After a tough opening loss to world champions England, the Ireland Women's rugby team is looking to reset their Six Nations campaign this Saturday in Galway. Kicking coach Gareth Steenson has set a defiant tone, stating the squad "should have high expectations" as they prepare to host Italy.

Steenson emphasized that the team is not content to simply participate. "We don’t want to go and make up numbers," he said, outlining clear ambitions for home victories against Italy, Wales, and Scotland, followed by a targeted away win in France. The ultimate goal is to climb into the world's top four and be genuine contenders at the next World Cup.

The opening 33-12 defeat, while disappointing, provided valuable lessons. A slow start saw Ireland down 21-0 at halftime, but a resilient second-half performance yielded tries from Anna McGann and captain Erin King. Steenson believes this demonstrated the team's ability to adapt and play to their strengths against top-tier opposition.

Focus now shifts to immediate improvement. "We would expect to see a better performance this week," Steenson asserted, confident that the team will grow throughout the tournament. The coaching staff is challenging the players to learn from early errors, using high-pressure training scenarios to build the composure needed for test match rugby.

This weekend's clash at Dexcom Stadium represents a crucial opportunity to build momentum. With a passionate home crowd behind them and a clear directive from the coaching staff, Ireland is poised to channel their high expectations into a performance that kick-starts their Six Nations journey.