England's Jones and Bern Reflect on Room for Improvement After Convincing Win

England's Megan Jones and Sarah Bern acknowledged that there is still work to be done, despite the team's convincing 33-12 victory over Ireland in their Women's Six Nations campaign opener. The win, which marked their 34th consecutive Test victory, was secured through two tries from Bern and one each from Amy Cockayne, Jess Breach, and Ellie Kildunne. In their first match since winning the World Cup in September, England played in front of a record-breaking Women's Six Nations crowd of 77,120 at Allianz Stadium. However, Jones accepted that the team did not perform at their best. "Nerves were inevitable going into a major campaign after an incredible World Cup," the England captain said. "We wanted to play in front of large crowds, and that's exactly what we did today. We found our rhythm, which is what winning teams do. I'm sure we'll refine our performance, but I'm extremely proud of the girls." Jones led the team for the first time, taking over from World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford, who is currently pregnant with her first child. Bern noted that with a new combination of players, including several young talents, it was unrealistic to expect a flawless performance. "We knew it wouldn't be perfect, and we didn't expect it to be," Bern said. "There were aspects to celebrate and others that we'll reflect on. However, the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, and that always helps us cross the finish line."