Irish Team to play USA Named

Ireland coach Philip Doyle has made four changes to his side to face the USA in their second appearance at the Women s Rugby World Cup in Canada today. (Monday 7pm kick off Irish time)

IRELAND coach Philip Doyle has made four changes to his side to face the USA in their second appearance at the Women s Rugby World Cup in Canada today. (Monday)

There are three changes in the pack from the team which was overpowered by France last Thursday and one change in the back-line.

The USA game (7pm kick off Irish time) takes on huge significance for both teams who have yet to register a win at the tournament with the Americans being beaten 18-0 by England on the opening day.

Given the huge set-piece difficulties Ireland encountered against the French, and having seen how physical the Americans were against England despite their loss, the Irish coach has dropped two of his front row prop Marie Barrett and hooker Jean Lonergan to the bench, in favour of Yvonne Nolan, who makes her first Irish start in the number two jersey, and experienced Ulster prop Gillian McAllister.

Leinster flanker Orla Brennan reclaims the number six shirt from Eimear O Sullivan while Connacht winger Nuala Ni Chaidhain has been replaced by Amanda Greensmith.

The changes up front should give Ireland a more physical presence against an American team who beat them 25-10 in Limerick last January in a Six Nations warm-up game.

Ireland s noon kick off means that they are less likely to be as affected, as other teams will, by the soaring temperatures in Edmonton which are expected to reach up to 30 degrees during the late afternoon.

Defending champions New Zealand also play at noon when they square up to Samoa. Other games to be played later in the day see Scotland face Kazakhstan, England play South Africa, Australia play France and Spain face host nation Canada.

Ireland s game will be streamed live as a webcast at a low cost on www.rwcwomens.com.

Ireland team to play the USA, Ellerslie Rugby Park, Edmonton, Monday August 4th @ 12 noon (7pm Ireland time):

J O Sullivan, J Feighery, L Cantwell, G Davitt, A Greensmith, SJ Belton, T Rosser, F Coghlan, Y Nolan, G McAllister, C Mahon, G Healy, O Brennan, R Boyd, J Neville

Replacements: J Lonergan, M Barrett, R Foley, E O Sullivan, L Beamish, N Ni Chaidhain, S Houston.

Alison Donnelly

IWRFU Press Officer