WXV1: Canada v Ireland

The Ireland Women (sponsored by Aon) resume their WXV1 campaign in Langley today, taking on tournament hosts Canada who are in a similarly buoyant mood following an impressive opening win over France. Kick-off is at 11.45pm Irish time (live on RugbyPass TV/BBC iPlayer).

WXV1 – ROUND 2:

Saturday, October 5 –

CANADA (2nd) v IRELAND (3rd), Langley Events Centre, Langley, 3.45pm local time/11.45pm Irish time (live on RugbyPass TV/BBC iPlayer)

Team News: Ireland captain Edel McMahon has been ruled out of this second round encounter after sustaining a knock in training earlier in the week, meaning centre Enya Breen will deputise and lead her country for the first time.

Head coach Scott Bemand has made four personnel changes to the team that saw off New Zealand 29-27 in a thrilling WXV1 opener. There are first Test starts for Emily Lane and Erin King, two of the squad’s Paris 2024 Olympians.

Lane comes in at half-back to partner Dannah O’Brien, who coolly slotted over the late match-winning conversion against the Black Ferns. Eve Higgins combines with Skibbereen native Breen in midfield, meaning Aoife Dalton is set for an impact role off the bench.

Ireland’s back-line is completed by an unchanged back-three of Stacey Flood, Eimear Considine, and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, while Clíodhna Moloney swaps in for Neve Jones at hooker, making her first Test start since the November 2021 win over the USA.

Niamh O’Dowd, Linda Djougang, on the occasion of her 40th Ireland cap, Dorothy Wall, and Fiona Tuite continue together in the tight five.

Blessington-based youngster King, who is just a couple of weeks away from her 21st birthday, is rewarded with the number 6 jersey following her two-try cameo during the closing stages of the New Zealand game.

Aoife Wafer, the two-try Mastercard player-of-the-match in Vancouver, switches to the openside flanker role, and a hard-carrying loose forwards trio is completed by number 8 Brittany Hogan, winning her 26th cap.

Ireland have plenty of firepower among the replacements, including the welcome return of Deirbhile Nic a Bháird, who is back in the matchday 23 following her recovery from an ACL injury. She last played for Ireland in April of last year.

Cork-born prop Andrea Stock is standing by to make her Test debut, while Jones, Siobhán McCarthy, Grace Moore, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Dalton, and WXV1 debutant Nicole Fowley are the other selected replacements.

Looking forward to what is only Ireland’s fourth Test meeting with Canada, and the first since 2016, Bemand said: “We were really pleased to get our campaign off to a winning start last weekend, and there has been a real hunger within the group this week to reset the focus.

“We want to keep momentum going and be a bit better again this week. Character and performance will keep this moving forward.

“A number of players have earned their opportunity in a green jersey on Saturday, having worked hard to compete across the week, and it will be a special moment for Enya to lead the team for the first time, supported by our leaders.

“A strong Canada outfit will provide a different challenge for us, and we’re looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the best teams in the world.”

Meanwhile, second row and captain Tyson Beukeboom will become the first Canadian woman to play 70 Tests. Three of Canada’s five personnel changes from the 46-24 success against France are in the pack.

A debutant last Sunday, Castaway Wanderers’ Caroline Crossley makes her first international start in the back row. Alexandria Ellis from Stade Francais replaces DaLeaka Menin at tighthead prop, and Courtney Holtkamp partners Beukeboom at lock.

Fancy Bermudez, who bagged a brace of tries against les Bleues, is joined by two of her fellow Paris 2024 Olympic silver medallists in the back-three. Alysha Corrigan comes in on the left wing, and Exeter Chiefs’ Taylor Perry is handed her first start in the full-back position.

Former UBC Thunderbird Rori Wood is set to make her senior debut for Canada off the bench. Versatile forward Julia Omokhuale, who joined Leicester Tigers earlier this year, is also in line for her tournament bow.

CANADA: Taylor Perry (Oakville Crusaders/Exeter Chiefs); Fancy Bermudez (NWAA/Westshore RFC/Saracens), Shoshanah Seumanutafa (Counties Manukau), Alex Tessier (Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue RFC/Exeter Chiefs), Alysha Corrigan (CRFC/Saracens); Claire Gallagher (Aurora Barbarians/Leicester Tigers), Justine Pelletier (Club de rugby de Québec/Stade Bordelais); Brittany Kassil (Guelph Goats), Emily Tuttosi (Calgary Hornets/Exeter Chiefs), Alexandria Ellis (Barrhaven Scottish/Stade Français Paris), Tyson Beukeboom (Cowichan Piggies/Aurora Barbarians/Trailfinders Women) (capt), Courtney Holtkamp (Red Deer Titans Rugby), Pamphinette Buisa (Ottawa Irish), Caroline Crossley (Castaway Wanderers), Gabrielle Senft (Castaway Wanderers/Saracens).

