England's Jones and Bern Seek Improvement Following Convincing Win

Megan Jones and Sarah Bern acknowledged that England have room for improvement, despite kicking off their Women's Six Nations campaign with a decisive 33-12 victory over Ireland. In their first match since claiming the World Cup title by defeating Canada in September, England 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 admitted that England did not perform at their best. "There were naturally some nerves heading into a major campaign after an incredible World Cup," Jones told the BBC. "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 incredibly proud of the team." Jones led the side for the first time, as World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford was among four England players absent due to pregnancy. Jones reflected, "I'll probably take some time to think about it tonight. Walking out of the tunnel was amazing, seeing the crowd and singing the national anthem." With only seven players from England's World Cup final win at Twickenham last autumn in the lineup, Bern recognized that a new-look team would take time to gel. "We have a new combination of players, with many young talents. We knew it wouldn't be perfect, and we didn't expect it to be," Bern said. "There were aspects we were thrilled about, and others we'll definitely review. However, the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, and that always helps us get the job done."