England's Jones and Bern Identify Areas for Improvement After Convincing Win

England's Megan Jones and Sarah Bern acknowledged that their team has room for improvement, despite kicking off their Women's Six Nations campaign with a resounding 33-12 victory over Ireland. The world champions, who last played in the World Cup final against Canada in September, secured their 34th consecutive Test win thanks to two tries from Bern and one each from Amy Cockayne, Jess Breach, and Ellie Kildunne. Although England emerged victorious in front of a record-breaking Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium, Jones conceded that the team's performance was not flawless. "There were naturally going to be some nerves at the start of a major campaign following our incredible World Cup win," Jones told the BBC. "We aspired to play in front of large crowds, and that's exactly what we got today. We found a way to win, which is what defines a successful team. I'm sure we'll refine our performance, but I'm incredibly proud of the girls." As England's captain for the first time, with Zoe Stratford among four players absent due to pregnancy, Jones reflected on her experience, saying, "I'll probably take some time to think about it tonight. Walking out of the tunnel was amazing, seeing all the fans and singing our national anthem." With only seven players from England's World Cup-winning team participating, Bern recognized that the new-look side would need time to gel. "We have a new combination of players and a lot of young talent. We knew it wouldn't be perfect, and we didn't expect it to be," Bern said. "There were aspects that we were delighted with, and others that we'll definitely review. However, the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, and that always helps us push through to the finish line."