This Saturday night (Irish local time), Ireland’s rugby squad is preparing to face a tough challenge: taking on Canada on Canadian turf. This follows their impressive victory against the World Cup champions, New Zealand. Currently holding a second global ranking, Canada is also striving for their second victory in the WXV 1 tournament being held in Vancouver, having triumphed over France in their initial game.
Coming into the match undefeated, both teams have their sights set on the Rugby World Cup scheduled for next year in England. The Canadian squad’s Head Coach, Kevin Rouet, has explained the adjustments made post-France match were to continually develop squad depth. As he points out, the Rugby World Cup will necessitate more than the core 23 players for success, hence evolving and nurturing a full squad of experienced and gifted players is essential.
The Irish team, guided by coach Scott Bemand, enters the match with both obligatory and voluntary alterations. One significant change is the absence of their captain, Edel McMahon, ruled unfit to play due to an injury incurred during a training session earlier in the week. Enya Breen of Blackrock College, an inside centre, is set to fill McMahon’s shoes, leading Ireland for the first time in her stead.
Another player from Blackrock College, Emily Lane, is also included in the starting lineup, debuting as a scrumhalf beside Dannah O’Brien.
Two players that shone in the game against New Zealand, Erin King, an Olympic Sevens player, and Aoife Wafer, both had two tries in their previous match. Due to McMahon’s absence, Wafer will switch to openside, and King, who has shown her capabilities coming off the bench, is set to start at the blindside flanker. After her commendable performance against Australia and New Zealand, Wafer, previously unknown by the Kiwis, is now recognized by her infamous red scrum cap.
A draw or win for Ireland against Canada could propel them to the fifth position globally, provided Scotland is defeated by Japan today at Cape Town’s Athlone Sports Stadium. It has been eight years since Ireland last faced Canada, and despite their victory over France where they scored seven tries, Bemand recognises facing the host team would be no easy task. The previous face-off with France had Ireland at a loss, 38-17, during this year’s Six Nations Championship.
Canada showcased some impressive talent last week, with a couple of players, including right-wing Fancy Bermudez and Laetitia Royer, scoring twice. Bermudez was part of the Canadian Sevens that won a silver medal in Paris last summer. Asia Hogan-Rochester, another Sevens player, also scored last week. However, among the double scorers, only Bermudez is in the starting line-up against Ireland, Royer is listed among the replacements.
Captain Tyson Beukeboom, who broke the Canadian women’s cap record last May with her 68th cap, is set to attain another significant milestone with her 70th cap in the match against Ireland. Coach Bemand appreciates the effort the players have put in to earn their place and he is particularly proud of Enya leading the team for the first time.
Bemand anticipates a tough contest against the strong Canadian team and is excited for his team to measure their abilities against a world-class side. It is expected that Canada’s defence will be more aggressive than New Zealand’s last week. They will likely be capitalising on the chance to display their vigorous defence before their home crowd. So the goal of the Canadian team for this game is quite obvious.
The line-up for the Ireland and Canada teams have been announced. Representing Ireland, we have Stacey Flood from Railway Union in the squad. Joining her is Eimear Considine, representing UL Bohemian/Munster, Eve Higgins from Railway Union, Enya Breen of Blackrock College/Munster, and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe representing Railway Union/Munster. Dannah O’Brien of Old Belvedere/Leinster and Emily Lane of Blackrock College join the line-up. Additionally, Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Clíodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs), and Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster) are in. Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite round up the team, representing Exeter Chiefs/Munster and Old Belvedere/Ulster, respectively. Erin King (Old Belvedere), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College/Leinster), and Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster) join the first team.
Among the replacements for Ireland are Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Siobhán McCarthy (Worcester Warriors/Munster), Andrea Stock (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), Deirbhile Nic a Bháird (Old Belvedere/Munster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), and Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster).
On the Canadian side, we have Taylor Perry in the front line, alongside Fancy Bermudez, Shoshanah Seumanutafa, Alexandra Tessier, and Alysha Corrigan. The team also includes Claire Gallagher and Justine Pelletier, joined by Brittany Kassil, Emily Tuttosi, and Alexandria Ellis. Tyson Beukeboom and Courtney Holtkamp join them, along with Pamphinette Buisa, Caroline Crossley, and Gabrielle Senft.
Substitutes for the Canadian team include Sara Cline, McKinley Hunt, Rori Wood, Laetitia Royer, Fabiola Forteza, Julia Omokhuale, Olivia Apps, and Julia Schell.