England's Jones and Bern Call for Improvement After 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 September's World Cup final against Canada, secured their 34th consecutive Test win thanks to two tries from Bern and one each from Amy Cockayne, Jess Breach, and Ellie Kildunne. Although they 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 England did not perform at their best. 'Given the nerves that naturally come with starting a major campaign on the heels of a World Cup win, I think we did well to find our footing,' Jones told the BBC. 'We've always wanted to play in front of large crowds, and today we got that. We'll undoubtedly refine our performance, but for now, I'm incredibly proud of the team.' As England's captain for the first time, with Zoe Stratford among four absent players due to pregnancy, Jones reflected on the experience, saying, 'I'll likely take some time to reflect on the day's events, from the excitement of walking out of the tunnel to singing the national anthem.' With only seven players from England's World Cup-winning team participating, Bern recognized that the new-look side would face challenges. 'We have a new mix of players, including several young ones, so we didn't expect a flawless performance,' Bern said. 'There were aspects to celebrate and others that warrant reflection. However, the electric atmosphere in the stadium was a significant factor in helping us secure the win.'