Women’s Rugby World Cup: Quick starts for Ireland will be about ‘mentality’ says Claire Boles

Flanker Claire Boles says Ireland must “start faster” in their World Cup opener against Japan in Northampton on Sunday.

Scott Bemand’s side had one win and one defeat in their two warm-up fixtures before the tournament but were noticeably slow off the mark in both.

They were 14-0 down against Scotland in Cork before coming back to win, then left themselves far too much to do in a 47-26 loss to Canada in Belfast after falling 33-7 behind.

Boles feels Ireland can “work on” making faster starts but believes the improvement against Canada in the second half at least showed the team’s ability to adapt to challenges.

“It is definitely a mentality thing,” she said.

“We can train that as well, so we’re looking at that too.

“Especially the first game, you have to be off the blocks so we’re definitely looking at that.”

While Scotland and Wales, as well as France and Italy, have been paired together in the pool stages, Ireland are the only Six Nations side in their group which also includes New Zealand and Spain.

Boles, however, says Ireland are familiar with Japan from their tour to the country in 2022.

“They’re a fast team, they’re very disciplined. We know if they get their discipline right and get their structure, they’re a good side,” she said.

“I think we like the group. We’ve played New Zealand before [in WXV1 in November, Spain in WXV3 the year before that and went to Japan as well.

“So we have played them. You don’t play them every single year, but it’s not like we’re going in there fresh.”