Alison Miller: Beating Black Ferns will inspire World Cup tilt

As they prepare for the pool stages of next month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup at the UCD Bowl, Ireland winger Alison Miller believes they can take inspiration from their historic 2014 win over New Zealand.

With just 12 teams competing in the tournament, winning all three group games is the best way for Ireland to secure a place in the semi-finals, and Miller revealed that this was the squad’s attitude heading into that groundbreaking encounter with the Black Ferns three years ago.

“The way the Women’s Rugby World Cup is designed, the pools are so competitive. You have to win your games. I think back then we knew we had to beat New Zealand. It wasn’t a matter that we couldn’t beat them. If we wanted to progress, we just had to beat New Zealand. That game was hugely historic,” Miller remarked yesterday.