The Ireland Women's squad to take on Japan in their second match of the Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 has been announced.
Head Coach Tom Tierney has made a number of changes to the side that defeated Australia 19-17, with Ulster duo Ashleigh Baxter and Larissa Muldoon again set to be involved in the clash at UCD Bowl tomorrow evening (5.15pm).
In the front row, Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Ciara O'Connor will start, while the second row sees Ciara Cooney pack down with Sophie Spence. The back row consists of Baxter, Ciara Griffin and captain Claire Molloy.
Nicole Cronin will win her first 15-a-side cap as she partners outhalf Nora Stapleton at half-back, with Sene Naoupu and Katie Fitzhenry forming the centre partnership. Alison Miller and Hannah Tyrrell line out on the wings, with Mairead Coyne at full-back.
On confirmation of the side, Tierney said;
“We had a really tough encounter with Australia on Sunday evening in the opening game, and while we came away with the win, there a number of areas that we've focused on over the past two days that we will need to improve on for tomorrow's test with Japan.
“We know that the Japanese are going to throw everything at us tomorrow evening. They're very fit, they like to move the ball wide and they are very quick to the break down.
“We've made a number of changes to the side from the Australia game with a view to giving some players a rest from what was a very physical game, but we also want to give the other members of the squad the opportunity to show what they can do against a fast and agile Japanese team.”
The game will be broadcast on television in the Republic of Ireland by Eir Sport and RTE and in the UK by ITV 4. RTE 2fm will have live commentary on radio.
Ireland Women's team to play Japan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Pool C, UCD Bowl (Sunday 13th August, 5.15pm):
15. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
14. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
13. Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
12. Sene Naoupu (Harlequins FC)
11. Alison Miller (Old Belvedere RFC/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
9. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
3. Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
4. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster)
5. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
6. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
7. Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
8. Claire Molloy (Bristol RFC/Connacht) Captain
Replacements:
16. Leah Lyons (Highfield RFC/Munster)
17. Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
18. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
19. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College RFC/Leinster)
20. Anna Caplice (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
21. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
22. Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
23. Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
*Denotes uncapped at this level
Ireland Women's Rugby World Cup Fixtures and Results – Pool C
Ireland 19 - 17 Australia
Sunday 13th August, 5.15pm, UCD Bowl
Ireland v Japan
Thursday 17th August, 7.45pm, UCD Bowl
France v Ireland
The semi-finals and finals will be played at Kingspan Stadium and Queen's Arena in Belfast on 22nd and 26th August. Tickets are still available via ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017.
Head Coach Tom Tierney has made a number of changes to the side that defeated Australia 19-17, with Ulster duo Ashleigh Baxter and Larissa Muldoon again set to be involved in the clash at UCD Bowl tomorrow evening (5.15pm).
In the front row, Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Ciara O'Connor will start, while the second row sees Ciara Cooney pack down with Sophie Spence. The back row consists of Baxter, Ciara Griffin and captain Claire Molloy.
Nicole Cronin will win her first 15-a-side cap as she partners outhalf Nora Stapleton at half-back, with Sene Naoupu and Katie Fitzhenry forming the centre partnership. Alison Miller and Hannah Tyrrell line out on the wings, with Mairead Coyne at full-back.
On confirmation of the side, Tierney said;
“We had a really tough encounter with Australia on Sunday evening in the opening game, and while we came away with the win, there a number of areas that we've focused on over the past two days that we will need to improve on for tomorrow's test with Japan.
“We know that the Japanese are going to throw everything at us tomorrow evening. They're very fit, they like to move the ball wide and they are very quick to the break down.
“We've made a number of changes to the side from the Australia game with a view to giving some players a rest from what was a very physical game, but we also want to give the other members of the squad the opportunity to show what they can do against a fast and agile Japanese team.”
The game will be broadcast on television in the Republic of Ireland by Eir Sport and RTE and in the UK by ITV 4. RTE 2fm will have live commentary on radio.
Ireland Women's team to play Japan, Women's Rugby World Cup 2017 Pool C, UCD Bowl (Sunday 13th August, 5.15pm):
15. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
14. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
13. Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
12. Sene Naoupu (Harlequins FC)
11. Alison Miller (Old Belvedere RFC/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
9. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
3. Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
4. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster)
5. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
6. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
7. Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
8. Claire Molloy (Bristol RFC/Connacht) Captain
Replacements:
16. Leah Lyons (Highfield RFC/Munster)
17. Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
18. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
19. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College RFC/Leinster)
20. Anna Caplice (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
21. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
22. Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
23. Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
*Denotes uncapped at this level
Ireland Women's Rugby World Cup Fixtures and Results – Pool C
Ireland 19 - 17 Australia
Sunday 13th August, 5.15pm, UCD Bowl
Ireland v Japan
Thursday 17th August, 7.45pm, UCD Bowl
France v Ireland
The semi-finals and finals will be played at Kingspan Stadium and Queen's Arena in Belfast on 22nd and 26th August. Tickets are still available via ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017.