It’s a hurl new ball game for Ireland
Seven changes for Japan as roar of full house has women feeling invincible
IRELAND will be looking for a maximum five-point haul when they take on Japan in their second Pool C game at the UCD Bowl this evening (kick off 5.15pm).
While the tournament hosts kicked off their campaign with a two-point win over Australia on Wednesday, the Japanese conceded a try inside 20 seconds on the way to a 72-14 drubbing at the hands of France, who take on the Walleroos in the day’s second pool game.
Head coach Tom Tierney has made seven changes in personnel to the starting XV from Wednesday with UL Bohemians’ Nicole Cronin handed a first cap at scrum-half. Hannah Tyrrell switches from full-back to wing, while Mairead Coyne and Katie Fitzhenry come into the backline.
In the pack, Ciara Griffin, Sophie Spence and Ciara O’Connor, who were all introduced with telling effect in midweek, earn deserved call-ups. Ciara Cooney makes her first appearance of the tournament in the second row and skipper Claire Molloy switches to number eight.
Larissa Muldoon, Marie-Louise Reilly and Paula Fitzpatrick are among the regulars to be rested but Tierney has full confidence in the new scrum-half.
‘It’s Nicole’s debut. She’s a very good player and has earned the right to be here in the 28. She’s part of the squad that we’ve put a lot of faith in. We’ve gone through a lot of things over the last couple of days and the girls are in good shape. ‘It’s going to be a great opportunity for her and for all of us playing a second game in front of a full house. She’ll boss the forwards around and get the pace of the game up and running, she’ll go well,’ said Tierney. Wednesday night’s game attracted impressive viewing figures and a sell-out crowd and former Dublin ladies footballer Lindsay Peat feels home support can make a huge difference over the next fortnight.
‘When you have a demon in your ear saying you can’t do this and then you hear a couple of thousand Irish people roaring at you, then the demons are just blown away. You get these goosebumps, you’re just buzzing and you feel invincible.
‘That’s what they did the other night, they literally got behind us and shoved us and that’s what we’ll need for the whole five games in this country. If any nation is going to do it, it’s going to be the Irish. On behalf of the team, we’re hugely thankful for everyone getting behind us but we still need them for the next four games and hopefully that will be all the way to the World Cup final,’ said the prop.
Peat believes Wednesday’s game was a great advertisement for the women’s game, which has come in for criticism from certain quarters.
‘If people are sceptical without viewing our standard of rugby, then really they aren’t a believer in this game. I think there has been a huge show of very talented players so far and we’re only one game down. The tournament is only going to build so if you’re sceptical, just come and watch us live and hopefully we can answer any sceptics’ questions.
‘If people come along and don’t like the standard of the game, then that’s their opinion but it was a great game on Wednesday for supporters. Obviously as players we didn’t want it as close but it’s a World Cup and you’re not going to run away with games. People who watched the game live were absolutely buzzing because it was so exciting. If you love rugby and you love sport I think it has been a great tournament so far but maybe I’m biased!’
The sides played two warm-up matches in UCD at the beginning of June with Ireland running out winners 24-22 and 24-15. Japan went on to defeat Wales in another warm-up game and won the Asia Cup but while they did manage to beat Ireland 18-0 in their last World Cup appearance back in 2002, anything other than a comfortable home win this evening would represent a major shock.