The Ireland Women created history the first they played New Zealand at the last Women’s World Cup in France. Can they rescale those heights when they host the number one-ranked Black Ferns at the UCD Bowl on Sunday?
2016 WOMEN’S NOVEMBER SERIES: Sunday, November 27
IRELAND WOMEN v NEW ZEALAND WOMEN, UCD Bowl, 2pm (live on Irish Rugby TV)
Team News: 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 on Sunday.
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 (pictured below) 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, 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 (20-10) win over Canada in Donnybrook, 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.
Meanwhile, New Zealand Women’s head coach Glenn Moore has made two personnel changes to the side that saw off Canada on a 20-10 scoreline on Donnybrook’s 4G pitch on Wednesday afternoon.
Waikato’s Honey Hireme returns to the right wing, with Portia Woodman reverting to outside centre, and Angie Sisifa from Otago starts at number 8. Sosili Talawadua is set to make her debut and Jackie Fereti from Wellington is also on the bench.
Moore said the selection of Talawadua was due to her hard work throughout the Farah Palmer Cup, and her Black Ferns colleagues were delighted with her inclusion. Carla Hohepa and Aroha Savage were not considered for selection due to injuries sustained against the Canadians.
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster).
Replacements: Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Jackie Shiels (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster).
NEW ZEALAND WOMEN: Selica Winiata (Manawatu); Honey Hireme (Waikato), Portia Woodman (Counties Manukau), Chelsea Alley (North Harbour), Renee Wickliffe (Counties Manukau); Kelly Brazier (Otago), Kendra Cocksedge (Canterbury); Toka Natua (Waikato), Fiao’o Faamausili (Auckland) (capt), Aleisha Nelson (Auckland), Eloise Blackwell (Auckland), Charlene Gubb (Auckland), Charmaine Smith (North Harbour), Charmaine McMenamin (Auckland), Angie Sisifa (Otago).
Replacements: Sosoli Talawadua (Waikato), Aldora Itunu (Auckland), Aotearoa Mata’u (Counties Manukau), Jackie Fereti (Wellington), Sharnita Woodman (Counties Manukau), Kristina Sue (Manawatu), Hazel Tubic (Counties Manukau), Janna Vaughan (Manawatu), Kiritapu Demant (Auckland).
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Helen O’Reilly, Susan Carty (both Ireland)
Pre-Match Quotes – Cliodhna Moloney (Ireland Women): “It’s priceless really, we never had this opportunity before. We played one international last year in November but to get three on the trot and to get the three best teams in the world coming here to play us.
“We’re getting that kind of World Cup experience as well around camp for a bit longer and we’re getting to go to events and stuff throughout the week. We get to see other teams play as well. We got to see New Zealand and Canada (play each other) during the week.
“We haven’t really experienced anything like that before and especially with so many new girls in the squad, it’s great to get this kind of opportunity. It was very tough to watch last week obviously. The girls had a really disappointing day but the Canada team were very strong so it’s good to get ‘learnings’ from that for New Zealand this week. It’s great to be back in camp, number one, and to get the start is always a bonus.
“We got a good look at New Zealand. They look very fast out the back and very physical up front. We know what we need to do to nullify that. Hopefully we can get our stuff right and we’ll see what happens after that.”
Glenn Moore (New Zealand Women): “The good part about these short turnarounds is those are the sort of scenarios we’ll be going into for the World Cup next year so it’s an opportunity for us to try things.
“There’s a lot more in us yet. The good thing is we’ve come over here and we’ve had to win tough and hang tough and fight it right out to the finish. That’s been good for the squad and ultimately we’ll get the benefits of that.
“Sosoli (Talawadua) was in the Black Ferns squad when it went away to Canada last year and didn’t get a chance to be included in the 23. She gets her first opportunity to get game-time and the team is really excited for her and she’s excited as well.”
Pre-Match Links –
Tierney: Lessons From Defeat Will Bring Us Forward
In Pics: Ireland Women 10 England Women 12
In Pics: Ireland Women 7 Canada Women 48
Previous Meeting –
2014: Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool B: New Zealand 14 Ireland 17, Marcoussis
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