Lynne Cantwell is expecting Ireland to make a fast start at the Women's Rugby World Cup this week, but believes Scott Bemand’s side will have one eye on defending champions New Zealand later in the pool.
Ireland open up their Pool C campaign against Japan at Franklin’s Gardens in Northampton on Sunday (12pm, live on RTÉ 2 and RTÉ Player), with games against Spain and the Black Ferns to follow on 31 August and 7 September.
While Ireland are competing in their first World Cup since 2017, Bemand’s side are favoured to get out of the pool and make it to the knockout stage along with New Zealand, who won the tournament when it was last played in 2022.
Before those sides meet in Brighton in two and a half weeks, Ireland know they can lock in their quarter-final sport with wins against the 'Sakura Fifteen’ and Spain.
And the IRFU’s head of women’s strategy Cantwell is expecting this Irish team to hit the ground running at Franklin’s Gardens.
"Where their eyes will be set will be whether they come first in the pool or second in the pool because that will dictate the quarter-final that they have," Cantwell, who played in four World Cups for Ireland, told RTE Sport.
"Historically the New Zealands and Englands, it’s the quarter or semi-finals that they’re peaking for.
"It’s different tactics for different teams. I think Ireland will want to start fast. If they win the first two games they’re automatically qualified."
Just over a year ago, the notion that Ireland could compete with the defending world champions seemed fanciful, before they stunned New Zealand at WXV in Canada last September.
Ireland’s improvements in the last 18 months could potentially be offset by key injuries to Dorothy Wall and Erin King, as well as a change of defence coach.
But Cantwell still believes this Ireland side can go toe-to-toe with the Black Ferns in a bid to top the pool, and potentially secure an easier quarter-final.
"That New Zealand game will be massive. I think they’ll be going after that New Zealand game for them to top the pool, it means they avoid France in the quarters.
"I think everybody is trying to find their way. Ireland played Scotland and Canada [in their warm-up games] but even in those games they were trying different combinations, they weren't necessary peaking, and it’s really hard watching these warm-up games and trying to scrutinise who will peak and who is not, like we all do before a World Cup.
"I think they will start fast, but we spoke before about Scott Bemand, who is an ambitious and competitive head coach. He has goals for this team to go far within this World Cup, and therefore he will be looking beyond the pools to see how far they will get."
With ticket sales for the tournament already hitting 375,000 for the tournament, and the final at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham officially sold-out, the attendance for the 2025 World Cup is set to dwarf that of New Zealand three years ago.
And while short term success is important, Cantwell believes the IRFU have to ensure this World Cup is also maximised in the longer term, given her current role in Irish rugby.
"I think it’s great, it’s practically a home World Cup, like the Paris Olympics. What you hope to do is get lots of supporters going over and the ticket sales are great at the moment.
"More importantly, locally back home it’s ‘How do we maximise the reach through the coverage?’
"Through RTE and the media and the storis we can tell, the watch parties that will happen and the sponsorship, the work they will do to maximise the visibility, to make sure that the girls get the support and can feel the support, and can be a 24th man or woman in the audience.
"But also, that we can really impact the domestic game and really bring that World Cup to the armchairs back home, in the parishes that are budding women’s rugby communities.
"It’s not an easy ride in the community game at all – men’s or women’s. In the women’s game it’s lots of brilliant volunteers that are trying their best to push it, but sometimes it’s hard.
"So having what is practically a home World Cup just gives lots of people energy and excitement about what’s possible in the future."
Watch Ireland v Japan in the Rugby World Cup on Sunday from 11.30am on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to live radio commentary on 2fm
