Ireland coach Philip Doyle says his side are ready to let their rugby do the talking ahead of their opening Women’s World Cup match against hosts England at Surrey Sports Park.
Loosehead prop Fiona Coghlan’s captains the side and she will be hoping they make a bright start in the competition ahead of tough encounters with former winners USA on Tuesday and Kazakhstan four days later.
Ireland have named Niamh Briggs, one of the IRB’s ‘players to watch’, at full-back, while Ireland’s most capped player Lynne Cantwell starts at centre for the first time in over a year after a stint playing in New Zealand.
And Doyle maintains that the atmosphere around the camp couldn’t be better and the team are confident they can see off the 2006 World Cup runners-up.
He said: “I have been really impressed with the skills, dedication and commitment the girls have shown over the last number of months. The attitude of the squad has been phenomenal. Now we just want to get onto the pitch and play.”
Ireland Women’s Team to play England: 15 – Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/ Munster) 14 – Amy Davis (Blackrock/ Leinster) 13 – Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond/ Exile) 12 – Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians) 11 – Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/ Leinster) 10 – Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster) 9 – Tania Rosser (Blackrock/ Leinster) 1 – Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/ Leinster) 2 – Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/ Munster) 3 – Louise Austin (UL Bohemians/ Munster) 4 – Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel/ Munster) 5 – Marie Louise Reilly (Navan/ Leinster) 6 – Orla Brennan (Blackrock/ Leinster) 7 – Claire Molloy (Bristol/ Connacht) 8 – Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
Replacments: 16 – Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/ Leinster) 17 – Laura Guest (Highfield/ Munster) 18 – Carol Staunton (Galwegians/ Connacht) 19 – Sinead Ryan (Blackrock/ Leinster) 20 – Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian/ Munster) 21 – Shannon Houston (Blackrock/ Leinster) 22 – Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
