduity. It ensures that when we face the field, we are clear-headed and able to direct our attention towards key aspects of the upcoming weekend’s game. Nonetheless, Canada has displayed a strong sense of assurance in their gaming tactics, a fact highlighted by Hogan. Their 46-24 triumph over France in the first round exemplifies this. Therefore, we certainly hold considerable esteem for their playing strategy. We are well aware that we are in for a challenging clash, where we will be required to stand tall and show our mettle.