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

Megan Jones and Sarah Bern conceded that England have room for improvement, despite kicking off their Women's Six Nations campaign with a resounding 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 acknowledged that England did not perform at their best. "Nerves were inevitable going into a major campaign after an incredible World Cup," Jones told 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 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, filling in for World Cup-winning captain Zoe Stratford, who is currently pregnant with her first child. Jones reflected, "I'll probably take some time to reflect tonight. Walking out of the tunnel was amazing, with everyone cheering and singing the 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 mix of players and a lot of young talent, so we knew it wouldn't be perfect, and we didn't expect it to be," Bern said. "There were some aspects to celebrate, and others that we'll definitely review. However, the atmosphere in the stadium was fantastic, and that always helps us get the job done."