Five Munster Players Named For Japan

Head Coach Tom Tierney has named the Ireland Women’s side to take on Japan which includes five Munster players.

Ireland face Japan in the UCD Bowl tomorrow evening, with the game kicking off at 5.15pm.

Tierney has made a number of changes to the side that defeated Australia 19-17 in their opening fixture.

Munster’s Nicole Cronin will win her first Ireland 15’s cap at scrum half to replace Ulster’s Larissa Muldoon who makes way to the bench.

In the front row, Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Ciara O’Connor will start.

The second-row sees Ciara Cooney pack down with Sophie Spence, and the back-row consists of last week’s try scorer, Munster’s Ciara Griffin at blindside flanker.

Griffin partners Ashleigh Baxter at openside and Captain Claire Molloy starts at Number 8.

Nora Stapleton will continue at out-half, 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.

Substitutes include a Munster trio, front row Leah Lyons, loose forward Anna Caplice and centre Louise Galvin who looks to claim her first Ireland 15’s cap from the bench.

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 13^th 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 13^th August, 5.15pm, UCD Bowl
Ireland v Japan

Thursday 17^th August, 7.45pm, UCD Bowl
France v Ireland

For more information on the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017, please visit www.rwcwomens.com