Given the resounding success of yesterday's first standalone Ireland women’s rugby game at Aviva Stadium, it seems inevitable that Scott Bemand’s side will return to Lansdowne Road next year.
With England and France the home games for Ireland in 2027, it’s expected that one of the Six Nations big-hitters will be hosted at the Aviva, with Galway’s Dexcom Stadium likely to stage the other, after a successful first trip to the Sportsground last month.
The 31,294 attendance yesterday is more than three times the previous record which had been set at the Dexcom against Italy earlier in this championship, with Ireland delivering a result and performance to match the occasion as they trounced Scotland 54-5, scoring seven of their eight tries in a blistering first half.
For captain Erin King, delivering that performance on the big day was particularly pleasing.
"We've talked for a few years about wanting to come and play here, but wanting to come and make an occasion and come in and get bums on seats. We got to do that today," King said, after yesterday’s win.
"I think we're going to be back here next year. I don't know what game it's going to be for the moment.
"But yeah, I think we showed today that we can perform in high-pressure situations.
"There was a bit of pressure on us coming to the Aviva for the first time and we wanted to entertain people.
"We wanted to put in a performance and I think we can say that we went out and did that.
"So it would be great to come back here next year and hopefully put in another performance against one of them teams."
The manner in which the team dealt with the pressure and profile of the week can’t be overstated.
The IRFU ramped up their media duties across the week, with the majority of questions naturally focusing on the size and significance of the occasion rather than the nuts and bolts of how Ireland could or would beat Scotland.
With the Scots coming into the game off the back of three tough defeats, Ireland could have been walking into a trap if they failed to strike the balance between leaning into the occasion and taking their eye off the task at hand.
And with King (below) still new to the role of captaincy, the 22-year-old shared the burden across the week.
"Obviously I'm learning as I go, but I'm really lucky to be surrounded by a really good leadership group. I think I learned from week one to delegate and share the workload, and I have so much support around me all the time," she added.
"I'm the face of it, but I've got a great vice-captain in Fiona Tuite, who really supports me, and Dannah O’Brien and myself, we work hand-in-hand and she's always there to help me with the on-pitch stuff.
"And the coaches, Scott's [head coach Scott Bemand] been so helpful, pretty patient.
"I don't think I've been perfect, but that's all part of it, and I've really enjoyed it and learned to enjoy it, and I just feel really, really honoured to get to do this role.
"I feel really special that I get to lead these girls out, and I do genuinely enjoy their company and enjoy spending time with the team.
"I never lose sight of the reason why I'm playing, that is because I love it.
"I normally do have a smile on my face because there's no place I'd rather be."
While King represents the very young core that this Ireland team still has, Bemand has taken a slightly more conservative approach with his team selections across the championship.
Twelve players started every game, with the same starting front row, back row and half-back combinations, but there has been room for some new faces, with tighthead prop Eilís Cahill, scrum-half Katie Whelan, wing Robyn O’Connor (below) and full-back Niamh Gallagher.
O’Connor was the breakout star, scoring two tries in her four starts, including one yesterday against Scotland, although the 20-year-old's celebrations would be tempered somewhat, as she has to sit a college exam today.
"I guess that just sums it up," King smiled, when asked about O’Connor’s extra commitments.
"Our squad is so young, which is so exciting. The likes of Dannah O'Brien and Aoife Dalton, they're 22 and 23. Robyn is only 20. Some of our star players are so young. Even Aoife Wafer [23].
"It's so exciting that we have got all these years ahead of us to get better and keep growing. We all love playing together, which is great as well. We're so lucky to have such talent coming through.
"There's even more people that I got to play with in the Celtic Challenge that you haven't seen yet.
"Women's rugby in Ireland is in a really good place and it is only going up."
