The Ireland team to play the USA in the opening Pool B game in the IRB Women's Rugby World Cup tomorrow (4.0, Irish time) at Marcoussis outside Paris has been named.
Head coach, Philip Doyle, has chosen an experienced side, with all bar one of the starting team in possession on a Grand Slam medal. Niamh Briggs is named at fullback with Ashleigh Baxter and Alison Miller completing the back three combination.
In the centre, Lynne Cantwell is partnered by Grace Davitt with Nora Stapleton and Tania Rosser taking the half back positions.
Doyle admitted: “The team selection was a difficult one. We are in a very lucky position of having a strong squad to pick from. The atmosphere has been building up in camp all week and it’s time to go, the players can’t wait to get out on the pitch and get the campaign started.”
The game will be televised live on TG4.
Ireland: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster); Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond RFC/Exiles), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster); Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O'Brien (Highfield RFC/Munster). Replacements: Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's College/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exiles), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond RFC/Exiles)
