Ireland winger Alison Miller believes beating New Zealand in 2014 can help inspire her side to go all the way at next month’s Women’s Rugby World Cup.
The women in green finished behind Grand Slam winners England in this year’s Women’s Six Nations Championship, but with only first place in the group guaranteed to go through to the semi-finals of their home World Cup, Ireland cannot afford to be second best this time around.
Tom Tierney’s side will take on Australia, Japan and France in the pool stages – and Miller believes the memory of their crunch victory over the Black Fearns at the last World Cup can help Ireland achieve glory.
She said: “The way the Women’s Rugby World Cup is designed, the pools are so competitive. You have to win your games.
“I think back then we knew we had to beat New Zealand. It wasn’t a matter that we couldn’t beat them. If we wanted to progress, we just had to beat New Zealand. That game was hugely historic.
“It was one of those really enjoyable games. It was a really instinctive game. You didn’t have too much time to think, because they were such a hugely skilled team.
“Sometimes those games are the most enjoyable, when you’re living in the moment all the time.”
Miller was one of the try-scorers on that momentous day back in 2014, and has since been on target four times in six appearances throughout the last two Six Nations Championships.
With the tournament being held in Ireland this time around, expectations are high that Niamh Briggs and co can go further than their semi-final finish three years ago.
And Miller believes their 17-14 victory over New Zealand in the group stage has acted as a springboard for women’s rugby in the country.
She said: “I think it [defeating New Zealand] created a lot of history within the country. Obviously that knock-on effect has hit around, and people will always remember that game.
“They will always ask you about it, and a lot of people saw it. It was only when I got home to Ireland that I realised how many people watched that game, and how many people watched the World Cup.
“As a player, you don’t look at those outside things when you’re there. How many people were excited, were in pubs and all over Ireland watching that game. And after that game really got behind us.”
