Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
Ireland’s Wafer Issues Challenge to England Ahead of Women’s Six Nations Clash
Ahead of their Women’s Six Nations match, Ireland’s back-row player Aoife Wafer has declared her team’s intent to unsettle England. In a video call from training, still in her kit and with strapping on her leg, Wafer conveyed a confident message to the reigning champions.
Confidence and Belief in Irish Camp
Speaking with assurance, Wafer articulated Ireland’s belief in their capacity to disrupt England’s long-standing dominance in the tournament. “We aim to demonstrate that Ireland is not just participating, but intends to challenge them directly,” the 22-year-old stated. “We have identified specific aspects of our gameplay that we believe will be effective and potentially surprise England. The team is eager and ready for the contest.”
Ireland’s Progression and Potential Upset
While historically, defeating England has been elusive for Ireland, their advancements over the past year suggest an upset is within reach. Despite a heavy defeat to England in April 2024, Ireland concluded the Six Nations tournament in third place. This performance secured their qualification for WXV 1, where they achieved a notable victory against New Zealand, the reigning world champions, with Wafer scoring twice in a 29-27 win, and also defeated the USA. In the current 2025 Women’s Six Nations, Ireland narrowly lost to France 27-15 in the opening rounds and secured their first away Six Nations victory since 2021 with a significant 54-12 win over Italy.
Factors Behind Ireland’s Improved Form
Wafer attributes this improved performance to several contributing factors. The Celtic Challenge competition has facilitated the development of player combinations. The return of “crucial” players from sevens rugby to the 15s format, and a cultural shift driven by leadership and culture lead, Sean Ryan, have also been instrumental. Wafer emphasizes the positive impact of the new coaching staff, including head coach Scott Bemand, formerly England’s backs coach, whose honest approach has been transformative.
Honesty and Direct Communication as Key
“They have significantly influenced our approach,” she explained. “It has accelerated our style of play. They bring a crucial element of honesty, unafraid to be direct, which permeates throughout the team.”
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She elaborated, “Previously, there might have been a hesitancy to speak candidly for fear of causing offense. However, now, as a group, we recognize the necessity of direct feedback when corrections are needed, even if it’s uncomfortable. This transparency is crucial for Ireland’s success.”
“It’s about honest evaluation, whether positive or negative. Celebrating successes, and diligently addressing areas for improvement.”
Adaptability Fuels Irish Team’s Success
These combined elements have contributed to significant victories. While improvements across various performance aspects are evident, Wafer highlights the team’s enhanced adaptability between matches as a key driver of results. According to Wafer, the 2024 Ireland’s player of the year, this adaptability was previously lacking but is now considered essential for sustained success.
Belief and Determination to Challenge England
She further stated, “We believe that on our best day, we are capable of defeating any team. This shift in mindset is significant – we all share this conviction. We acknowledge England’s top ranking, but we are confident in our ability to execute our game plan this Saturday. They are the top-ranked team, but we also have a point to prove.”
England’s Botterman Responds to Ireland’s Assertions
Responding from England’s Surrey training base at Pennyhill Park, prop Hannah Botterman addressed Wafer’s comments, suggesting actions will speak louder than words. Upon hearing Wafer’s message, Botterman remarked, “Every team expresses similar intentions. The crucial question is whether they can substantiate their words with actions. While we analyze our opponents, our primary focus remains internal, concentrating on our desired style of play.”
“It’s positive for Ireland and other teams to have increased belief. Historically, some teams may have entered matches with limited optimism. Ireland’s recent performances in WXV1 and this Six Nations will undoubtedly boost their confidence for this upcoming game. Our objective is to neutralize that confidence swiftly.”
Anticipation Builds for Cork Clash
A sold-out crowd is anticipated in Cork for the encounter against the favored English side. An Irish victory would not only cause a significant upset for England but also inject considerable dynamism into the tournament, potentially positioning Ireland as unexpected contenders for the title.