IRELAND WOMEN PLAY their second fixture of the 2014 Rugby World Cup in Marcoussis today against New Zealand, reigning champions since 1998.
Here’s a quick reminder of their World Cup so far, a hard-fought win over the USA on Friday.
Earlier that day, New Zealand put the hurt on Kazakhstan, running in 13 tries in a 79 – 5 win.
The historic first meeting with the Black Ferns will certainly be a tall order. The Kiwis take ominous form into the meeting, but until the final whistle blows Philip Doyle’s side will believe they are in with a chance of topping the pool and sealing qualifying for the semi-finals.
The final four can also be reached by finishing as the best runner-up. Canada currently fill that space so Ireland have everything to play for going in to this afternoon’s kick-off (17.00 Irish time).
“They’re world champions four times in a row,” says captain Fiona Coghlan sizing up the challenge.
“But they have been beaten. England have beaten them, Canada ran them close there in the summer internationals. So there are chinks in their armour and it’s (about) finding those chinks and exploiting them.”