Replacements: Sara Cline (Leprechaun Tigers), McKinley Hunt (Aurora Barbarians/Saracens), Rori Wood (College Rifles RFC), Laetitia Royer (St-Anne-de-Bellevue/Concordia University/ASM Romagnat), Fabiola Forteza (Club de rugby de Québec/Stade Bordelais), Julia Omokhuale (Calgary Irish Rugby Club/Leicester Tigers), Olivia Apps (Lindsay RFC), Julia Schell (Guelph Goats/Castaway Wanderers/Trailfinders Women).

IRELAND: Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster), Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC), Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) (capt), Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Railway Union RFC/Munster); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC); Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs/Munster), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster), Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster).

Replacements: Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Siobhán McCarthy (Gloucester-Hartpury/Munster), Andrea Stock (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere RFC/Munster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians RFC/Connacht), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster).

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand), Jenny Lui (USA)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Pre-Match Quotes – Enya Breen (Ireland): “It’s a massive honour for me, my family, and my whole community. Something you only dream of as a kid, so, yeah, I’m delighted (to captain the team).

“Obviously I’m disappointed for ‘Tricky’ (Edel McMahon) to be injured, but she’s still leading from the sidelines as usual. We’ve built a good leadership group over the last year, and everyone’s well able to step up to the plate, whether it’s 1 to 30.

“Obviously last weekend was great, but we had to come back down from the emotional high pretty quickly. Canada are a good team and we had to get ourselves physically right at the start of the week, and then focus the minds pretty quickly.

“We know it’s going to be tough to match the levels that we hit last weekend, but we’re very prepared for the challenge. It’s a hugely exciting challenge, Canada, the home team, they’ve had a great few years since the World Cup. We’re buzzing to have a crack at them.”

Kévin Rouet (Canada): “It was great to start off WXV1 with a win last week against a top four team in the world (France), but the squad quickly shifted their focus to be ready for what will be a tough game against Ireland.

“Ireland will challenge us but, even with a short week to prepare, the team has looked sharp throughout training. I am excited to see what they will do out on the pitch on Saturday.

“We made some adjustments to the team after France because it’s important that we continue to build squad depth. The World Cup will be a long journey and if we want to accomplish our ultimate goal, we’ll need a squad full of experienced and talented players. It will take more than just a group of 23 players.”

Match Facts – Canada v Ireland:

• This will be their first meeting on Canadian soil, and first for eight years since Canada ran out convincing 48-7 winners at the UCD Bowl in November 2016
• Julianne Zussman, who is the referee for today’s WXV1 match between France and the USA, scored a brace of tries, with DaLeaka Menin, Karen Paquin, Emily Belchos, Laura Russell, and Magali Harvey also dotting down
• Andrea Burk converted five of the seven tries and also kicked a penalty
• Nikki Caughey converted her own try early in the second half for Ireland’s only points
• Nicole Fowley is the only player in Ireland’s current squad involved that day in Dublin, while Canada have four in their squad in Menin, Paquin, Alex Tessier, and Tyson Beukeboom
• This encounter came 10 years after their previous match on Irish soil, the hosts winning 15-8 thanks to tries from Caroline Mahon, Orla Brennan, and Joy Neville
• Their first meeting 22 years ago came at the 2002 Rugby World Cup in Spain, with Christie Thompson scoring two of Canada’s eight tries in their 57-0 defeat of Ireland
• The respective head coaches both have winning records of 70% or higher. Kévin Rouet’s record over 25 Tests in charge of Canada stands at 72%, while Ireland have won 70% of their 10 matches since Scott Bemand took the coaching reins last year

WXV1 Head-To-Head: Canada v Ireland

Hogan: There’s Momentum And We’ve Got To Take Hold Of That

Previous Meetings –

2002: Rugby World Cup Pool D: Canada 57 Ireland 0, Estadi de Palau, Girona, Spain

2006: Canada Tour: Ireland 15 Canada 8, the Sportsground

2016: November Series: Ireland 7 Canada 48, UCD Bowl

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