Earlier this campaign at the Dexcom Stadium, a 9,206-strong crowd set a new record for an Ireland women’s home game.
However, with more than 30,000 tickets sold so far for the first standalone women’s rugby match at the Aviva, that record has been well and truly broken.
Bemand said: “Our role is to get a great performance that people want to get on the back of and to produce a great result. We want to get people on their feet. We want to get people shouting and cheering.
“The more we can do that, it’ll bode even better for the future in terms of selling grounds, selling tickets, people buying merchandise, more people playing rugby and to keep growing the wave.
“We’re pretty clear on what our role in this is. We’ll enjoy the occasion, undoubtedly.”
He also acknowledged that inspiring the next generation is one of the side’s main aims.
“Any youngsters, boys or girls, that come and watch the game and get inspired by what we’re doing on the pitch, that’s what we’re trying to do,” added the 47-year-old.
“We do this job because we believe in the power of what rugby can give to people. It’s inclusive. It’s a game for everyone, all shapes and sizes. Everyone’s important and everyone has a role.
“So, if people can see how we light it up on the pitch and inspire people to go and pick up a ball, go down their local club, then that’s going to be brilliant for the Irish rugby community, whether it’s male or female.”
