Wafer believes another third place finish represents improvement on 2024

“Finishing third, it would obviously technically be the same result but competing with the likes of France, I know we probably should've beaten France, and then competing with the likes of England who are the best in the world currently and competing with them for 50 minutes; obviously the scoreline got away from us then, but we want to close that gap on France and England and pull away from the others and I think this campaign can be really successful still, for us."

Aer Lingus ambassador Aoife Wafer. Aer Lingus, Official Airline of Irish Rugby for 10 years, will bring #HomeAdvantage to Ireland’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations Championship this year, by supporting the team’s travel to away games in Italy, Wales and Scotland. The airline will also proudly fly many of the Irish team's dedicated supporters to these away games. Pic: ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan

Aoife Wafer believes finishing third in the Guinness Women’s Six Nations can still represent an improvement on 2024, even if it only matches Ireland’s closing position from 12 months ago.

Last Saturday’s 49-5 defeat by England in Cork was Ireland’s second loss in three championship matches having narrowly succumbed to France in the opening round in Belfast. Yet Scott Bemand’s side more than held their own for the opening 50 minutes having led 5-0 through an Amee-Leigh Costigan try on 24 minutes and kept the defending champions and world number one-ranked English scoreless for 34 minutes.