As the Women's Six Nations kicks off, Ireland's scrum coach Denis Fogarty has issued a rallying cry, emphasizing that his team must seize the moment and "make a mark" in the tournament. The message is clear: Ireland cannot afford to be passive spectators in their own campaign.

The challenge begins with a monumental opening fixture against England this Saturday at a sold-out Allianz Stadium—a tournament record crowd. Facing the reigning world champions, who are chasing an eighth straight title and a fifth consecutive Grand Slam, is a daunting prospect, but Fogarty sees it as a prime opportunity. "We want to turn one of those teams over," he stated, highlighting the ambition to topple a giant like England or France.

This mindset stems from recent frustration. Ireland has won only two games in each of the last two Six Nations campaigns, a return that Fogarty admits "didn't feel right" for a squad with greater potential. A key part of the plan is to dominate at home, making their fortress a foundation for success.

There's also a point of pride to address. Last year's 49-5 defeat to England, their 12th consecutive loss in the fixture, was particularly stinging, with scrum struggles a focal point. Fogarty openly acknowledged the hurt, saying the area "has definitely hurt me and the players." However, he reports a determined response in training this week, with the squad intensely focused on ensuring those set-piece issues do not resurface. For Ireland, the path to making their mark starts with standing firm at the very first scrum.