Monday, 4 August 2014

Rugby: Ireland v USA in World Cup opener

 


At 4pm tomorrow, just south-west of Paris, Ireland will line out in their opening fixture in the IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup 2014, where they’ll face the tough opposition of the USA. The game will be broadcast live on TG4.




Unless you’ve been living under a rock (or are allergic to sport, which is fine. No, really. It’s fine), you’ll know that the Ireland XV senior women’s rugby side are currently finishing final preparations for their World Cup campaign.


Since Gaelick first covered the 2010 World Cup, there have been some hugely significant, positive changes in the Ireland camp.


Speaking to IRFU TV, scrum-half Tania Rosser, pointed out that the set-up has become a lot more professional, including improvements in the areas of strength and conditioning, nutrition, video analysis and physio and medical support. For the first time, too, this year the senior women’s side gained a sponsor in AON. Rosser is an ideally placed for noticing these differences, having returned to the squad and to the game after a protracted hiatus.


 



 


Many of the players selected in the squad will be recognisable faces, having been involved in securing this year’s Six Nations third place, last year’s historic Six Nations Grand Slam win, and indeed some names from previous World Cup competitions.


Together with Rosser, experienced players on the squad include Munster’s Laura Guest (back row), captain Fiona Coghlan of Leinster (prop) and her provincial team-mates Marie-Louise Reilly (lock) and Nora Stapleton (fly-half). Ireland veteran and former captain, Joy Neville, won’t be on the team having retired from the game after Ireland’s Six Nations Grand Slam win; but she will be among the crowd cheering from the stands, and was among the many faces wishing the squad good luck earlier this week. Sadly, too, Ireland is missing the reliable and fast-paced winger Niamh Kavanagh, due to injury sustained in Ireland’s final World Cup warm-up game.


Their absences, and the increased competition for squad places thanks to continued development of the women’s game, mean that there are also some fresh faces who have travelled to Marcoussis. These include Orla Fitzsimons (lock), who was called up for her debut cap in this year’s Six Nations match against Scotland, Fiona Hayes (prop), Sharon Lynch (hooker) and Vikki McGinn (full-back), who was called up in place of Kavanagh.



In this World Cup, the team is setting its sights on reaching the semi-finals. That combination of experience and fresh faces in the squad, overall improved professionalism in the camp set-up and the irrepresible highs of recent Six Nations campaigns mean that Ireland are strong contenders for the crucial first or second places in what is a tough pool (Pool B), against the USA, Kazakhstan and world champions New Zealand.


In 2010, Ireland faced – and beat – the USA and Kazakhstan in the pool stages:



They beat a much-fancied USA team 22-12 in their first game and went on to record a 37-3 victory over Kazakhstan.



So history favours the Irish side there, at least, although four years is a long time in women’s rugby, as these players well know. Ireland take on the Black Ferns for the first time in Irish women’s XVs history, so the battle against the reigning world champions could be a nail-biting affair. Philip Doyle’s announcement that he is to retire as head coach after this World Cup, may provide additional motivation to the players.



The tournament runs from 1st-17th August. TG4 will broadcast all of Ireland’s pool fixtures live, as well as the semi-final and final games. They will also be available for streaming 12 hours after the conclusion of each game.


The offical Twitter hashtag for the tournament is #WRWC2014.


 


Ireland v Wales (3 Feb 2012). Ireland


Ireland v Wales (3 Feb 2012). Ireland’s Call.

Image: © Joan O’Connell


 


Ireland Pool B fixtures


Friday, 1st August 2014 at 4pm (Irish time)

IRELAND v USA


Tuesday, 5th August 2014 at 5pm (Irish time)

New Zealand v IRELAND


Saturday, 9th August 2014 AT 12 noon (Irish time)

IRELAND v KAZAKHSTAN


The Women’s Rugby World Cup semi-finals take place on Wednesday, 13th August, at 5pm and 7:45pm, respectively.


The Women’s Rugby World Cup final takes place on Sunday, 17th August, at 5:45pm.


Full match schedule here.


 


Ireland squad


Backs


Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile)
Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exile)
Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
Vikki McGinn (Blackrock/Leinster)

Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Ulster)
Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)

Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile)


Forwards


Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt.)
Kerrie-Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile)
Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)

Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)


 


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Article source: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/10336256/Wales-Scotland-and-Ireland-Rugby-Unions-refuse-to-sanction-their-clubs-playing-in-European-breakaway.html


Rugby: Ireland v USA in World Cup opener
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