World champions England opened their Women's Six Nations defense with a commanding 33-12 victory over Ireland, securing a bonus point in front of a massive 77,120 crowd at Allianz Stadium. Despite the convincing scoreline, players like Megan Jones and Sarah Bern admitted the performance lacked the necessary polish as they shook off the rust following the World Cup final in September.

Two tries from Bern contributed to the win, which extended England's remarkable Test winning streak to 34 consecutive matches. Captain Jones, leading the side in the absence of Zoe Stratford (who is pregnant), acknowledged the initial nerves associated with kicking off a major campaign in front of such a huge audience.

Bern conceded the relatively new look of the squad, featuring several youngsters, meant perfection was never the expectation for this initial outing. While the team found a way to secure the result, both players confirmed they would be reviewing several elements of their play in detail.

Ultimately, grinding out the win while integrating new personnel against a Six Nations rival demonstrates the depth of the Red Roses squad. The team managed the occasion and the result, even if the execution fell short of their own high standards for the Red Roses.