Preview: Ireland aiming high as hosts Canada next up in WXV

How do you follow that?

Ireland's win over New Zealand last Monday morning shook the rugby world but now they have to follow it up when they take on Canada in round two of the WXV1 in Vancouver tonight (11.45pm, live match tracker on rte.ie/sport).

For the second week running, Scott Bemand’s side face the world’s second ranked team with the Maple Leafs switching places with the Black Ferns, thanks to their impressive 46-24 seven-try win over France.

That’s a Les Bleues side that handed Ireland a comprehensive 38-17 defeat in the Six Nations, but the Irish have come a long way since then.

They are up to sixth on the World Rugby ladder but it’s the rise in confidence and belief that has stood out across the victories over Australia and New Zealand.

While they beat Scotland before that, back in the Six Nations, that was a nervy win and a malfunctioning lineout which nearly cost them dearly on the day.

They lost seven of their own throws then but it’s an area that has vastly improved in the most recent games with just three of 13 lost against the world champions.

The skill level has improved significantly across the board and there is real cohesion on and off the ball.

The boost from the bench has also been notable; against Australia four of the Sevens internationals came on and saw the team home, while Erin King, on just her second cap, scored twice after coming on against New Zealand.

The 20-year-old starts this evening with captain Edel McMahon ruled out after picking up a training-ground injury.

Hooker Clíodhna Moloney gets her first start since coming back into the squad in the middle of the Six Nations, with Neve Jones, a try-scorer last week, on the bench.

Eve Higgins takes the place of Aoife Dalton at centre, while Emily Lane