It's not even a full year since the second chapter of the new Ireland resurgence began and Edel McMahon wants to use upcoming warm-up games as a similar springboard into the Women’s World Cup.
Ireland, under head coach Scott Bemand had picked up the WXV3 title in 2023 and the following spring claimed third place in the Six Nations, a finish that was enough for World Cup qualification.
There had been clear signs of improvement from the side that finished the 2023 Six Nations with the wooden spoon.
But another version of Ireland emerged in the 36-10 victory over the Wallaroos in Belfast last September.
Boosted by a number of Sevens players, including Erin King, Stacey Flood and Eve Higgins, the hosts racked up six tries in a statement win.
A few weeks later the team added the scalps of double World Cup winners New Zealand and USA in WVX1.
The inspirational King and in-form Dorothy Wall have both since been ruled out of the 22 August to 27 September tournament in England through injury but co-captain McMahon says the 2 August clash with Scotland, and the meeting with Canada a week later can set the team up the showpiece tournament.
"There was huge anticipation before that Australia game to see where the squad had gone from the Six Nations," McMahon told RTÉ Sport’s Michael Corcoran.
"We had new players coming into the squad who were [getting] experienced in 15s and had been playing a lot of 15s over the summer.
"For that game to kick off so well and the result to be so good really tied together everything we’d been working hard at training and propelled us well, momentum-wise in WXV1.
"For the warm-up games it’s about some players getting back on the field and getting that confidence again, looking at different combinations.
"It’s about us as a squad knowing what we need to get out of the games to give us momentum going into the World Cup."
Ireland, ranked fifth in the world, are in Pool C and face Japan and Spain in Northampton before a rematch with the Black Ferns in Brighton.
The squad trained recently in Ennis, Co Clare, McMahon’s home territory with Béibhinn Parsons and Sam Monaghan, both of whom had suffered injuries over the last year, among those pictured going through their paces.
Star back row Aoife Wafer has returned to training after a knee issue but is not expected to feature ahead of the World Cup.
Exeter back row forward McMahon says that training is gradually increasing in intensity as players compete for a spot in Bemand’s squad.
"Training is tough but it can be really fun when it’s rugby-based," said the 31-year-old Kilmihil woman, who has 34 international caps, speaking at the Canterbury and Elverys launch of the new Ireland kit.
"A lot of pre-season is a blend of bringing rugby into conditioning, into the gym to make it fun. It is about playing the sport.
"There has been a good bite to training for all of pre-season.
"On the horizon, everyone knows that selection is coming and everything wants to put their best foot forward.
"At training last week, even if players are doing well against you, we’re supporting each other but people are given the green light and it’s OK to have that bit of edge because that’s what you need to compete."
The new Ireland no longer travel to make up numbers and despite a disheartening defeat to Scotland at the end of the Six Nations, wins over Wales and Italy, and a fine performance against France demonstrated that the team are on the right track.
Continuing that upward trend in England is important, says McMahon.
She said: "It's huge. It comes as part of us wanting to inspire a generation of young girls to pick up rugby.
"Along with that inspiration has to come success so it is important for us to continue with success but also to enjoy playing rugby and to be playing a good brand of rugby and show it’s something to be involved in.
"With that, to get the next generation hooked and say, I want to pick up a rugby ball or be a professional women’s player."
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