Irish Rugby

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Head coach Scott Bemand has made three changes to his team for Ireland's final WXV1 match with the USA.

After a stunning win over New Zealand on their WXV1 debut, the Irish were defeated by hosts Canada on Sunday.

That leaves Ireland third in the table heading into the final match against the USA, who have lost both their matches to England and France.

Bemand has made two changes to his backline. Centre Eve Higgins drops to the bench and is replaced by Aoife Dalton, while fly-half Nicole Fowley comes in for Dannah O'Brien.

There is one change to the Irish pack as Neve Jones starts in place of Cliodhna Moloney at hooker.

Ruth Campbell is named on the bench, while Grace Moore drops out of the matchday squad.

Centre Enya Breen will captain Ireland in the absence of injured back row Edel McMahon.

The match kicks off at 20:30 BST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.

Ireland: Stacey Flood; Eimear Considine; Aoife Dalton, Enya Breen (capt); Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe; Nicole Fowley, Emily Lane; Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite; Erin King, Aoife Wafer, Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney, Siobhan McCarthy, Andrea Stock, Ruth Campbell, Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Dannah O’Brien, Eve Higgins.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

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Cheetahs (17) 24

Tries: Hunt, Annies 2, Ferreira Cons: Wentzel 2

Ireland (12) 33

Tries: O'Connell, Osborne, Soroka, Devine, Sheahan Cons: Prendergast 2, Murphy 2

Emerging Ireland ended their three-match tour of South Africa with an entertaining 33-24 victory over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

After victories over Pumas and Western Force, the youthful Emerging Ireland side trailed 17-12 at half-time in the third match of their South African tour.

Robert Hunt burrowed over inside seven minutes from a maul to give the Cheetahs the lead, but Ireland hit back when Evan O'Connell crossed and Sam Prendergast converted.

The Cheetahs responded midway through the half when Michael Annies spotted a gap in the Irish defence, and Ethan Wentzel converted.

Schalk Ferreira crashed over from a maul to extend the Cheetahs' lead, but Ireland had the final say of the half when Andrew Osborne crossed in the corner.

Ireland put in a strong showing in the second half to respond. Replacement Alex Soroka touched down to bring Ireland level in the 54th minute and the boot of Prendergast nudged the tourists back in front.

In an end-to-end second half, Annies showed a great turn of speed to race clear for his second try of the game, but Ireland hit back once more when replacement Matthew Devine picked the ball up from 40 metres and raced clear to score unchallenged.

Ulster fly-half Murphy, who played a key role in Devine's try, converted to put Ireland back ahead with 10 minutes to play.

Danny Sheahan crashed over with three minutes to play to put the game beyond the Cheetahs, and Murphy's second conversion rounded out a strong tour for Simon Easterby's side.

Cheetahs: Michael Annies; Prince Nkabinde, Munier Hartzenberg; Carel-Jan Coetzee; Asanda Kuene; Ethan Wentzel, Rewan Kruger; Schalk Ferreira, Corne Fourie, Robert Hunt; Carl Wegner, Victor Sekekete (capt); Gideon van der Merwe, Sisonke Vumazonke, Friedle Olivier.

Replacements: Marko JV Rensburg, Hencus van Wyk, Laurence Victor, Ulrich Stander, Neels Volschenk, Jandre Nel, George Lourens, Cohen Jasper.

Emerging Ireland: Ben O’Connor; Andrew Osborne, Hugh Cooney, Hugh Gavin, Zac Ward; Sam Prendergast, Cormac Foley; Alex Usanov, Stephen Smyth, Jack Aungier; Evan O’Connell, Darragh Murray; Harry Sheridan, Sean Edogbo, James Culhane (capt).

Replacements: Danny Sheahan, George Hadden, Scott Wilson, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Alex Soroka, Matthew Devine, Jack Murphy, Charlie Tector.

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Munster flanker Peter O'Mahony will miss Saturday's United Rugby Championship showdown with rivals Leinster because of a hamstring injury.

