BRIGHTON - Ireland head coach Scott Bemand, co-captain Sam Monaghan and Eve Higgins react after their 40-0 pool defeat to New Zealand in Brighton on Sunday, after which they proceed to the quarter-finals as runners-up.

Scott Bemand, head coach

His reaction to the match and the scoreline:
"I think we gave ourselves opportunities early in the game. New Zealand are a physical team so we've got to find a way to cross the whitewash when we get those opportunities. It was going to be harder today than over the last few weeks in terms of the physicality and athlete that they have defending the goal line.

"We'll go away and have a look at it, I think the scoreboard got away from us a bit at the end, so disappointed that it's a 40 and not a 26 (point loss)."

On the Black Ferns' blitz defence and how you handle it:
"We know they use line speed and physicality and they give you space around the edge. What we have to do is acclimatise and think faster. Any hold-up in ball movement gives them a chance to close it down. We got a few point-scoring opportunities and we've just not been quite up to the level in the score zone. We've got a bit to look at, we dust ourselves down. We will take positives in terms of what we created, we've just got to be a bit sharper in terms of what we take when we get into those positions when they're on offer."

On injuries to Stacey Flood, Eve Higgins and Edel McMahon:
“Stacey has come out with a cut on her foot, so we go back and look at that and try and get that sorted as best as we can. Eve Higgins and Edel McMahon had to come off, I am hoping they come through pretty quickly. However, as I stand here now with what I know, everyone is fit and ready to go next week. ‘’

On learnings for the quarter-finals:
“Take a look back into the last two weeks we have been clinical in terms of getting into the zone and making up points. It was clearly a different challenge against New
Zealand in terms of athletes and the physicality they bring. The fact we are going in there and creating that momentum and grabbing those opportunities will mean we need to go back knowing what we got and do more of that in the next stage of the World Cup next week.”

Sam Monaghan, co-captain

On the 40-0 loss to New Zealand:
"They played some incredible rugby, we've left this game a bit disappointed and we left a fair bit out there, a lot of our errors they converted into tries and a lot of the pressure we put on them we just couldn't convert in their 22, so loads to take into next week. We've got such a massive week coming up, we're in a quarter-final which is really exciting. We'll dust ourselves off, go again next week and bring it."

On the opportunity of taking on France or South Africa in the quarter-finals and the travelling fans:
"Two great teams, I think we saw what 2014 brought to rugby in Ireland. We want to recreate those special moments for all these fans who have given up their time to come here and support us, taken time off work, booked flights.

"This stadium was absolutely epic, the moment I walked out I had goosebumps. I think we have the best fans in the world, and there are quite a few kiwis here as well which is unreal. Really looking forward to getting down to Exeter, bringing it again and bringing all these fans with us as well."

On what they could have done better:
“We did not start the game consistent, but at times we definitely had them under pressure, and we were the team on top, especially in the first half. The second half if we had converted and got over the line it would have been a completely different game. We let them in and gave them tries."

Eve Higgins

On the match:
"It’s disappointing to come out and have zero points on the board, but we're fortunate enough now to be through to a quarter-final next week and we’ve got a few days to assess ourselves and fix things. New Zealand put huge line speed on today, with huge physicality, it’s now what we do to learn from that and get ahead."

On learning from the defeat:
"We’re playing the defending champions, they’re one of the top contenders in the competition, so it’s always going to be tough. It’s the same again next week, we’re going to be up against huge opposition. Our goal in this competition was to get to the quarter-finals as quickly as possible. We did that and nothing changes now that we’re into knockout rugby."

On her HIA (head-injury assessment):
"I’m fine, obviously got a knock to the head and the protocol obviously now when the gum shield starts to blink [is to leave the pitch]. I feel good."

On Ireland support in the crowd:
"It was unbelievable, leaving the hotel today and having a tunnel of green. Going through the city and seeing constant green tops going around yesterday, the buzz around Brighton was unbelievable. It was unbelievable as well seeing so much green in the crowd and it’s cool to have occasions like this in Women’s Rugby."