Women’s Rugby World Cup: New Zealand v Ireland

Ireland will wear their white and rose coloured alternate kit, to help mark World Colour Blindness Awareness Day, when they battle it out with New Zealand for top spot in Pool C at the Women’s Rugby World Cup.

2025 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP – POOL C:

Sunday, September 7 –

NEW ZEALAND WOMEN (1st) v IRELAND WOMEN (2nd), Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium, 2.45pm (live RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player/BBC Two/RTÉ 2FM/BBC Radio Ulster)

Join the Green Wave and support the Ireland team – sign up here today.

Team News: Following bonus point victories over Japan (42-14) and Spain (43-27) to clinch their quarter-final place, Ireland conclude their Pool C campaign against New Zealand, the current World Cup holders, at the Brighton & Hove Albion Stadium.

Sam Monaghan and Edel McMahon, who returns to the team as one of six changes, will lead Ireland as co-captain, with a capacity crowd of over 31,000 expected in Brighton for the Sunday afternoon showdown.

Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons, and Amee-Leigh Costigan make up Ireland’s back-three, with Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins continuing together in midfield. Aoibheann Reilly slots back in to partner Dannah O’Brien at half-back.

Grace Moore shifts to openside flanker and Ulster’s Brittany Hogan packs down at number 8, with Aoife Wafer still absent but in contention for next week’s quarter-final fixture. Monaghan and Ruth Campbell form the lock pairing.

Ellena Perry, the player-of-the-match in last Sunday’s outing against Spain in Northampton, combines with her Gloucester-Hartpury team-mate Neve Jones, and the 50-times capped Linda Djougang, in the front row.

On the replacements bench, Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri Fallon and Claire Boles provide the back-up options in the pack, with Emily Lane, Nancy McGillivray, and Anna McGann are the reserve backs.

Speaking about Ireland’s much-anticipated first meeting with New Zealand since last October’s thrilling 29-27 WXV1 win in Vancouver, head coach Scott Bemand said: “In terms of the result, potentially (a free hit), but remember we can be in control of who we think we’ll play next.

“Obviously by winning a group, you’re more in control of fixtures and games that come out in the knockout stages. We’ve picked strong. New Zealand have picked strong.

“The occasion is going to get the game it deserves. I’ve said to the group, I think the World Cup is ready for this game. We’ll go at them. I’m sure they’ll come at us.

“We’ll both have moments when we’re on top and it’s how you capitalise on scoring points when you get those opportunities. I’m sure it’s going to be one of those games that goes to the wire.

“And if it is, we want to be in a position that we can control it and go to win the game and hopefully finish top of the group.”

Meanwhile, New Zealand’s selected matchday squad includes winger Ayesha Leti-I’iga, who returns from an ankle injury, and Kennedy Tukuafu also resumes her co-captaincy duties off the bench, alongside starting skipper Ruahei Demant.

In the starting XV, the front row remains unchanged with Chryss Viliko, Tanya Kalounivale, and Georgia Ponsonby anchoring the defending champions’ scrum.

Behind them are the second row duo of Maiakawanakaulani Roos and Alana Bremner, while the loose forwards see positional changes for Layla Sae and highly-rated youngster Jorja Miller. Liana Mikaele-Tu’u will wear the number 8 jersey.

Demant and Risaleaana Pouri-Lane, New Zealand Sevens’ Olympic gold medal-winning co-captain from last year, will pilot the Black Ferns’ back-line, inside the centre combination of Stacey Waaka and Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt.

The back-three features Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, who became New Zealand’s top Test try scorer – male or female – with her 50th try against Japan last week, talented 18-year-old Braxton Sorensen-McGee, and full-back Renee Holmes.

Following their World Cup debuts last weekend, Kate Henwood and Maia Joseph have been named on the bench alongside Vici-Rose Green, Amy Rule, Laura Bayfield, Theresa Setefano, and Leti-I’iga. Bayfield was cleared to play after a disciplinary update for her red card against Japan.

Allan Bunting, New Zealand’s director of performance, commented: “We’ve been blessed with world-class facilities and a warm welcome here in Brighton which has allowed us a quality lead into this weekend.

“Every game in our World Cup journey is crucial to us, and we want to finish our pool phase strong.

“Our wāhine (women) have all had an opportunity to play the past two games. Consistency and cohesion will be a key focus around our selections. We’ve had critical learnings out of the last two weeks and are building well.”

NEW ZEALAND: Renee Holmes (Waikato/Chiefs Manawa); Braxton Sorensen-McGee (Auckland/Blues), Stacey Waaka (Waikato/Chiefs Manawa), Logo-I-Pulotu Lemapu-Atai’i Sylvia Brunt (Auckland/Blues), Portia Woodman-Wickliffe (Northland/Blues); Ruahei Demant (Auckland/Blues) (co-capt), Risaleaana Pouri-Lane (Tasman/New Zealand Sevens); Chryss Viliko (Auckland/Blues), Georgia Ponsonby (Canterbury/Matatū), Tanya Kalounivale (Waikato/Chiefs Manawa), Maiakawanakaulani Roos (Auckland/Blues), Alana Bremner (Canterbury/Matatū), Layla Sae (Manawatū/Hurricanes Poua), Jorja Miller (Canterbury/New Zealand Sevens), Liana Mikaele-Tu’u (Auckland/Blues).

