Five Munster Players Named For Wales
25th August 2017 By The Editor
Ciara Griffin during Ireland Women's Rugby Captain's Run, Queen's University, Belfast. Mandatory Credit ©INPHO/Dan Sheridan
The Ireland Women’s side to play Wales in the 7th/8th play-off of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 has been confirmed.
Ireland will face their Welsh counterparts at 2pm on Saturday, 26th August at the Kingspan Stadium in Belfast.
Following reviews after Tuesday’s game against Australia, it has been confirmed that both Claire Molloy and Jenny Murphy will miss this weekend’s game.
Both players were removed during the game as part of the HIA process and did not return. The two will follow return to play protocols but will not be available for selection.
With Molloy and Murphy unavailable, Head Coach Tom Tierney made some changes to the team.
He has named an unchanged tight 5, with Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Ailis Egan in the front row and Ciara Cooney and Marie-Louise Reilly in the second-row.
The back-row sees a reshuffle, with Paula Fitzpatrick captaining the side from 6, Munster’s Ciara Griffin moving to 7 and her provincial colleague Heather O’Brien at Number 8.
Out-half Nora Stapleton will win her 50th Ireland Cap tomorrow, and she’s partnered by Munster scrum-half Nicole Cronin.
Jeamie Deacon and Katie Fitzhenry form a new centre partnership and Alison Miller and Munster winger Eimear Considine line out on the wings, with Hannah Tyrrell at full-back.
On the selection, Tierney said “It’s no secret that we didn’t want to be in this position, but it’s where we have found ourselves on the final weekend, and while we’re disappointed that we’re not competing for higher honours, we want to sign off the competition with a win.
It really is a cup final tomorrow, with automatic qualification for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup on the line.
Wales have shown they have a strong set piece, and we’ve had challenging games with them over the last few seasons in the Six Nations.
It’s been a tough few weeks, but I know that the players really want to put in a performance tomorrow and as they have said, leave the green jersey in a better place.”
The game will be broadcast on television in the Republic of Ireland by Eir Sport and RTE 2.
RTE Radio 1 will have live commentary on radio.
Ireland Women’s Team to play Wales
Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017, 7th-8th Place Play-Off, Kingspan Stadium, Saturday 26th August 2pm.
15. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
14. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
13. Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
12. Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)
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. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
4. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)
5. Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
6. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College RFC/Leinster) Captain
7. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield RFC/Munster)
16. Leah Lyons (Highfield RFC/Munster)
17. Ilse Van Staden (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
18. Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
19. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)
20. Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke RFC/Ulster)
21. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union RFC/Ulster)
22. Sene Naoupu (Harlequins RFC)
23. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)
