logo
Bemand makes 10 changes for Ireland's final World Cup warm-up clash against Canada

Bemand makes 10 changes for Ireland's final World Cup warm-up clash against Canada

Irish Examiner5 days ago
Head coach Scott Bemand has named his Ireland squad for their last Rugby World Cup warm-up game against Canada in Affidea Stadium (formerly Kingspan Stadium) on Saturday, August 9 (kick-off, 12pm).
Bemand has made 10 changes to the starting line-up from the win over Scotland last weekend. Neve Jones will co-captain the side with Sam Monaghan, who starts this week on the bench.
In the pack, Niamh O'Dowd and Linda Djougang join Jones in the front-row. Fiona Tuite and Ruth Campbell make up the engine room, and last week's back-row of Grace Moore, Ivana Kiripati and Brittany Hogan is retained.
In the backs, Aoibheann Reilly partners Dannah O'Brien again in the half-backs. Enya Breen accompanies Aoife Dalton in the centre with Anna McGann, Béibhinn Parsons and Stacey Flood in the backfield.
Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Monaghan and Claire Boles are the forwards available to Bemand and his Coaching Team on a strong bench, with backs Emily Lane and Eve Higgins completing Ireland's 23.
Bemand said: "Having another opportunity to test ourselves is essential in the run up to the Rugby World Cup and we know Canada will provide us with a really strong test.
"Last week we fought back hard from conceding early tries and we know we will need to start stronger this week. There is a lot at stake with the squad for the Rugby World Cup being announced early next week."
Ireland: S Flood (Railway Union RFC / Leinster); B Parsons (Blackrock College / Connacht), A Dalton (Old Belvedere / Leinster), E Breen (Blackrock College / Munster), A McGann (Railway Union / Connacht); D O'Brien (Old Belvedere / Leinster), A Reilly (Blackrock College / Connacht); N O'Dowd (Old Belvedere / Leinster), N Jones (Gloucester Hartpury), L Djougang (Old Belvedere / Leinster); R Campbell (Old Belvedere / Leinster), F Tuite (Old Belvedere / Ulster); G Moore (Trailfinders / IQ Rugby), I Kiripati (Creggs / Connacht), B Hogan (Old Belvedere / Ulster).
Replacements: C Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), E Perry (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby), S McGrath (Cooke / Ulster), E Corri Fallon (Blackrock College / Leinster), S Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury / IQ Rugby), C Boles (Railway Union / Ulster), E Lane (Blackrock College / Ulster), E Higgins (Railway Union / Leinster).
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Ireland declare their hand ahead of Rugby World Cup campaign
Ireland declare their hand ahead of Rugby World Cup campaign

Irish Examiner

time6 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Ireland declare their hand ahead of Rugby World Cup campaign

The die has been cast for the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup. Confirmation on Monday morning of Ireland's 32-strong squad means all 16 panels have been named and shared. Now for the hardest part: that last, slow stretch before it begins. England's hosts and the USA will get it all underway next Friday week when they meet in Pool A at Sunderland's Stadium of Light. For Ireland, the campaign kicks in two days later against Japan at Northampton's Franklin's Gardens. Head coach Scott Bemand didn't give rise to any causes célèbres with his choice of troops, but such is the nature of these things that there are always winners and losers, and there will be a clump of players coming to terms this week with shattered dreams. Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird played just two weeks ago, in the first warm-up against Scotland in Cork, but didn't make the cut. Neither did young Ailish Quinn who made her debut off the bench that day at Virgin Media Park. Jane Clohessy featured in the Six Nations in the spring but is one of 10 players named in the original 37-strong training panel that, for one reason or another, hasn't made the crossover from a pre-season that started at the foothills of June to the tournament itself. Injuries have fashioned decisions. Dorothy Wall and Erin King, two absolute gems in the Ireland pack, will miss the World Cup with injuries suffered in the course of that Six Nations,. Christy Haney sits it out too on the back of recent hamstring troubles. Haney's struggles opened the door for Ellena Perry to debut for Ireland against Canada in Belfast last Friday, five years after she earned the last of her eleven caps with England, and in the wake of Bemand's statement that they can't afford to 'carry' too many players. The Englishman has included Aoife Wafer, the barnstorming back row who was player of the tournament in the Six Nations, but who hasn't played since the back end of that campaign after damaging knee ligaments. In the mix with her is co-captain Edel McMahon who sat out the games against the Scots and Canada with her own knee issues, but the Clare woman is much further along the route to recuperation than Wafer. Watch those spaces. Looked at in this light, the returns to action in recent weeks of co-captain Sam Monaghan, Beibhinn Parsons and Eimear Corri-Fallon after their own lengthy layoffs have been well-timed for a squad that is targeting a semi-final. 'We've a great group of girls here and everyone obviously wants to put their hand up for selection for the World Cup because it's so special,' said centre Eve Higgins during the warm-up phase. 'Ireland hasn't been to a World Cup since 2017. 'It only comes around every four years and it's an extremely hard competition to qualify for. So it'd be a huge thing for every single person, a huge honour to represent their country in a World Cup.' The injury losses weaken their case but Ireland have used the last two seasons wisely and carefully in terms of building experience and options while upping their performance levels and striving for greater competitiveness. The first-choice back line almost picks itself. It possesses a howitzer boot in fly-half Dannah O'Brien, a superb midfield in Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins, and a richly talented back three players in the likes of Stacey Flood, Beibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Costigan. The front row is deep in experience with Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang buttressed by Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Sadbh McGrath and Perry, and there are a number of options in the second row despite Wall's absence. The back row will miss Wafer, as long as she is sidelined, and King, but Hogan is a stalwart at No.8, McMahon is a big-game player when fit while Grace Moore put up her hand with a player-of-the-match run against Scotland. Ireland can't boast the in-game nous of some of the biggest hitters but Bemand could well name a XV with players carrying an absolute minimum of 17 caps apiece and that's a big step from some of the 'greener' outfits of the recent past. It's on the bench where that backbone will be seriously stretched with the Pool C challengers destined to dip deeper into their locker for more than a few players for whom Test rugby is still very much a relatively new phenomenon. Recent new caps, Ivana Kiripati and Nancy McGillivray, may yet play roles and the ever-present prospect of injury in rugby will keep others beyond the 32 on their toes for some time yet.

Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener
Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener

The 42

time9 hours ago

  • The 42

Springboks move captain Kolisi to No 8 for Australia opener

SOUTH AFRICA CAPTAIN Siya Kolisi will start at No 8 for the first time in a Test when they begin their Rugby Championship defence in Johannesburg on Saturday against Australia. The 34-year-old double Rugby World Cup winner, who makes his 94th Test appearance, is usually to be found on the flank but has operated in the position for his franchise, the Durban-based Sharks. He will do it for the first time for the Boks largely because the other leading contenders are all unavailable. Regular No 8 Jasper Wiese is serving a four-match ban after head-butting a rival in a warm-up victory over Italy last month. Other options Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom suffered serious pre-Springbok season injuries and are unlikely to be available this year. Moving Kolisi means flanker Marco van Staden comes into the starting line-up with reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit completing the back row. Manie Libbok gets the nod at fly-half ahead of Handre Pollard and Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu with head coach Rassie Erasmus well aware of the record of the Japan-based playmaker. Advertisement The Springboks have lost only one of 13 Tests when Libbok started — the pool defeat by Ireland at the 2023 World Cup in France. But when the 28-year-old came off the bench in seven internationals, record four-time World Cup winners South Africa lost four. Creative Libbok is capable of opening the tightest defences, but doubts remain over his goal kicking, a skill perfected by Pollard. Grant Williams has moved to the front of the queue for the hotly contested scrum-half position and starts with veteran Cobus Reinach providing cover on the bench. Erasmus has opted not to risk star winger Cheslin Kolbe or veteran centre Damian de Allende as both are recovering from niggles. Edwill van der Merwe, who has scored five tries in three Tests, replaces Kolbe on the right wing while Andre Esterhuizen fills in for De Allende at inside centre. 'Cheslin has recovered from a niggle and trained with us last week, but we decided to exercise caution and give him extra time at training before selecting him,' said Erasmus. 'Damian picked up a back niggle and will train this week, but Andre has been strong for us in the last few seasons, so it was an easy decision to name him alongside Jesse (Kriel).' Australia flew to Johannesburg after a 2-1 series loss to the British and Irish Lions. The Wallabies want to snap a four-match losing streak against South Africa and will name their team on Thursday. South Africa 15. Aphelele Fassi 14. Edwill van der Merwe 13. Jesse Kriel 12. Andre Esterhuizen 11. Kurt-Lee Arendse 10. Manie Libbok 9. Grant Williams 1. Ox Nche 2. Malcolm Marx 3. Wilco Louw 4. Eben Etzebeth 5. Lood de Jager 6. Marco Van Staden 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit 8. Siya Kolisi (captain) Replacements: 16. Bongi Mbonambi 17. Jan-Hendrik Wessels 18. Asenathi Ntlabakanye 19. Franco Mostert 20. Kwagga Smith 21. Cobus Reinach 22. Canan Moodie 23. Damian Willemse – © AFP 2025

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store