Edel McMahon: 'We want to be heading to London' at RWC

RTÉ News​

a day ago

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon says the finals weekend is their target, as their preparations begin for the Rugby World Cup later this year.
The Ireland squad are in their second week of pre-season training ahead of the World Cup, with their Pool C opener against Japan in just over 10 weeks, on Sunday 24 August, and the first of two warm-up games on 2 August against Scotland.
Ireland face Japan, Spain and defending champions New Zealand in the pool, and should they progress, they'll take on one of France, Italy, South Africa or Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Northampton and Brighton will be the venues for Ireland in the pool stage, with Bristol and Exeter the two potential locations in the quarters and semis.
But with Twickenham set to host both the final and third-place play-off, McMahon says making it to the final weekend of the tournament is their North Star.
"We want to be on the road to Twickenham. We want to be heading to London," she told the RTE Rugby podcast.
"I think every team that goes to a World Cup wants to try and achieve that and I definitely think that squad is certainly capable of that.
"We've said openly as a squad that we want to be heading to Twickenham."
Having finished with third in the Guinness Women's Six Nations earlier this year, Ireland's World Cup preparations hit a bump with the surprise departure of defence coach Hugh Hogan.
The former Leinster and Scarlets assistant has been in place since last summer, and has been replaced in the group by former England U20 and Coventry coach James Scaysbrook, a former team-mate of head coach Scott Bemand at Bath.
"Obviously, we have a lot of respect for Hugh and wish him well," McMahon added. "As a squad, we really valued the input he gave to us.
"With James coming in, it's trying to get that continuity. We had a very good sit-down with James to talk about what his principles are, and what he's looking to bring in, to bring his stamp in on the squad, but also keep some principles the same, and where he thinks he can develop and push our defence even further.
"He's got a couple of cool ideas that I think the squad are looking forward to doing.
"It's been a work in progress, getting to know him. He actually shares a very similar pattern in many ways to the way we're playing as a squad.
"He's done a lot of work over the breakdown with the back rows and centres today, so I'm really looking forward to seeing his passion filter through the squad."
Ireland had been on track for their best Six Nations since 2020 before their final round defeat to Scotland at The Hive, losing 26-19 following a Francesca McGhie try with the final play of the game.
Comprehensive wins against Italy and Wales ensured Ireland still finished in the top half of the table, while they also put in encouraging performances in defeat to France and England.
Back row Brittany Hogan joined McMahon on the RTÉ Rugby podcast, and believes that game is a cautionary take for them as they turn towards the World Cup.
"I don't know if it was complacency within the squad, Scotland were just really up to that game, and full credit to them. They performed exceptionally on the day," Hogan (below) said.
"It was just one of those days you can learn from, but we're still pretty confident after it."
Having shocked the world last September with a famous win against New Zealand in WXV, Hogan says this Irish team are no longer being treated like minnows.
"We have been considered underdogs in the past and people wouldn't respect us or wouldn't know exactly the style we play in defence or attack, our tactics.
"Even at the start, when Scott came in, people didn't realise how good our team was. Once we started believing in each other, once we developed a good culture off the field that wanted to work hard for each other on the field, our tactics married up and it got some performances on the pitch that we were very proud of.
"That takes away the element of surprise and I suppose in the Six Nations, we did come away disappointed afterwards. Because we were so successful in WXV and the way we were growing, and the trajectory we were going on, our goal was to achieve that one place higher, to beat Scotland at the end.
"We can't fault what we did, the glimpses of excellence that we had, we were so close to beating France, who we might meat in the World Cup, which is really important for us, to know we could beat them.
"That just gives us that confidence. Yes, OK, they beat us, but we're still confident that if we met them in the World Cup, we would be able to do a job.
"The first 50 minutes against England, if that doesn't give you confidence, I don't know what would. We really held it up too those two teams."