Meg Jones: 'Sometimes it just doesn't go the way you plan'

Red Roses captain Meg Jones promised that England’s performances will improve after the world champions started their Guinness Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 33-12 win over Ireland at Allianz Stadium.

In front of a tournament record crowd of 77, 120, the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup winners began their hunt for an eighth Women’s Six Nations title in a row with a 21-point victory.

Although the Red Roses were not in as dominant form as the scoreboard suggested. Across 80 minutes their new-look attack – which is now led by two-time Women’s Rugby World Cup winner Emily Scarratt – failed to sparkle on its first outing.

Jones, alongside Holly Aitchison and Helena Rowland, were supposed to be the beating heart of the England attack.

With all three able to interchange positions with one another, the objective was to keep play alive, as well as directing the ball towards the back three. The new system appeared to function only once as Jones and Rowland combined to send Ellie Kildunne over the whitewash, only for the full-back to lose possession of the ball in the act of scoring.

Instead, England had to rely on the tools of previous successes to see them pull clear as the lineout and scrum could not be contained by Ireland. Ahead of Round 2’s clash at Scottish Gas Murrayfield there is work to be done.

“We showed some amazing areas,” Jones said. “Set-piece wise we were quite dominant there still. I think we are really optimistic on how we were trying to play, keeping the ball alive.

“Sometimes it just doesn’t go the way you plan. There’s a few bits we got a bit stuck on with  counter [attack]. But again, we showed amazing glimpses of where it does light up and we do get some good wins through the middle, attacking the line and being dominant there.

“Really proud of the girls and I think we’ll just keep building on that quickly going into the next one.”

Jones’ first game as England captain was always sure to be a memorable one. Not only the Red Roses’ first Test since they became world champions last September, the presence of a record crowd made the day even bigger for the 29-year-old.

Ahead of the weekend Jones candidly discussed that she did not know how to expect leading England out at the scene of their Women’s Rugby World Cup win.

“I felt a bit emotional in the anthem, definitely,” Jones said. “Just feeling the aura of the stadium was phenomenal and something I will cherish and bottle as much as I could.

“It was amazing. I was just looking up at the top tier and I thought it was outstanding just to have that sort of support that we love to have as a Red Roses team.

“I hope Ireland enjoyed it as much as we did. The Mexican Wave going around, the singing of ‘Swing Low’, that’s all the bits that we enjoy.”