Briggs Is Back To Lead Ireland Women Against New Zealand
Ireland Women’s head coach Tom Tierney has named the team, sponsored by Aon, to play New Zealand in their final game of the November Series this Sunday at the UCD Bowl (kick-off 2pm).
There are ten personnel changes and one positional switch to the Ireland side that lost to Canada at the same venue last Saturday.
Niamh Briggs has recovered from the hamstring injury that has seen her sidelined for the past two weeks. One of the key players from Ireland’s famous 2014 Women’s Rugby World Cup win over New Zealand, she will captain the girls in green from full-back.
Briggs’ return sees Mairead Coyne, who started the matches against England and Canada at full-back, switch to the right wing. Ulster’s Claire McLaughlin will line out on the opposite wing and inside them will be Nicole Fowley and Sene Naoupu, who pair up in the centre for the third week in a row. The Donegal duo of Nora Stapleton and Larissa Muldoon form the half-back partnership.
Up front, the same eight that started against England two weeks ago return, with Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Ailis Egan forming the front row, while behind them, Marie Louise Reilly and Orla Fitzsimons combine again in the second row. Ciara Griffin, Claire Molloy and Paula Fitzpatrick make up an athletic back row.
Commenting on the challenge facing his players on Sunday, Tom Tierney said: “Last weekend’s Test against Canada was an important learning experience for the side. Canada showed why they are one of the top-ranked teams in the world and our players will learn a lot from taking on opposition of that standard.
“With that in mind, we welcome New Zealand to UCD on Sunday as they come off the back of a win over Canada in Donnybrook yesterday, securing their status as the number one ranked team in the World.
“As we continue to develop over the November Series, we will again have some new combinations to look at on Sunday. We’ve seen how New Zealand played over the last two weeks in their games against England and Canada, so we are aware of the challenge that they will present us in UCD.”
Tickets for Ireland Women v New Zealand Women are on sale at www.ticketmaster.ie/womensrugby. Buy now to avoid the queues on Sunday! The game will be streamed live via the Irish Rugby YouTube Channel and on Facebook Live.
IRELAND WOMEN’S Team & Replacements (v New Zealand Women, Women’s November Series, UCD Bowl, Sunday, November 27, kick-off 2pm):
15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
14. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht)
13. Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht)
12. Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
11. Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
6. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
19. Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht)
20. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster)
21. Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht)
22. Jackie Shiels (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
23. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
WOMEN’S NOVEMBER SERIES RESULTS/FIXTURES:
Sunday, November 13:
Ireland Women 10 England Women 12, UCD Bowl
Saturday, November 19:
Ireland Women 7 Canada Women 48, UCD Bowl
Wednesday, November 23:
Canada Women 10 New Zealand Women 20, Donnybrook
Sunday, November 27:
Ireland Women v New Zealand Women, UCD Bowl, 2pm
Next August, Ireland will host the Women’s Rugby World Cup. For more information visit www.irishrugby.ie/Ireland2017. #BringIt