Only two points separated Ireland and Australia when the sides met on the opening day of WRWC 2017, and the carrot of qualification for the 2021 tournament for today’s winners will ensure another tough battle in this first match at Kingspan Stadium.
2017 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP – 5TH-8TH PLACE PLAY-OFF: Tuesday, August 22
IRELAND WOMEN v AUSTRALIA WOMEN, Kingspan Stadium, 2pm (live eir Sport 1/RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (Republic of Ireland only)/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/www.rwcwomens.com live stream (in certain regions))
Team News: The Ireland Women’s team to face Australia in today’s 5th-8th place play-off in Belfast has been confirmed. There are three changes to the side that started against France in last week’s Pool C decider.
Ireland kick off a day of top class international rugby at Kingspan Stadium at 2pm ahead of the two Women’s Rugby World Cup 2017 semi-finals – tickets are available now from Ticketmaster.
Head coach Tom Tierney has made three changes to the starting XV from the game against France, with Kerry native Louise Galvin handed her first 15s international start on the right wing. The girls in green defeated Australia 19-17 at UCD on the opening night of WRWC 2017.
Cliodhna Moloney and Ciara Cooney return to the tight five, starting at hooker and in the second row respectively as Leah Lyons and Sophie Spence both drop to the bench. Cooney will combine with Marie Louise Reilly in the engine room, while Moloney teams up with Lindsay Peat and Ailis Egan in the front row.
The back row is the same as last week with Ciara Griffin, team captain Claire Molloy and Paula Fitzpatrick all retained in their positions. Peat and Molloy will be making their fourth starts of the tournament.
Nicole Cronin has held onto the number 9 jersey, partnering Donegal woman Nora Stapleton who will win cap number 49. Jenny Murphy and Sene Naoupu, who hits the 20-cap mark, feature again in midfield, with the newly-introduced Galvin linking up with Alison Miller, who is set for her 40th appearance, and Hannah Tyrrell in the back-three.
Ulster prop Ilse van Staden, who was called up for the injured Ruth O’Reilly, is on the bench with Anna Caplice and Claire McLaughlin also named among the replacements as they look to make their World Cup debuts in the green jersey.
Speaking about the start of the WRWC 2017 play-offs, Tierney said: “Since arriving in Belfast on Friday the squad have had some down-time and settled well into the city and training has been very positive.
“We know what the Australians will bring to the game (today), and we will have to be ready to match their physicality from the start. We’ve reviewed our own games and looked at areas where we can improve in both attack and defence. There is huge pride in this team and we’re looking to finish this tournament with two performances.”
This afternoon’s play-off encounter between Ireland and Australia will be broadcast live on eir Sport 1 and RTE Two, while RTE Radio 1 Extra will have live commentary on radio. There will also be live streaming on www.rwcwomens.com – available in certain regions.
Meanwhile, Wallaroos veteran Ashleigh Hewson will return to the Australian side for their rematch with Ireland – just under two week after their narrow pool defeat to the tournament hosts in UCD.
Hewson will take on the play-making role at out-half after missing the past two matches with injury. Head coach Paul Verrell has selected the Wallaroos’ most experienced matchday 23 ever, with a total of 196 Test caps.
Hewson is the only personnel change to the team that started the 29-15 victory over Japan in the last round, but Verrell has reshuffled his starting pack. Lock Rebecca Clough will start in the second row, partnering Alisha Hewett, so youngster Millie Boyle moves to blindside flanker and Mollie Gray drops down to the bench.
Centre Sharni Williams continues to lead the team in the absence of fellow Sevens star Shannon Parry who has unfortunately sustained a World Cup-ending elbow injury. “It’s definitely not an ideal scenario to be leaving the touring party but it’s best, from the medical advice, that I head home, get my injury sorted and move forward to what’s coming up,” she said.
WRWC 2017 – Belfast Match Day Guide
WRWC 2017 – Belfast Journey Planner
Where To Watch – WRWC 2017 Broadcast Information
For more on the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup, visit the tournament website – www.rwcwomens.com. Buy your match tickets for the #WRWC2017 finals stages now on www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017 and www.ticketmaster.ie/wrwc2017.
IRELAND: Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Harlequins), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) (capt), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster).
Replacements: Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Ulster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster).
AUSTRALIA: Samantha Treherne (Queensland/Sunnybank); Nareta Marsters (Queensland/Sunnybank), Sarah Riordan (Australian Defence Force/Victoria/Melbourne Unicorns), Sharni Williams (Australia Sevens/ACT/Canberra Royals) (capt), Mahalia Murphy (Australia Sevens/NSW/Campbell Town); Ashleigh Hewson (Sydney/Sydney University), Katrina Barker (NSW Country/Newcastle University); Liz Patu (Queensland/Wests), Cheyenne Campbell (Queensland/Redlands), Hilisha Samoa (Queensland/Brothers), Alisha Hewett (Australian Defence Force/Queensland/GPS), Rebecca Clough (Western Australia/Cottesloe), Millie Boyle (ACT/Canberra Royals), Chloe Butler (South Australia/Parramatta), Grace Hamilton (Sydney/Sydney University).
