Scott Bemand joined the Ireland coaching set up back in August 2023 with a task on his hands. Earlier that year Ireland had recorded their worst Six Nations finish in 19 years, unwantedly claiming the wooden spoon, had failed to qualify for the 2021 World Cup, and unsurprisingly, cracks were beginning to show between the players, the IRFU and the coaching team, including then head coach Greg McWilliams.
Many players have spoken about the culture change with ensued once Bemand entered the fray, and the belief he has instilled in the players that they can win any game, against any opposition.
And since the coaching shake-up, the rise that has enveloped the women in green has been nothing short of extraordinary.
With a third place finish in the 2024 Six Nations, qualification secured for this year’s World Cup, a place in the top tier of WXV, and a shock win over reigning world champions New Zealand at said competition, the team are rebuilding their image and reputation at some pace.
Whilst many have been surprised at their turn in form over the past 18 months, Bemand admits it has not come as a shock to him.
“The potential was there. So it’s about realising potential and we’re making strides. People are adapting quickly, growing fast, learning all the while. We’re not the finished article, we’re still a young group, there’s still an enormous amount to learn but we’re saying, ‘why wait? Why not now? Why not dare to think that it’s ready and you’re capable?’
“There’s all sorts of hard work going on from a plethora of areas behind the scenes whether it be physical, technical, tactical, but that work is starting to bear fruit.
“So overall, I’m not surprised but buoyed by how it’s going, buoyed by the momentum it seems to be creating. We’re not the finished product yet, there’s still plenty to go at, but I’m really excited for 2025.”
And with 37 centralised IRFU player contracts, and the ability to call on sevens and 15s talent, the only way is up according to the Englishman.
“Time together is a big thing and in my opinion how we’ve been able to successfully utilise the Celtic Challenge.
“It wasn’t that long ago when our name list wasn’t terribly deep. Now we have a depth chart, and we’re talking about fourth, fifth choices of talent coming through which hopefully with the right support will continue to thrive.
“The sevens program is probably more mature because that was the first dabble in the professional side of it, but now we’ve put the programmes together. So Irish women players aren’t either sevens players or 15s players.
“We have access to girls that have previously been in Olympic cycles and we’ve been able to embed them through the Celtic Challenge. It’s not out of a sevens environment to 15s and they’re expected to be brilliant, there’s an awful lot of learning around the game.
“Some haven’t played 15s for three years. So we’ve been able to embed them in the programme, in the game, and it’s going to be really exciting to see what they can do.”
After spending eight years with England as backs coach, where he helped the Red Roses win five Six Nations titles and four Grand Slams, the 46-year-old admitted the change from assistant to head coach was all part of a natural process for him in his career.
“There’s a natural evolution to these things anyway, and being a coach is no different to the players. We want to test ourselves.
“Obviously, I was really excited by the project that Ireland Rugby was looking to start. So, essentially, from that perspective, it was already turning.
“We’ve been able to add some unbelievable coaching talent to my group, which if you’ve got the right environment, you’ve got the right coaches, and you can challenge players and support them, they’ll keep getting better and better.
“A shout out to the coaching group that I’ve been able to put together. They’re working incredibly hard supporting and challenging these players, and we’re starting to hopefully see it on the pitch.”
With the Six Nations less than a week away, the prospect of Ireland facing two behemoth teams in the history of the tournament in England and France at home, with the on-pitch talent and coaching staff they can now call upon, who knows whether the exceptional up curve we’ve witnessed since Bemand’s tracksuit changed from white to green, can continue to head skyward, causing a few upsets along the way.
Ireland kick off their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign against France in Belfast on Saturday 22nd March.