The 35-year-old Ireland captain picked up the injury in last weekend's 23-0 victory over Ospreys in Cork.

O'Mahony and prop Oli Jager, who hurt his neck against the Welsh side, were both forced off in the first half.

Munster issued a squad update for the Croke Park match on Tuesday and said O'Mahony and Jager "will go for scans and are both unavailable".

Leinster sit top of the URC table after winning their opening three games while third-placed Munster are four points behind.

More than 70,000 tickets have been sold for the game in Dublin, which kicks off at 17:45 BST.

O'Mahony's injury comes a month before Ireland's autumn internationals opener against New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium.

The All Blacks game is followed by Dublin encounters against Argentina, Fiji and Australia.

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Ulster trialist Zac Ward returns to the backline in one of 12 changes Emerging Ireland head coach Simon Easterby has made for Wednesday's tour finale against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein (18:00 BST).

Ward scored Emerging Ireland's opening try in their win over the Pumas last week before being rested for the defeat of Western Force on Sunday.

Leinster's Sam Prendergast starts his third game at fly-half with Cormac Foley named at scrum-half.

Ben O'Connor returns at full-back while Andrew Osborne moves to the right wing, with Hugh Gavin and Hugh Cooney making up the midfield partnership.

Leinster prop Alex Usanov is the only player retained in the pack with former Ireland under-20 captain Evan O'Connell recalled to the second row and Ulster's Harry Sheridan part of a new-look back row alongside Sean Edogbo and captain James Culhane.

"The Cheetahs are a fiercely proud and strong side and it should be a lively game with a vocal home support behind them," said Easterby.

"It has been a fruitful past few weeks to date and we have learned a lot. While our performances haven’t been perfect, the players have embraced the challenge and played some brilliant rugby at times.

"The action has come thick and fast and we know that we have to be clinical in our execution. We will need to go up another level on Wednesday to get the performance we want and hopefully finish the tour on a high."

Emerging Ireland: Ben O’Connor (Munster); Andrew Osborne (Leinster), Hugh Cooney (Leinster), Hugh Gavin (Connacht), Zac Ward (Ulster); Sam Prendergast (Leinster), Cormac Foley (Leinster); Alex Usanov (Leinster), Stephen Smyth (Leinster), Jack Aungier (Connacht); Evan O’Connell (Munster), Darragh Murray (Connacht); Harry Sheridan (Ulster), Sean Edogbo (Munster), James Culhane (Leinster, captain).

Replacements: Danny Sheahan (Munster), George Hadden (Munster) Scott Wilson (Ulster), Conor O’Tighearnaigh (Leinster), Alex Soroka (Leinster), Matthew Devine (Connacht), Jack Murphy (Ulster), Charlie Tector (Leinster).

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Ulster lock Cormac Izuchukwu is relishing working with the national side's coaching staff on the Emerging Ireland tour of South Africa.

Andy Farrell's assistants Simon Easterby and Paul O'Connell have been on the trip with Izuchukwu, who toured South Africa with the senior side in the summer without winning his first Test cap, having also been a member of the Emerging Ireland panel back in 2022.

"These trips are something special," said the 24-year-old.

"Being around guys like Paulie, Simon Easterby and stuff like that. They're unbelievable coaches, the best in the world."

In what is the final fixture of the three-game tour, Emerging Ireland will face the Cheetahs on Wednesday hoping to build upon victories over Pumas and Western Force.

"On this trip especially, it's a much younger squad but lads have really, really stepped up," Izuchukwu added.

"It's been a really short time from last Wednesday when we joined up. Every game has been one level above, hopefully on Wednesday we can get to that next level and make it three from three."

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Jude Postlethwaite will be available for Ulster's United Rugby Championship game against Connacht on Saturday after being released from the Emerging Ireland squad.

The 22-year-old centre scored the opening try in Emerging Ireland's win over Western Force in Bloemfontein on Sunday.

