Rugby League World Cup: One change in Wales squad to face Ireland

Wales conceded 14 tries in their defeat by Fiji

Wales head coach John Kear has made one change to his 21-man squad for their final Rugby League World Cup match against Ireland in Perth on Sunday.

Matt Seamark replaces Josh Ralph after recovering from injury while Gavin Bennion could make his Wales debut.

All 17 of the players who featured in the World Cup record 72-6 defeat by Fiji last weekend have been retained.

'It's winnable, but I'm not sure confidence in our group is high," said coach John Kear.

Wales will again be underdogs after two defeats so far in the tournament, and have not won a World Cup game since 2000.

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Kear's team lost their opening game of this tournament 50-6 against co-hosts Papua New Guinea in a sweltering Port Moresby.

By contrast, Ireland have beaten Italy 36-12, pushed PNG hard in a 14-6 defeat and have 15 Super League players in their ranks compared with Wales' four.

The Irish have to beat Wales and rely on an unlikely USA win over PNG earlier on Sunday to progress to the quarter-finals.

Kear is concerned the manner of Wales' losses will impact on his team's confidence.

"When it's 50 then 70, you're lacking and it can affect your psyche," he added.

"We're in this together and we're united. We need to focus on one last massive effort."

Wales squad: Danny Ansell, Matty Barron, Gavin Bennion, Joe Burke, Michael Channing, Courtney Davies, Ben Evans, Matty Fozard, Andy Gay, Regan Grace, Dalton Grant, Phil Joseph, Elliot Kear, Morgan Knowles, Craig Kopczak, Rhodri Lloyd, Ben Morris, Steve Parry, Christiaan Roets, Matty Seamark, Rhys Williams.

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