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

Megan Jones and Sarah Bern conceded that England still have 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 achieved a bonus-point win in front of a record-breaking Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium, Jones acknowledged that the team's performance was not flawless. 'Given the nerves associated with starting a major campaign after a successful World Cup, I think there were always going to be some jitters,' Jones said in an interview with the BBC. 'We aspired to play in front of large crowds, and that's exactly what we did 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 team.' Jones led the team for the first time, filling in for World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford, who is currently pregnant with her first child. 'Tonight, I'll likely take some time to reflect on the experience,' Jones added. 'Walking out of the tunnel was incredible, with the crowd and the anthem – it was a truly special moment.' With only seven players from England's World Cup final win at Twickenham last autumn in the lineup, Bern recognized that the revamped team would need time to gel. 'We have a new set of players, and a lot of young talent has been introduced,' Bern said. 'We didn't expect a perfect performance, and there were aspects that we're delighted with, while others require reflection. However, the electric atmosphere in the stadium was a huge factor in helping us secure the win.'