While Ben Carson started Ulster's defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday, Postlethwaite's return bolsters a problem area for the province's coach Richie Murphy with Stuart McCloskey and James Hume sidelined.

Gus McCarthy (Leinster) and Sean O’Brien (Munster) have also been released from the Emerging Ireland set-up.

Having won their first two games, Simon Easterby's side conclude their tour of South Africa against the Cheetahs on Wednesday (18:00 BST).

After two defeats in South Africa, Ulster host Connacht in Belfast on Saturday evening (20:00 BST).

Peter Lockhart
BBC Sport NI contributor

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Emerging Ireland (26) 29

Tries: Postlethwaite, Mullins, Jansen, Kendellen Cons: Prendergast 3 Pens: Prendergast

Western Force (14) 24

Tries: Grealy, Landman, Dolly Cons: Fines-Leleiwasa, Burey, Miln Pens: Miln

Emerging Ireland held on to secure a 29-24 win over Western Force in the second game of their three-match series in South Africa.

Ulster's Jude Postlethwaite notched the opening try for Simon Easterby's side in Bloemfontein with Chay Mullins, Sean Jansen and Alex Kendellen also touching before half-time.

Western Force hit back with tries from Mac Grealy and Justin Landman but the Australian side still trailed 26-14 at half-time.

A Nic Dolly try and Coby Miln conversion cut Emerging Ireland's lead to five points but Sam Prendergast's late penalty helped close out the game.

Emerging Ireland got off to a promising start with centre Postlethwaite powering his way over the try-line after a strong carry.

The Irish continued to dominate the opening quarter with Connacht winger Mullins providing the finish to a well worked backs move before Jansen crashed over following a series of strong carries and slick offloads.

The momentum switched in the direction of Western Force who scored a quickfire double from Mac Grealy and Landman to reduce the deficit.

However, a maul try from Munster flanker Kendellen increased Ireland’s lead before the break.

Western Force capitalised on a period of pressure in the second half, with hooker Dolly burrowing his way over from the back of a lineout maul as Miln added the extras.

But Prendergast’s 75th-minute penalty - Emerging Ireland's only second-half score - gave his side a sufficient cushion despite Miln's further penalty for Western Force.

Emerging Ireland defeated the Pumas 36-24 in their tour opener and will complete their series of games with a contest against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Wednesday.

Emerging Ireland: Andrew Osborne, Chay Mullins, Hugh Cooney, Jude Postlethwaite, Sean O’Brien, Sam Prendergast, Ethan Coughlan; Alex Usanov, Gus McCarthy, Ronan Foxe, Cormac Izuchukwu, Conor O’Tighearnaigh, Alex Soroka, Alex Kendellen (captain), Sean Jansen.

Replacements: Danny Sheahan, Scott Wilson, Jack Aungier, Evan O’Connell, Sean Edogbo, Cormac Foley, Charlie Tector, Hugh Gavin.

Western Force: Mac Grealy; Justin Landman, Harry Potter, Sio Tomkinson, Ronan Leahy; Max Burey, Issak Fines-Leleiwasa; Harry Hoopert, Nic Dolly, Tom Robertson, Sam Carter, Darcy Swain, Will Harris, Nick Champion de Crespigny, Reed Prinsep (capt).

Replacements: Tom Horton, Marley Pearce, Tiaan Tauakipulu, Lopeti Faifua, Titi Nofoagatotoa, Henry Robertson, Coby Miln, Divad Palu.

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Benetton (0) 5

Tries: Manfredi

Leinster (28) 35

Tries: penalty try, Frawley, Conan, Doris Cons: Frawley 3, R Byrne

Leinster continued their winning start to the United Rugby Championship season as they scored five tries to make it three bonus-point victories from three by defeating Benetton 35-5 at Stadio di Monigo on Saturday.

The Irish province had their extra point in the bag before the half-hour mark courtesy of a penalty try and converted scores by Conor Frawley, Jack Conan and Caelan Doris to lead 28-0 at half-time.

