"A success at 48 nil, that show's where we are though doesn't it?", commented RTE host Daire O'Brien after Ireland's Six Nations loss to England at Musgrave Park this afternoon.
Can a 0-48 defeat honestly be positive? Given Ireland's results in the opening few rounds of the 2023 Six Nations versus the utter dominance England have had over their opponents, it some ways it can be. For context, England beat Wales - whom Ireland had lost to 31-5 - by a score line of 3-59.
Ireland did manage to keep England scoreless for the first 30 minutes of the second half, after being 27-0 down at half-time. Simple missed touches and overthrown line outs on England's five metre line, prevented them from mounting any sort of comeback in the second 40.
Such basic mistakes are not really an option if you want to avoid being nilled against a side who had a +170 points difference going into this game, with just 15 points conceded.
Positives For Ireland Despite The Heavy Six Nations Defeat
🏴 @elliekildunne = finisher.#IREENG #OurCharge #TikTokW6N pic.twitter.com/6cWrJdRWar
— TikTok Women's Six Nations (@Womens6Nations) April 22, 2023
READ HERE: Ireland's Wall Hits Back At 'Insulting' Stephen Jones Six Nations Notion
On a number of occasions in the game Ireland had the English stretched, but were unable to take advantage of these situations with poor passing and depth.
Still, it showed a platform to which to build upon, and they have a week to work on these deficiencies ahead of their final game against Scotland, who will likely be their easiest opponents in the competition.
A large talking point around this Irish squad is its youth and inexperience, with two teenagers starting today, in Dannah O'Brien and Aoife Dalton.
O'Brien, despite various mistakes, showed just how powerful a weapon her big boot it, with massive clearances relieving Ireland after sustained English pressure.
We wrote earlier about Sam Monaghan and Linda Djougang's comments on the squad's youngsters, and both were in agreement that is a side in transition.
As Lindsay Peat put it succinctly, "England are the well oiled machine, we're only at the petrol pump filling up our tank".
22 April 2023; Irish rugby : Alex Matthews of England, hidden, goes over to score a try for her side during the TikTok Women's Six Nations Rugby Championship match between Ireland and England at Musgrave Park in Cork. Photo by Eóin Noonan/Sportsfile
This comment piece wouldn't be entirely truthful without pointing out that England had made multiple changes, but given immense their, it was still a frightening outfit to face.
Prior to the match there was plenty of chat about Ireland possibly being on the end of a record loss to England, but this record is still held by the 2002 team who lost 79-0.
It was not close to being broken, with England running in three tries in the last ten minutes, proving that the woe surrounding the squad is most certainly exaggerated.
Still, everything comes back to the IRFU and their approach to the women's game, and the question remains whether they will change their evil ways and put these women in a position to succeed in the coming seasons.
SEE ALSO: Monaghan And Djougang Believe In The Youth And Future Of Irish Women's Rugby
