Ireland dismiss debate that they could go easy against Black Ferns

Ruby Tui, a World Cup winner with New Zealand in 2022, broached the topic of Ireland taking their foot off the gas against the Black Ferns. 

Ireland's Fiona Tuite scores her side's fourth try of the match against Japan. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Ireland have shot down the suggestion that they would consider ‘holding back’ in their final Pool C game against New Zealand in the event that they qualify for the quarter-finals with a game to spare by beating Spain next week.

The win against Japan in Sunday’s opener leaves them just 80 minutes shy of that knockout stages and that would undoubtedly give them breathing space prior to what would be a knockout tie against either France or Italy next month.

Ruby Tui, a star of New Zealand’s winning World Cup team in 2022 who is on BBC punditry duties here after being omitted from the Black Ferns squad, broached this on live TV after England’s opening night defeat of the USA in Sunderland.

Tui made a reference to suggestions on an earlier BBC radio show to the effect that Ireland might not go full pelt against the world champions so that they could be better equipped to face the French in a likely last eight tie a week later.

There was a confusing mention of “the Ireland camp”, a debate as to whether this was some form of double bluff on the part of the Six Nations side, and the need for New Zealand to be tested properly before they progress into the quarters.

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand was emphatic in tackling all that.

“She hasn’t heard that from anyone in Ireland,” he said with a smile. “We’ve been away [from the World Cup] for seven years (sic). We’ll take this competition seriously, we’ll give it the respect it’s due and we’ll compete for every moment within this competition.

“People will look and say, if we get the Spain game right, what do we do with that New Zealand game? No, no, we want to take people with us. We want to show we’ve evolved as a programme and doing that by taking every game seriously.” 

Bemand was asked if it was disappointing to hear that a figure with Tui’s profile should be discussing second or third-hand whispers live on national UK TV, but here again the Englishman showed an assured hand in defusing a potential bomb.

“I'm not too worried. People are talking about the game. It evokes emotion, evokes strong opinion. I will continue to just focus on us. We'll get the bits that we need to get right, right, and we'll try to be a bit better next week.”