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starting XV

Just the one change for Ireland Women ahead of World Cup clash with New Zealand

Paula Fitzpatrick will come into Ireland’s back row for one of the game’s toughest tests.

IRELAND WOMEN’S COACH Philip Doyle  has resisted the urge to bring in completely fresh bodies for tomorrow’s World Cup pool B meeting with New Zealand.

It is just four days since Ireland won a bruising encounter with the USA, but 14 of the side who started that game will face down the Black Ferns’ haka.

The sole change is at blindside flanker where Siobhan Fleming drops to the bench and Paula Fitzpatrick takes over the number six jersey.

New Zealand-born scrum-half Tania Rosser will win her 50th cap in the match, Ireland’s second of three pool fixtures.

The Black Ferns top the pool and the seedlings for the semi-final having dished out a 79 – 5 hammering to Kazakhstan on Friday.

Ireland XV v New Zealand:

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond RFC/Exile)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s College/Leinster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield RFC/Munster)

16. Sharon Lynch (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
19. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
20. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile)
21. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
22. Vicky McGinn (Blackrock/Leinster).

Spence in a good place as Ireland prepare for Kiwi test at World Cup

Ireland Women hit the gym as they prepare for New Zealand clash

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