Two of the top-four finishers at the Women’s Rugby World Cup last year provide the opposition for the Ireland Women’s team over the next week, beginning with the visit of a young, battle-hardened USA side to Energia Park this afternoon (kick-off 1pm).
2018 NOVEMBER TEST MATCH: Sunday, November 18
IRELAND WOMEN v USA WOMEN, Energia Park, Donnybrook, 1pm (Irish Rugby TV Live Stream)
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Adam Griggs has named the team to play the USA in this afternoon’s November international at Energia Park. There are ten changes to the side that lined out against England in the final round of last season’s Six Nations.
In what will be Griggs’ first November Test in charge of Ireland, he has included four uncapped players in a squad that has a balance between new talent and experience. Tickets are on sale from ticketmaster.ie. The game will be live streamed on Irish Rugby TV on YouTube and here on IrishRugby.ie.
As well as debuts for Lauren Delany, who came through an IQ Rugby screening day, and Munster’s Laura Sheehan in the back-three, there are first starts at this level for centre Michelle Claffey, hooker Sarah Mimnagh and flanker Edel McMahon.
Richmond clubwoman Mimnagh makes her international return after last lining out during Ireland’s 2015 Six Nations title-winning campaign. Lindsay Peat and Fiona Reidy complete the front row, with Railway Union and Leinster duo Aoife McDermott and Ciara Cooney combining in the second row.
Galwegians star McMahon joins the 62-times capped Claire Molloy and captain Ciara Griffin in the back row, while Interprovincial champions Leinster provide the half-back and centre pairings as Nikki Caughey and Ailsa Hughes are tasked with directing the back-line and the in-form Claffey and Sene Naoupu join forces in midfield.
The new-look back-three, anchored by the Dublin-born Delany, also includes Sheehan’s UL Bohemians club-mate Eimear Considine who is back for her first Ireland appearance since the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.
There are two more newcomers on the replacements with promising 21-year-old St. Mary’s hooker Emma Hooban, who hails from Portlaoise, and Ballinasloe starlet Beibhinn Parsons looking to win their first caps. Converted flanker Jeamie Deacon could get some game-time in the back row too.
Parsons will become the youngest player to wear the green jersey in a senior international match as she only turns 17 later this month. She has come through the Women’s Talent ID programme, winning a European bronze medal with the Ireland Under-18 Sevens team and following up with a Home Nations U-18 Sevens title in July when Griggs coached the Irish girls.
She was also a driving force for the Connacht Under-18 Women in the 15-a-side game, helping them claim the Interprovincial crown this season, and just last week was on the victorious Ardscoil Mhuire side that claimed the National Girls X7s title at Energia Park.
Meanwhile, following the USA Women’s Selects’ hard-fought 25-24 victory over England Academy earlier in the week, USA Women’s Eagles head coach Rob Cain has made seven changes to the side that went down 57-5 in their second international of their autumn schedule.
Experienced hooker Katy Augustyn, who has 32 caps to her name, returns along with prop Nick James, while Kristine Sommer, who recently made her debut for English side Harlequins, starts in the second row.
New York’s Carly Waters and Jennine Duncan of Seattle Saracens will line out at scrum half and on the right wing respectively, the latter having come off the bench to score the USA’s lone try against the Red Roses. Kimber Rozier from the Eagles’ Sevens set-up and Meya Bizer pair up at centre.
After a number of new caps for the USA across their two November internationals to date, which also included a 67-6 loss to New Zealand in Chicago a fortnight ago, front rower TIana A’au from Central Washington University is to set make her debut off the bench.
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Sarah Mimnagh (Richmond/IQ Rugby), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Edel McMahon (Galwegians/Connacht), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).
Replacements: Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Leah Lyons (Harlequins), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht).
USA WOMEN: Kaitlyn Broughton (Atlanta Harlequins); Kelsi Stockert (Women’s Sevens Residency), Meya Bizer (Women’s Sevens Residency), Kimber Rozier (Beantown Rugby), Jennine Duncan (Seattle Saracens); Gabby Cantorna (Glendale Merlins), Carly Waters (New York Rugby); Catie Benson (Life West Gladiatrix), Katy Augustyn (Berkeley All Blues), Nick James (Houston Athletic), Stacey Bridges (Beantown Rugby), Kristine Sommer (Harlequins/Seattle Saracens), Rachel Johnston (Oregon Sports Union), Kate Zackary (San Diego Surfers) (capt), Jordan Gray-Matyas (Women’s Sevens Residency).
Replacements: Tiana A’au (Central Washington University), Azniv Nalbandian (Penn State University), Joyce Taufa (Lindenwood University), Alycia Washington (New York Rugby), Anna Karen Pedraza (Lindenwood University), Evan Hoese (Berkeley All Blues), McKenzie Hawkins (Lindenwood University), Megan Foster (San Diego Surfers).
Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Paul Haycock, Cilian Hogan (both Ireland)
Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women): “We’ve named what we believe to be an exciting side for this weekend’s game, with a blend of experienced players along with some new faces who have impressed across the Women’s All-Ireland League and the Interprovincial Championship.
“We’ve had some really good preparation over the last two months in camp and the competition amongst the squad has really driven our standards, which in turn has raised the quality of our rugby throughout the side. Selections were not an easy task and the players chosen to represent our squad and the jersey this week have stood up and worked hard to earn their selection.
“This will be the USA’s third Test match in as many weeks, which I’m sure has given them the chance to bond and gel as a squad. They had two tough games against the Black Ferns and England that they will certainly have learnt a lot from.
“Come Sunday there is no doubt they will be match ready for us which will be the challenge we must rise to from the start. It’s an exciting two weeks for this squad and we hope to see a big turn-out on Sunday at Energia Park to support the team.”
Rob Cain (USA Women): “It’s been a really positive experience against New Zealand and England but I think the group really needed that win over England Academy, they fought really hard for it. The amount of work that went into that has paid dividends for us to have a positive outlook for this week and we’re really excited about Ireland.”
Pre-Match Links –
Lineout-Loving McDermott Aiming To Soar Against Eagles
Griggs: Women’s Squad Depth Is Definitely Growing
Hughes Excited About Combining With Caughey In Green Jersey
Recent Meetings –
2010: Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool B: USA Women 12 Ireland Women 22, Surrey Sports Park; Women’s Rugby World Cup – 5th/8th Place Play-Off: Ireland Women 3 USA Women 40, Surrey Sports Park
2014: Women’s Rugby World Cup – Pool B: Ireland Women 23 USA Women 17, Marcoussis, FFR HQ
Support the Ireland Women on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #IREWvUSAW and #wrugby on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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