Aoife Wafer misses out as Ireland team named for New Zealand clash

Michael Bolton

Aoife Wafer is not on the Ireland side to face New Zealand in their final group game on Sunday in Brighton.

Wafer has not yet featured in the World Cup for Scott Beamand's side, as she continues her recovery from knee surgery.

There are six changes from the side that defeated Spain last weekend, with Béibhinn Parsons back on the wing.

Aoibheann Reilly is at scrumhalf and will once again be partnered by Dannah O’Brien.

Co-captain Sam Monaghan is fit enough to start again despite coming off early against Spain last time with a hip injury, with Brittany Hogan and Edel McMahon joining Grace Moore in the back row.

Ireland caused a major upset when the two sides last met in September, beating the Black Ferns 29-27 at the WXV1 tournament in Vancouver.

New Zealand, the last side to beat England when they won 34-31 in the 2022 World Cup final, currently top Pool C ahead of Ireland on points difference.

Sunday’s winners in Brighton will face the Pool D runners-up, currently France, while the losers will play the Pool D winners, currently South Africa.

Ireland team to face New Zealand: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Ellena Perry, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (co-capt); Grace Moore, Edel McMahon (co-capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney MacDonald, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Claire Boles, Emily Lane, Nancy McGillivray, Anna McGann.