Squad Named For Black Ferns Clash

Ireland have named their squad to face World Cup reigning champions New Zealand in the second round of Pool ‘B’ in France tomorrow, 5th August, kick off 5pm (Irish time).

This will be the first ever meeting of the two sides and Ireland will be hoping to maintain the form shown in their opening match last Friday against USA, where they came away with a 23-17 win.

Top seed New Zealand, who this year set out to claim their 5th consecutive World Cup title, currently take the leading position in Pool ‘B’ following their 79-5 bonus point win over Kazakhstan in their opening game.

Head Coach Philip Doyle has made one change to his first round starting lineup which sees Munster’s Siobhán Fleming make way to the bench in place of Paula Fitzpatrick who starts at blindeside.

Munster full back Niamh Briggs, who scored a tally of 18 points in the USA clash, retains her starting position along with fellow UL Bohs player Gillian Bourke at hooker and Munster captain, Highfield’s Heather O’Brien.

Fiona Hayes from UL Bohs and Highfield’s Laura Guest both retain their place on the bench.

This game will be televised live on TG4 and Sky Sports or you can follow all Women's Rugby World Cup updates on #WRWC2014

To tweet your message of support for the Ireland Women you can use the hashtag #shouldertoshoulder

Ireland Women v New Zealand, Marcoussis, Paris – Tuesday 5th August, 18.00 local, 17.00 Irl)

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond RFC/Exile)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's College/Leinster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Heather O'Brien (Highfield RFC/Munster)

16. Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
19. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile)
21. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Vicky McGinn (Blackrock/Leinster)

New Zealand v Ireland

15 Selica Winiata
14 Renee Wickliffe
13 Huriana Manuel
12 Amiria Rule
11 Honey Hireme
10 Kelly Brazier
9 Emma Jensen
1 Kathleen Wilton
2 Fiao'o Fa'amausili (captain)
3 Aleisha Nelson
4 Eloise Blackwell
5 Jackie Patea
6 Rawinia Everitt
7 Linda Itunu
8 Casey Robertson

16 Stephanie Te Ohaere-Fox
17 Ruth McKay
18 Justine Lavea
19 Aroha Savage
20 Kendra Cocksedge
21 Claire Richardson
22 Shakira Baker

Referee: Leah Berard (USA)
Assistant Referees: Sara Cox, Claire Hodnett (both England)