Bemand aiming to find 'balance' in Irish selection

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has helped revive the fortunes of the team

Women's Rugby World Cup - Pool C: Ireland v Spain

Venue: Franklin's Gardens, Northampton Date: Sunday, 31 August Kick-off: 12:00 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC Two, BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra, BBC Sport website and app.

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand says he set out to "strike a balance" in his team selection for Sunday's World Cup Pool C game against Spain as his side aim to secure a quarter-final berth with victory at Franklin's Gardens.

The Irish team began their campaign with a convincing 42-14 win over Japan last weekend and will face holders New Zealand in an encounter which is likely to decide the group winners on 7 September.

Bemand has made seven changes to his starting line-up for the meeting with Spain and star back row Aoife Wafer remains an absentee from the 23-strong matchday squad despite returning to training after a knee injury.

Although the former England assistant described his squad as "in fine health", the likes of Edel McMahon and Beibhinn Parsons will not be involved in the game, while Neve Jones and last week's player of the match, Brittany Hogan, are held in reserve on the bench.

"There's always a balance to strike on these occasions," said Bemand.

"There's always that blend, we want to get our best game out there and we want to achieve the quarter-final at the first possible opportunity and that's this weekend so there's a job we've got to get done.

"I always emphasise how we compete in training and the girls that have come in are fully ready. They've earned their spot and I think we've got the blend right of team and physical capability across the board."

First chance to nail quarter-final spot

Bemand highlights that the squad's thoughts are fully focused on overcoming Spain before their attention turns to their first meeting with New Zealand since their stunning WXV1 success over the Black Ferns in September.

"This is our first chance to nail that quarter-final position and we are absolutely gunning for it. We've been gunning for it in training which is why it's important people have been allowed to compete for positions.

"There are a couple of tactical changes which gives us slightly different things to what we showed against Japan. It's just about getting the job done at the business end."

Spain lost 54-8 to the defending champions in their group opener but ran Ireland close in their WXV3 meeting in 2023 after winning the 2021 World Cup qualifier between the sides.

They are ranked 13th in the world, eight places below Ireland.

"We know that Spain are a mobile team. They have a strong background in sevens. We want to be mobile, we want to create physical challenge.

"In terms of what we want to achieve in the game. We want to get our game going early and we want to get on top of them. We believe we've picked the right squad to do that.

"It's an advantage to get out of the blocks. We want to impose our game as quickly as we can."