Virgin Media Park on a sun soaked Saturday evening with over 6000 fans in tow. There truly was no other place hooker Neve Jones would rather be as Ireland complete their first home victory in 2 years.
But this win did not come easy for the Girls in Green after back-to-back defeats at the hands of championship contenders France and a vastly improved Italian side. Speaking to the media after the clash Jones noted how they have taken these losses on board and how they are moving forward as a collective squad.
I think that over the past weeks against the French and the Italians, we've really put a lot of paving stones down and I think this week we really pushed each other in training, we done our analysis and that kind if thing and it just really proved today. We knew it was coming we just had to work hard to get there. We are constantly pushing each other to be better so to have it start to kick and work out for us is just so great to be apart of.
But the win last weekend wasn't the only surprise that hit the camp as Bemand also welcomed back the experienced Cliodhna Moloney from a two-year international hiatus. But Jones noted that this addition didn't phase her and instead was an asset not just to her to but to the team as a whole.
Yeah listen Cli is a brilliant player and I've always looked up to her from a very young age. It's great to have her back in camp, she's got a vast knowledge of experience and she really helps both myself and the other hookers that are in the team as well as the whole entire front row so it is great to have her there as the brains behind things.
READ MORE: Bemand Beaming Over First Ireland Home Win In Two Years
Up next for Ireland is a trip to the English capital as they take on Bemand's previous employers, the Red Roses, in what is close to being a sell-out game. Like many on the squad young Neve is currently playing her club rugby in the PWR as she lines out for Gloucester-Hartpury. So this match up in Twickenham will feel all too familiar as she faces off against a number of her own teammates. Speaking about the familiarity that will be ahead, Jones said:
I know quite a few of the English girls myself and same with the Welsh so it's always nice to play against teammates that you play with at club level
But overall Jones is relishing in the fact that they are getting the opportunity to play in a packed out Twickenham and states how it is showing the overall growth of the game.
We're looking forward to it. I know there has been a lot of tickets been sold and it is good to see and again it is just showing where the women's game is going and I know we can't wait to take to the field next week.
With the game continuing to grow across the globe Jones noted the importance of the 6139 fans that showed up to Virgin Media Park and how it was their support that drove them on for the 80 minutes.
I think the fans last year were brilliant. They were buzzing to see us after the game last year regardless of the score and to be able to put on a performance for them to still be as buzzed about it this year is so great to see. You could just see their little faces light up as you went over to them to sign bits of paper and jerseys and take photos and it was just so great to see. It just shows what we are about. We're about not just growing ourselves as a team but also growing the next generation coming up.
It will be a tough task for Bemand and co this weekend as they step up to take on the absolute force that is the Red Roses but they are not shying away from the challenge as they aim to keep their current 3rd place slot on the table and keep their eye on that all-important World Cup qualification.