Replacements: Emily Robinson (Sydney/Warringah), Violeta Tupuola (ACT/Royals), Hana Ngaha (Queensland/Sunnybank), Mollie Gray (Australian Defence Force/NSW/Maitland), Kate Brown (ACT/Tuggeranong Vikings), Fenella Hake (Queensland/Redlands), Kayla Sauvao (Sydney/Parramatta), Trilleen Pomare (Western Australia/Wanneroo).
Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Television Match Official: David Grashoff (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 4/11; Draw: 12/1; Australia Women to win: 13/5
Pre-Match Quotes – Tom Tierney (Ireland Women): ““We had two brilliant weeks in UCD but at this stage of the tournament, whether you’re winning or losing, the mantra is less is more, so we’ve had a bit of down-time, the girls had some free time and we’ve just focused on key areas we need to improve on.
“It’s been a challenge – we won’t shy away from that. There was a lot of disappointment and a lot of hurt. We were looking for a different result last Thursday but it’s in the past now. We’re not the first Irish team not to achieve what we wanted in a World Cup so there’s nothing new there.
“We just have to ensure the disappointment of the last few days is behind us and we’re looking forward to playing for Ireland again. Not many people get to play for their country and we’ve got to grab that with both hands. There has been a lot of ‘what ifs’ and ‘almosts’ in how we’ve played in the last three games, so we’re going to hopefully put a lot of things on show that will get the girls on the front foot.
“It’s a bit of mind games, the Australians will be looking to improve in certain areas and be good in different areas. It’ll be a bit of cat and mouse but we are just looking at implementing a couple of things in attack and in defence and try to impose our game on the Australians.
“We were on the back foot physicality-wise for much of the first game (against them) and that’s going to be the focus. We knew from a pack perspective they were going to be very big, very aggressive, and with the Sevens players coming back they were going to add real intensity to the breakdown, so we knew it was coming and we don’t expect anything different on this occasion.
“It’s a settled enough team. There’s 12 players who started against the French, which was a hugely physical game, but we’re confident those girls can rock up again and are also confident the girls coming in will add value to the team. We want to make sure we get the balance right between the starting fifteen and having impact off the bench.”
Paul Verrell (Australia Women): “As we approach this match against Ireland once again we’ve tried to make minimal changes to create some cohesion amongst the group. The girls played some good rugby against Japan and we’re hoping they can build upon that.
“We’ve been able to welcome back Ashleigh Hewson into the squad this week which is a positive, as she brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience. Rebecca Clough’s return to the starting side is also reward for the effort she has been putting in on and off the field.
“While we’re out of semi-finals contention, the team is focused on finishing the World Cup as highly ranked as we can, and to have a second chance against Ireland after a two-point loss, this match provides us with a chance for some redemption.”
Pre-Match Links –
WRWC 2017 Semi-Finals Will Be A ‘Real Spectacle’
Black Ferns Return To Top Of Rankings
Peat Thanks Fans For ‘Amazing’ Support At UCD
RTÉ Gets Behind Ireland’s WRWC 2017 Campaign
Kim Flood Joins Belton And Rosser On Eir Sport’s WRWC 2017 Team
WRWC 2017: Stat Attack –
IRELAND –
Best finish: Fourth (2014)
Worst finish: 14th (2002)
Women’s Rugby World Cup record: Played 30/Won 14/Lost 16
Women’s Rugby World Cup points scored: 435
Most-capped player in squad: Claire Molloy (56 caps)
Did you know?: Alison Miller’s try at WRWC 2014 gave Irish Rugby their first ever 15s international win over New Zealand at any level and also ended the Black Ferns’ 20-match unbeaten run in the tournament.
Head coach: Tom Tierney
Captain: Claire Molloy
AUSTRALIA –
Best finish: Third (2010)
Worst finish: Seventh (2006, 2014)
Women’s Rugby World Cup record: Played 27/Won 15/Lost 12
Women’s Rugby World Cup points scored: 543
Most-capped player in squad: Sharni Williams (17 caps)
Did you know?: Captain Shannon Parry and Sharni Williams led Australia to the first Olympic Sevens gold medals at Rio 2016 on August 8 last year.
Head coach: Paul Verrell
Captain: Shannon Parry
Previous Meetings –
1998: Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool D: Australia 21 Ireland 0, Amsterdam
2006: Women’s Rugby World Cup – 7th-8th Place Play-Off: Ireland 14 Australia 18, Edmonton
2017: Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool C: Ireland 19 Australia 17, UCD Bowl
Support Ireland on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #WRWC2017, #BringIt and #IREvAUS on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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