It's been a great Women's Rugby World Cup so far for Ireland, but now is when the competition goes to another level and Scott Bemand's team are capable of pushing on, starting with a big performance on Sunday.
Despite some flaws in the defeat of Spain, beating Las Leonas and getting out of the group stages would have been the first big objective for Bemand going into the tournament.
Ireland’s attack is in a really positive place.
They scored 43 points again last weekend, topping up their previous best World Cup points tally just a week earlier against Japan.
Albeit against the weaker sides in the pool, Ireland have the firepower in their pack and across the back line to score from multiple areas of the pitch.
Ireland have taken an early lead as Dannah O'Brien scores the game's first try
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Grace Moore ran an incisive line from another dummy maul play, something that Ireland are becoming known for, and she crossed the line at a time when Spain were mounting a comeback.
Between Eve Higgins and any of the Irish wingers, Ireland look like scoring every time they touch the ball.
Aoife Dalton is the glue between Higgins and her outside backs.
The centre regularly moves in a position to add some power to the power plays that Ireland run from the lineout.
They’re not depending on any one of their backs to finish the move.
Béibhinn Parsons was rested last weekend, and in her place Anna McGann continued her scoring form with a brace of tries.
Ireland's excellent response continues as Anna McGann gets try number four (24-12)
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Those outside-back positions are a real strength of Bemand’s side, and a difficult selection ahead for the coach.
While Ireland look free-flowing in attack, they conceded more points than they would have liked, especially when you’d like to build some confidence in your defence leading into a final group stage showdown with the Black Ferns, with a quarter-final after that.
Games will becomes much tougher, very quickly.
The sparring is over and it won’t be as easy to recover if they have stuttered through periods of the game.
Ireland’s spacing and decision-making close to the breakdown has allowed opposition teams to pick off easy yards.
Spain used their bulk up front to walk Ireland back into their 22, and faced little resistance once they got field position.
That led to scores that Ireland shouldn’t be giving up if they’re to beat the better teams in this tournament.
While Ireland’s narrow defence was exposed against Japan and in the warm-up games, they took a step forward last weekend.
It was the tighter defence where Spain targeted them and there are improvements to make.
However, points conceded isn’t always down to tackles missed or defensive errors.
The team made a number of unforced handling errors and needless penalty concessions that allowed Spain to get a foothold.
They also conceded possession from three of their restart receipts that they didn’t appropriately deal with.
That is an area that Bemand will tidy up during the week before they play the Black Ferns in Brighton on Sunday (2.45pm, live on RTÉ).
If Ireland score and get a foothold, they can’t let such a dominant side into the game that easily by handing territory and possession back.
Yet, with the improvements that Ireland will need to make, they’ve been pretty comfortable so far in the tournament.
Despite Sam Monaghan’s injury in the second round, and her importance from a leadership perspective, Ireland have a hugely competitive squad and many selections headaches ahead of two more games.
Ellena Perry (below) has most likely played her way into the team for next weekend.
Bemand spoke about bringing Perry into the squad in the right way.
The former England prop was used from the bench a few times before getting her first start and rewarded Bemand with a player of the match display.
Her experience with the Red Roses could now push her into the starting position considering her recent performances too.
You could toss a coin to select the hooker position, and Ireland’s back-five positions are hugely competitive.
Hopefully Monaghan will recover this week in time to line out against New Zealand, Edel McMahon should also come back in and Brittany Hogan is nailed on to start at number 8.
If Monaghan is to lose out, Ireland could still push Fiona Tuite back to the second row with Grace Moore retaining a role in the back row.
There are plenty of options for the head coach.
There are even enough for him to consider leaving Monaghan (above) out ahead of the quarter-final against France or South Africa.
I’d expect Aoibeann Reilly to come back in to start, with Dannah O’Brien, Higgins, Dalton, Stacey Flood and Amee-Leigh Costigan retained.
Parsons is likely to return as well, despite McGann’s fine record.
The Galway flyer has done the same and offers Ireland serious pace and power in the back line.
Despite one or two unforced handling errors in open space, Flood has assisted tries every time she’s selected at full-back.
Her catch-pass ability in pressurised situations is definitely an attribute that unlocks the opposition defence and a big part of the reason why Ireland’s attack has been clicking.
O’Brien’s kicking game was another positive aspect of the Irish win.
Although she had a more difficult time off the tee, her tactical kicking has been excellent and her distance offers another threat for Ireland’s attack.
It means wingers will have to drop deeper and further from the opposition frontline defence, potentially offering more spaces on the edge for Ireland to attack.
There’s no doubt that Ireland will need to improve if they want to be competitive against the Black Ferns.
There’s less jeopardy now with Ireland already qualified for a quarter-final, but beating New Zealand would put them into a threatening position in this tournament and would reward them with the easier last-eight match.
Bemand and his coaching team will decide the best approach.
Will they risk everything against the Black Ferns, or will they hold something back to target a quarter-final performance?
It’s a difficult problem to solve, yet a very positive position to be in for Ireland.
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