Ireland will face Scotland on Sunday at 14:30 BST in their final Six Nations match, with more than 30,000 tickets already sold for a game that will be watched closely in Dublin. It will be the first stand-alone women's rugby match at the Aviva Stadium, and Ireland are aiming for a third consecutive home win as they try to finish the campaign unbeaten on home turf.
Brittany Hogan, the 27-year-old back-row, said the squad need to enjoy the occasion as much as possible before the pressure of kick-off takes over. She has been one of Ireland's standout players in the campaign, scoring two tries in the 33-12 victory over Wales at Affidea Stadium and adding two more in the 57-20 home win against Italy.
The scale of the occasion is part of what makes Sunday different. The Aviva Stadium is a major stage for Irish rugby, but this will be the first time a women's team has had it to itself for a standalone international, a step that gives the match a significance beyond the points on offer. Ireland have already shown they can make the most of home advantage, and another win would extend that run to three and close out the championship without a defeat in Dublin.
Hogan said the group must stay present in the build-up and treat the day as something to be enjoyed rather than feared. She also pointed to the detail that has driven Ireland's most productive attacks, saying they need to be ruthless once they reach the five-metre line and back their shape to finish chances. That mentality has already produced results, with Ireland turning territorial pressure into tries against both Wales and Italy.
There is also a personal edge to Hogan's role in the occasion. The 27-year-old has spoken about having to drive 35 minutes to play rugby where she grew up, a reminder of how far the women's game still has to travel even as it reaches one of the country's biggest sporting venues. Sunday offers Ireland a chance to mark the progress on the pitch and the wider growth around it in the same afternoon.
For Ireland, the task is straightforward even if the setting is not: beat Scotland, protect the home record and make the most of a rare chance to bring a women's international to the Aviva Stadium on its own. If they do that, the result will matter far beyond one final scoreline.