Replacements: Vici-Rose Green (Waikato/Chiefs Manawa), Kate Henwood (Bay of Plenty/Chiefs Manawa), Amy Rule (Canterbury/Matatū), Laura Bayfield (Canterbury/Matatū), Kennedy Tukuafu (Waikato/Chiefs Manawa) (co-capt), Maia Joseph (Otago/Matatū), Theresa Setefano (Auckland/Blues), Ayesha Leti-I’iga (Wellington/Hurricanes Poua).

IRELAND: Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC); Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC), Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht); Ellena Perry (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby) (co-capt), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (co-capt), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster).

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs), Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster), Eimear Corri Fallon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Claire Boles (Railway Union RFC/Ulster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC), Nancy McGillivray (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht).

Referee: Hollie Davidson (SRU)
Assistant Referees: Precious Pazani (ZRU), Amelia Luciano (USA)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (SARU)
FPRO: Matteo Liperini (FIR)

Pre-Match Quotes: Stacey Flood (Ireland) – “New Zealand are known for their running game – the girls are great at it, both in Sevens and 15s. It’s about seeing what they’re good at and hoping we can counteract it, but for us the main thing is focusing on ourselves.

“We want to implement our own style of play, just like we have in the last two games. We’ll stick to what we are good at and what we know. They are world-class contenders and we respect that, but at the end of the day it comes down to us.

“I’ve been taking on the reps (at out-half) in training. Dannah (O’Brien) is an incredible player, and hopefully she settles the ship of the game, and I won’t be needed, but if I am, we’re ready to go and have contingency plans for everything.

“I’ll put my best foot forward, it’s never just one player – it is a team effort. Even if you are wearing the 10 jersey, you’re never alone.”

Eimear Corri Fallon (Ireland) – “As forwards we take a lot of pride in our set-piece. That’s a great launcher for our backs and if we can be dominant in those areas, we have such pace out wide and in the middle of the pitch.

“We’re hugely aware that this game’s been sold out before the World Cup even kicked off. We’re hugely excited by the occasion.

“We’ve moved locations so to see our friends and family in a new place, it has given us a reset. We’ve taken it game by game but now we’re here, now we know so many Irish people are coming, we’re so looking forward to getting out on that pitch.”

---

---

---

---

Opta Facts – New Zealand v Ireland:

– Ireland  have won two of their three previous Test matches against New Zealand, including a 29-27 victory in their most recent clash in WXV1 last October. They are the only team to have a winning record over New Zealand

– Ireland and New Zealand’s only previous encounter in the Rugby World Cup came in 2014, a pool match which Ireland memorably won 17-14 at Marcoussis in France. The result ended a 20-game winning streak for the Black Ferns, and ultimately knocked them out of the main knockout phase

– New Zealand have won 22 of their 23 pool games at the Rugby World Cup (L1), their only defeat in that spell coming against Ireland in 2014. The Black Ferns have won each of their nine such outings since then, all by margins of 20+ points

– Ireland have won nine of their last 10 pool matches at the Rugby World Cup (L1), including both fixtures this year, and will be aiming to win all their pool games at an edition of the tournament for just the second time after 2014

– New Zealand have recorded more carry metres (2811), line breaks (40), and defenders beaten (103) than any other team at this year’s Rugby World Cup, with also making the most passes (471)

– Ireland are one of just three teams with a success rate of 90% or better at both the scrum (100%) and lineout (91%) at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, alongside Canada and Australia

– Only Canada (2.31s) have recorded a quicker average attacking ruck speed than New Zealand (2.60s) at England 2025, although Ireland have slowed down the opposition ruck more than any other team, their opponents taking 3.94 seconds on average to complete each ruck

– New Zealand’s Jorja Miller has beaten 17 defenders so far during the pool stages, more than any other player, with team-mate Portia Woodman-Wickliffe beating the second most (16). Miller has also made the most carry metres (263) and line breaks (7) of any forward

– Ireland’s Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald is one of just two players to attempt more than 10 lineout throws and record a 100% success rate (14/14), alongside Canada’s Emily Tuttosi (15/15)

– Four players have made more than 20 tackles without missing any at this year’s World Cup, with three of them being Irish – Ellena Perry (24/24), Claire Boles (23/23), and Neve Jones (22/22)

Previous Meetings –

2014: Rugby World Cup Pool B: New Zealand 14 Ireland 17, FFR Centre National du Rugby, Marcoussis

2016: November Series: Ireland 8 New Zealand 38, UCD Bowl

2024: WXV1: New Zealand 27 Ireland 29, BC Place, Vancouver

Support Ireland on www.facebook.com/irishrugby, or search #NZLvIRE, #GreenWave, and #RWC2025 on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.