Ireland women’s rugby head coach Scott Bemand is not resting on his laurels after a dominant win over Japan, insisting the performance was good but the scoreline should have been even bigger.
Bemand was in upbeat mood after the result but made clear he thinks his squad left serious points out on the pitch. “The score should have been in the 50s, perhaps even pushing 60,” he said, a comment that speaks volumes about where he believes this team is heading.
For a coach to come out after a big win and talk about what was left behind, rather than simply celebrating the result, shows the kind of standards Ireland are now setting for themselves. This is not a squad happy to just get over the line. They want more.
The win over Japan was convincing by any measure, but Bemand pointed to missed opportunities and execution errors that prevented Ireland from really putting the game to bed in the kind of fashion he expects. The margin was there, but the performance had enough rough edges to give the coaching staff plenty to work on.
What stands out from Bemand’s reaction is the confidence behind it. He is not papering over cracks or managing expectations downward. He genuinely believes this group of players has another level to reach, and that the Japan game was a step in the right direction rather than the finished product.
Ireland have been building steadily under Bemand, and there is a growing sense that the women’s team is developing real depth and consistency. The attacking intent on show against Japan was clear, and when it clicked it looked sharp and direct. The frustration from the coaching side seems to be that it did not click often enough.
For the players, hearing their coach say the score should have been higher is both a challenge and a compliment. It means he trusts them to deliver more. It means the ceiling he sees for this team is higher than what was shown on the day.
Japan are no pushovers on the international stage, so the result itself carries genuine weight. But Ireland will move forward from this one knowing they have more to give, and with a coach who is pushing them to find it.
The mood around the camp appears positive, and with Bemand driving standards higher after every performance, Ireland women’s rugby looks to be in a strong place heading into the next stages of their campaign.
Bit of a bold claim mate, they didn’t though did they lol. Classic coach talk, always easier to say what could’ve happened after the fact. Still reckon Ireland have a decent squad this year though.