Fifth Place Play-Off For Ireland Women

Ireland Women are looking to improve on world rankings as they contest the 5th/8th place play-offs against USA on Wednesday afternoon in Surrey Sports Park.

A seven try triumph over Kazakhstan last Saturday was not enough to see the Irish women’s team through to the World Cup semi finals.

The bonus point 37-3 win ensured Ireland finished on 10 points, level with Australia and Canada, the second-placed teams in Pool A and Pool C respectively.

With the three pool winners and the best-placed second ranked side going through to the semi-finals, it was the Australians who progressed to the final four thanks to their superior points difference, topped up by a fine 62-0 final day triumph over South Africa.

After picking up an ankle injury in the Kazakhstan game, Highfield's Helen Brosnan misses out on Wednesday's play -off game against the USA.

Ireland are still on course for their best ever World Cup finish and enter the 5th-8th place play-offs determined to pick up two more wins at the Surrey Sports Park venue.

Ireland play USA on Wednesday at 4.30pm, with the winners facing Canada or Scotland in the 5th-6th place play-off on Sunday, September 5.

Ireland Women:
15 – Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster)
14 – Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
13 – Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
12 – Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
11 – Eliza Downey (Cooke/Ulster)
10 – Joanne O'Sullivan (Richmond/Exile)
9 – Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian/Munster)
1 – Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2 – Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/Leinster)
3 – Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
4 – Kate O'Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster)
5 – Marie Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster)
6 – Orla Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster)
7 – Sinead Ryan (Blackrock/Leinster)
8 – Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:
16 – Chris Fanning (Highfield/Munster)
17 – Louise Austin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18 – Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
19 – Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht)
20 – Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
21 – Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22 – Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Ireland Fixtures/Results
Friday August 20th 2010- England 27-0 Ireland
Tuesday August 24th 2010- USA 12-22 Ireland
Saturday 28th 2010- Ireland 37-3 Kazakhstan

1st September 2010
5th/8th Place Semi Finals
Canada v Scotland, 4.15pm
Ireland v USA, 4.30pm