Ireland have received a significant boost with the return of Aoife Wafer to the backrow for Sunday’s Rugby World Cup quarter-final against France. The 22-year-old – this year’s Six Nations Player of the Tournament – has been named at openside flanker in what will be her first game since Ireland beat Wales in April. She had been sidelined by a pair of knee injuries which saw her undergo surgery during the summer.
Wafer is one of two changes in the backrow from the team that lost to New Zealand last Sunday. Edel McMahon has not recovered in time after picking up a knock in that game. Fiona Tuite, who was an injury absence against the Black Ferns in Brighton, has recovered to once again wear the six jersey.
Ireland suffer at the hands of a vengeful New Zealand
All told, those backrow changes are the only new faces in the starting XV named by head coach Scott Bemand. The backline remains the same, with Stacey Flood pulling through to start at fullback having suffered a cut to her foot. That injury saw her stretchered off in a protective boot last time out.
Amee-Leigh Costigan and Béibhinn Parsons are again the two wings, Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins line out at centre while Dannah O’Brien and Aoibheann Reilly form the halfback pairing.
Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang line out in the frontrow while Sam Monaghan – the captain in McMahon’s absence – partners Ruth Campbell at lock. Brittany Hogan completes the team at number eight.
Wafer has been many things in this World Cup. Finally, she is a starter in an Ireland team ahead of a definitive quarter-final clash with Six Nations rivals France.
The condition of her knee has dominated public discourse at this competition. Given her ball-carrying might, this was always going to be the case. Every midweek media briefing has started with some sort of question about the Irish backrow.
Prior to the opening pool game against Japan, there was a clearcut message: no Wafer. Ahead of Spain in the next game, she was “on track and going really well”, according to the Ireland camp. Pre-New Zealand, Wafer was “bursting to go”. During quarter-final week, she was “looking really good”.
This time, the positive messaging was backed up by the on-field reality. Wafer is in.
Last Sunday’s pool defeat to New Zealand in Brighton came too soon for Aoife Wafer, but she returns against France. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Perhaps this was the plan all along. Bemand has almost certainly been game-planning for this French clash since the draw for the tournament was made. Once Wafer went down, the priority may well have shifted. Have her ready for this week while being coy about doing so.
In any case, World Cups are supposed to be showcases for the game’s best talent. Over the last two years, Wafer has cemented her status among the sport’s upper echelons. The competition is all the better for her belated presence. It is hoped that the slow build-up of fitness allows for a performance befitting of the stakes.
Ellena Perry and Enya Breen, injured last week, also return to bench roles. Only Edel McMahon, one of the Ireland leaders, has fallen foul of injury. While her absence is a significant blow, a solitary missing body is not the worst return at this stage of a campaign.
Defeat to the Black Ferns in Brighton was characterised by power, or lack thereof. Ireland were knocked back in the carry. Their defence struggled to protect the gainline. France have the ammunition to do the same, while adding a dominant scrum which has a recent history of success against Ireland.
When camped out inside the New Zealand 22, Ireland lacked that crucial carry to make a bust and scatter the goal line defence. What they would have given for a Wafer charge from the base of the scrum. Fitness levels depending, of course, now they have that.
Ireland’s Fiona Tuite powers through against Spain in Ireland’s second World Cup pool game. Photograph: Ben Brady/Inpho
Tuite also brings some ballast with ball in hand, while adding another critical component to the Irish lineout. She ran that set-piece prior to her injury. When Ireland gave France somewhat of a scare in the most recent Six Nations, their three scores came from a creative lineout. Wafer charging around off the back also helped. The ingredients for a repeat attack are there.
It is easy to forget that Ireland’s backline fired the odd shot in that game during the spring as well. Prior to being shut down by New Zealand’s relentless line speed, they also looked in fine fettle in recent weeks. Hopes of reaching the semi-final may rest with finding a way of giving Costigan, Parsons and co possession in space.
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France have more power in collisions, greater set-piece heft and a more nuanced kicking game than what we’ve seen from Ireland. It will take a special Irish display combined with a French underperformance for the green wave to roll into the last four.
Maybe injury recoveries give a physical boost. Perhaps parity does come and the variability of knockout rugby falls in Ireland’s favour. Ifs, buts and maybes. The smart money says this will be a tall Irish order.
France: Morgane Bourgeois; Joanna Grisez, Marine Ménager (Co-captain), Gabrielle Vernier, Kelly Arbey; Lina Queyroi, Pauline Bourdon Sansus; Yllana Brosseau, Agathe Gérin, Rose Bernadou; Manae Feleu (co-captain), Madoussou Fall Raclot; Axelle Berthoumieu, Léa Champon, Charlotte Escudero.
Replacements: Manon Bigot, Annaëlle Deshaye, Assia Khalfaoui, Hina Ikahehegi, Séraphine Okemba, Téani Feleu, Alexandra Chambon, Emilie Boulard.
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan; Dannah O’Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan (capt); Fiona Tuite, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan.
Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Ellena Perry, Sadhbh McGrath, Eimear Corri-Fallon, Grace Moore, Emily Lane, Enya Breen, Anna McGann.