Ireland women's incredible turnaround can be crowned with victory over Scotland

Extra.ie​

26-04-2025

The size of the improvement of the Ireland women's team and the speed with which it has taken place makes this one of the most remarkable turnarounds in the history of Irish rugby.
You think of Mick Doyle transforming the men's team from Wooden Spoon whipping boys in 1984 to Triple Crown champions the following year; Munster going from a semi-pro rag-taggle outfit in the late 1990s to one of the most feared club sides in Europe under Declan Kidney; and, of course, the stunning and rapid rise of Connacht under Pat Lam in 2015-16, from Irish afterthoughts to Celtic League champions in the space of a few months.
The Ireland women's team is in that territory now. It does not seem that long since every story surrounding women's rugby in this country came with a negative slant. Cliodhna Moloney during the Women's Six Nations game between Ireland and France at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Pic: Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile
A wretched run of international results was accompanied by disparaging remarks by male officials, angry letters and petitions to the IRFU, tales of offfield indiscipline, pre-match protests and players togging out next to rat-infested wheelie bins.
It was hard going, for all concerned and all too fresh in the memory. But the belated decision to put some investment and logical planning (such as the re-inclusion of the Sevens stars) into the game has reaped returns which, if we are being truthful, have far exceeded expectations.
There was, inevitably, an element of catch-up, given the head-start countries like England and France had in terms of professionalism, but Ireland closed the gap rapidly ? most obviously with their stunning win over New Zealand in the WXV1 last year.
There is an encouraging sense of progression around this squad and the more time spent on proper preparation, the more evidence of improvement.
Ireland look like a proper, well-coached team playing a brand of rugby that is easy on the eye, while throwing up names like Béibhínn Parsons, Erin King, Aoife Wafer and Aoife Dalton with genuine star quality that capture the imagination of young supporters in particular. Ireland head coach Scott Bemand. Pic: INPHO/Ben Brady
Scott Bemand has done an excellent job since taking over as head coach and, while their two defeats at home to France and England were decisive, Ireland rattled their better resourced opponents on both occasions with no sense of them being completely out of their depth, as had happened in the not-too-distant past.
The wins away to Italy and Wales, by 54-12 and 40-14 were excellent reaffirmation that this team is on the right path and today they seek to cement their status as the third best team in Europe when they take on Scotland at The Hive in Edinburgh.
The Scots are in the middle of their own rebuilding process but further back than Ireland and, after a decent opening win at home to Wales in their first outing, have shipped heavy defeats to France and England as well as a scrappy loss at home to Italy.
They have targeted this game in a big way – mindful of the fact that they romped to a 36-10 win in the corresponding fixture two years ago – and also aware that the visitors are without their marquee trio of Parsons, Wafer and King.
However, even minus their biggest names, Ireland are a completely different proposition to the team of 2023 and, while they will not fall into the trap of underestimating the challenge posed by their hosts, there is an air of confidence hovering over this squad which is compelling. Ireland's Erin King (r) is unavailable for the clash against Scotland. Pic: INPHO/Travis Prior
'We want to win and we want to put big scores up against teams,' said centre Dalton this week. 'We've had two wins out of four now and have put in some good performances. At the same time, two years ago we lost over there and with the nature of it being the last game, they are at home, they've one win, so they'll come out all guns blazing at the start and we have to be ready for that.
'I think we're really excited. We've targeted all the away games. Over the last five years, we've probably had a pretty bad away record so we want to try and rewrite that narrative and hopefully get a win.'
They should be able to achieve that ambition this afternoon, although the Scots will put up stern resistance at home.
Ireland loosehead prop Niamh O'Dowd has been one of the big success stories with this team and encapsulates the drive and confidence coursing through the squad.
'It's been building for the last year and a half, two years,' O'Dowd tells us. 'There's a real positivity in the group and especially with some of the results we got in WXV and then the wins we've had away from home in the Six Nations. There's definitely a lot of positivity in the group, and everyone just wants to get out and play at the weekend. We've got girls winning their first caps, so it's all very positive and very exciting.'
'These games against Scotland, they're always a very competitive affair and going to the Hive is never an easy task,' O'Dowd said. 'They have very good support up there. We know what they are like. They're a very organized outfit, have a lot of experienced players, and plenty of caps.
'We know what we're going into. We're excited to bring a good performance there.'
Ireland have unfinished buisiness with the World Cup having failed to qualify last time and losing today would be a major morale blow ahead of their redemption mission later this year.
That should focus minds for a big finish to the season.