Ireland make seven changes for Spain in World Cup clash
Eve Higgins of Ireland runs with the ball whilst under pressure from Sachiko Kato and Yuna Sato of Japan
©Photo by Morgan Harlow - World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images
Ireland’s head coach Scott Bemand has made seven changes to the starting lineup for Sunday’s Women’s Rugby World Cup Pool C match against Spain in Northampton.
These alterations follow Ireland’s 42–14 opening win over Japan, as they aim to secure early qualification for the quarter-finals.
In the forwards, Ellena Perry earns her first start as a loosehead prop, while Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald takes the hooker role. Eimear Corri-Fallon enters the second row alongside captain Sam Monaghan, and Claire Boles debuts at openside flanker. Grace Moore replaces Brittany Hogan at number eight, shaping a refreshed forward pack.
]Molly Scuffil-McCabe moves into the scrum-half slot, replacing Aoibheann Reilly. Anna McGann starts on the right wing in place of Beibhinn Parsons, while the midfield pairing of Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton remains unchanged.
Dannah O’Brien, who kicked six from six last week, continues at fly-half. Notably, Linda Djougang is set to win her 50th Test cap.
On the bench, new additions Siobhán McCarthy and Nancy McGillivray join an experienced group that includes Neve Jones and Ruth Campbell.
Missing out are co-captain Edel McMahon, recovering from a knee injury, as well as Parsons, Reilly, and former captain Niamh O’Dowd.
Ireland team: S Flood; A McGann, A Dalton, E Higgins, A Costigan; D O’Brien, M Scuffil-McCabe; E Perry, C Moloney-MacDonald, L Djougang, E Corri-Fallon, S Monaghan (capt), F Tuite, C Boles, G Moore.
Reserves: N Jones, S McCarthy, S McGrath, R Campbell, B Hogan, E Lane, E Breen, N McGillivray.
