The last direct qualification place for Women’s Rugby World Cup 2021 awaits the winners of today’s 7th-8th place play-off between tournament hosts Ireland and Wales at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off 2pm).
2017 WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP – 7TH-8TH PLACE PLAY-OFF: Saturday, August 26
IRELAND WOMEN v WALES WOMEN, Kingspan Stadium, 2pm (live eir Sport 1/RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (Republic of Ireland only)/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/www.s4c.co.uk/www.rwcwomens.com live stream (in certain regions))
Team News: Out-half Nora Stapleton will make her 50th appearance for Ireland when they take on Wales in their Women’s Rugby World Cup 7th-8th place play-off clash at Kingspan Stadium today.
Stapleton, who made her debut against Italy in the 2010 Six Nations, is the third member of Ireland’s WRWC 2017 squad to reach the half-century milestone, after captain Claire Molloy and Marie Louise Reilly.
The Donegal woman – the scorer of 15 points in the tournament – will be partnered by Nicole Cronin for the third game in a row, with head coach Tom Tierney making four personnel changes and two positional switches to the side that lost 36-24 to Australia.
Following reviews after Tuesday’s game, it has been confirmed that both Molloy and Jenny Murphy, who were taken off for head injury assessments and did not return, will miss the Wales match. The pair are following the return-to-play protocols and are not available for selection.
With Murphy sidelined and Sene Naoupu set for bench duty, there is a new centre partnership as Blackrock duo Katie Fitzhenry and Jeamie Deacon team up in midfield. It will be a proud day for the two Wexford natives, with Deacon making her first international start on Irish soil.
Hannah Tyrrell and Alison Miller, who have been ever-present at this World Cup, are joined in the back-three by Eimear Considine, while the fourth and final change sees Heather O’Brien return at number 8 behind an unchanged tight five. Fellow Munster player Ciara Griffin moves to openside flanker, with Paula Fitzpatrick, who will captain the team, reverting to the blindside.
The 7th-8th place play-off between Ireland and Wales will be broadcast live on eir Sport 1 and RTE Two, while RTE Radio 1 will have live commentary on radio. There will also be live streaming on www.rwcwomens.com – available in certain regions.
Meanwhile, Wales have made six changes to their team from the heavy 52-0 play-off defeat to Canada in midweek. Two of the changes are positional – Elinor Snowsill goes from out-half to full-back, allowing Robyn Wilkins her first tournament start at number 10, and Elen Evans moves from the left to right wing as Jasmine Joyce returns to the side.
The two other changes see Keira Bevan starting at scrum half and Siwan Lillicrap coming into the second row. Injuries to Rebecca Rowe and Dyddgu Hywel have ruled the pair out of this final match at Ireland 2017.
There is a place on the bench for India Berbillion, the 18-year-old Dragons play-maker from Church Village who could make her international debut. Berbillion is one of four talented teenagers among the Welsh replacements, with prop Gwenllian Pyrs (19), hooker Kelsey Jones (19) and back rower Lleucu George (17) also included.
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 now for the #WRWC2017 finals day on www.ticketmaster.co.uk/wrwc2017 and www.ticketmaster.ie/wrwc2017.
IRELAND: Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster), Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster), 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), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster) (capt), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster).
Replacements: Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Ulster), Sene Naoupu (Harlequins), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht).
WALES: Elinor Snowsill (Dragons); Elen Evans (RGC), Gemma Rowland (Dragons), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets); Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Scarlets), Carys Phillips (Ospreys) (capt), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets), Rachel Taylor (RGC), Sioned Harries (Scarlets).
Replacements: Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys), Lleucu George (Scarlets), Sian Moore (Dragons), India Berbillion (Dragons), Jodie Evans (Dragons).
Referee: Claire Hodnett (England)
Assistant Referees: Graham Cooper (Australia), Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Television Match Official: David Grashoff (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 1/6; Draw: 16/1; Wales Women to win: 9/2
Pre-Match Quotes – Tom Tierney (Ireland Women): “It’s no secret that we didn’t want to be in this position, but it is where we have found ourselves on the final weekend, and while we’re disappointed that we’re not competing for higher honours, we want to sign off the competition with a win.
“It really is a cup final (tomorrow), with the winners gaining automatic qualification for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Wales have shown they have a strong set piece, and we’ve had challenging games with them over the last few seasons in the Six Nations.
“It’s been a tough few weeks, but I know that the players really want to put in a performance (tomorrow) and as they have said – leave the green jersey in a better place.”
Rowland Phillips (Wales Women): “There’s huge motivation among this team to finish the tournament on a high. We’ve seen a lot of development among the squad since we’ve been over here, which is gratifying as we look ahead to next year’s Women’s Six Nations and the next Women’s Rugby World Cup.
“We can take inspiration from our first two performances in the pool stages where we troubled two of the best sides in the world in New Zealand and Canada. Equally, we’ll learn important lessons from our second meeting with Canada where a lot of things didn’t go right for us.
“The inclusion of India, Gwenllian (Pyrs), Kelsey (Jones) and Lleucu (George) in the squad is a good indication of the quality of players we have coming through the Under-18 system, working closely with the regions and clubs.
“We’ve had one eye on the future during this whole process, and the fact that these youngsters been able to be around highly experienced players such as Rachel Taylor and Elen Evans, individuals whose approach to the game is exceptional, is fantastic.”
Pre-Match Links –
Record-Breaking Ireland 2017 Helps Drive For Development Of Women’s Game
McLaughlin: Mindset Key For Crunch Clash With Wales
‘Pass It Back’ Cup In Belfast Proves Inspirational
Joy Neville To Referee Women’s Rugby World Cup Final
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 31/Won 14/Lost 17
Women’s Rugby World Cup points scored: 459
Most-capped player in squad: Claire Molloy (57 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
WALES –
Best finish: Fourth (1994)
Worst finish: 11th (1998)
Women’s Rugby World Cup record: Played 29/Won 11/Lost 17/Drawn 1
Women’s Rugby World Cup points scored: 544
Most-capped player in squad: Elen Evans (68 caps)
Did you know?: On the day the Welsh World Cup squad was announced, its youngest member Lleucu George won a bronze medal in Sevens at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas.
Head coach: Rowland Phillips
Captain: Carys Phillips
Recent Meetings –
2015: Women’s Six Nations: Wales 0 Ireland 20, St. Helen’s, Swansea RFC
2016: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland 21 Wales 3, Donnybrook
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Wales 7 Ireland 12, BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park
Support Ireland on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #WRWC2017, #BringIt and #IREvWAL on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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