Tough Start For Women’s Team

Philip Doyle’s Ireland Women’s team open their World Cup account against France in Edmonton in the early hours of Friday morning (Irish time).

…The Ireland Women’s team before a Six Nations game at Donnybrook…

Philip Doyle’s Ireland Women’s team open their World Cup account against France in Edmonton in the early hours of Friday morning (Irish time).

2006 IRB WOMEN’S RUGBY WORLD CUP: Thursday August 31

IRELAND v FRANCE, St. Albert RFC, Edmonton, 12.00am Irish time

For the pool stage opener, Doyle has kept the faith with the side that started the recent 17-6 friendly win over Scotland.

That means Munster’s Eimear O’Sullivan has retained her place on the blindside on the scrum after impressing against the Scots. Another Munster player, Jeanette Feighery, who turned in a stunning debut against the Scots scoring two tries, holds onto the number 14 jersey.

The French are third seeds for the tournament, while Ireland, under the captaincy of Munster out-half Sarahjane Belton, are tenth of the 12 competing nations. Doyle’s charges will have to work very hard to overturn the result of the sides’ Six Nations meeting in February – the hosts ran out 32-0 winners in Montauban.

You can follow the match live from midnight with our live match tracker from Edmonton. Television coverage of the tie is also be available through www.rwcwomens.com for a small fee.

Ireland: Joanne O’Sullivan; Jeanette Feighery, Lynne Cantwell, Grace Davitt, Nuala Ni Chadhain; Sarahjane Belton (capt), Tania Rosser; Fiona Coghlan, Jean Lonergan, Marie Barrett, Germaine Healy, Caroline Mahon, Eimear O’Sullivan, Rachel Boyd, Joy Neville.

Replacements: Yvonne Nolan, Gillian McAllister, Rosie Foley, Orla Brennan, Louise Beamish, Amanda Greensmith, Shannon Houston.

France: Christelle Le Duff; Catherine Devillers, Lucie Elodie, Dalila Boukerma, Marion Talayrach; Estelle Sartini (capt), Julie Pujol; Daniele Irazu, Laetitia Salles, Fanny Gelis, Maylis Bonnin, Clotilde Flaugere, Aline Sagols, Sandrine Jaureguiberry, Delphine Plantet.

Replacements: Clemence Ollivier, Rosa Marce, Corinne Devroute, Claire Canal, Stephanie Provost, Fanny Horta, Celine Allainmat.

Referee: Jenny Bental (South Africa)
Touch Judges: Malcolm Changleng (Scotland), Kim Smit (South Africa)