Mirco Spagnolo was penalised and yellow-carded for pulling down a maul short of the line and on the resumption of play Frawley burst through the Benetton defence to touch down under the posts.

Conan dotted down in the corner for try number three and fellow Ireland international back row Doris crashed over from five metres out. Frawley added three conversions.

The second period was much more closely contested as the hosts passed up several scoring opportunities before Marco Manfredi touched down from a driving maul in the 66th minute after Ryan Baird had been sin-binned for a cynical foul.

Replacement hooker Lee Barron crashed over for Leinster's fifth try late on, with Ross Byrne adding the extras to restore their 28-point advantage.

Leinster next face Munster in an Irish interprovincial derby at Croke Park on 12 October, while Benetton host the Sharks as they continue to chase a first win of the campaign.

Team line-ups

Benetton Treviso: Gallagher, Mendy, Menoncello, Fekitoa, Odogwu, Umaga, Garbisi, Spagnolo, Maile, Ferrari, N. Cannone, Favretto, Negri, Zuliani, Lamaro.

Replacements: Manfredi, Aminu, Avaca, Ruzza, Marini, L. Cannone, Uren, Marin.

Leinster: Keenan, J. O'Brien, Ringrose, J. Osborne, Lowe, Frawley, Gibson-Park, Porter, Kelleher, Furlong, J. McCarthy, Snyman, Conan, van der Flier, Doris.

Replacements: Barron, Milne, Clarkson, Baird, Deeny, Gunne, R. Byrne, Penny.

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Ulster head coach Richie Murphy has emphasised that his team must now "get settled into the league" after his youthful squad suffered back-to-back defeats by the Lions and the Bulls on their two-match tour to South Africa in the United Rugby Championship.

Prior to travelling to the southern hemisphere, the Irish province edged out Glasgow in their opening match in Belfast and will next host Connacht on their home patch on Saturday 12 October.

"It's a difficult time but we'll learn from it and move on. We're quite happy about the experience of South Africa, now it's about going home and getting settled into the league and try to build some league points because we need a win now," said Murphy after Saturday's 41-27 defeat by the Bulls in Pretoria.

"We have a skilful team and our set-piece will come on as we build into this and we'll get a little bit more comfortable.

"If we can get a little bit more primary possession we'll cause teams a lot of trouble."

The Bulls, runners-up in last year's URC, ran in seven tries, while Ulster fell just short of clinching a bonus point as they scored three, including a stunning individual effort by Jacob Stockdale and well-worked touchdowns by Ben Carson and Stewart Moore.

"I thought at times today we were really good. Some of our attack has moved on from last week," reflected Murphy.

"We were under pressure a lot in and around the scrum and at the set-piece. We've got a lot of young lads out there playing their second and third caps for their province. Towards the middle or the back end of the season it will stand to us."

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Summer arrival RG Snyman will make his debut for a much-changed Leinster in Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against Benetton in Treviso (17:15 BST).

Leo Cullen's starting side has 12 changes in personnel from last weekend's 34-6 home win over the Dragons.

Jimmy O'Brien, Jamie Osborne and Jack Conan are the players to retain starting roles although all three switch positions.

Ireland stars Hugo Keenan, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe, Jamison Gibson-Park and Ciaran Frawley are drafted into the backs as Jordan Larmour, Liam Turner, Charlie Tector, Luke McGrath and Ross Byrne drop out of the starting line-up.

Lowe's inclusion sees O'Brien switching wings with Osborne moving to centre as Keenan starts at full-back.

Back row Conan is the only member of last week's starting pack retained although he switches from number eight to flanker because of the return of skipper Caelan Doris.

Internationals Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher and Tadhg Furlong replace Cian Healy, Gus McCarthy and Thomas Clarkson in the front row.

Synman, who controversially moved from Munster to the Dublin-based side at the end of last season, will be partnered by Joe McCarthy in the second row as James Ryan and Brian Deeny drop out.

Doris and his fellow Ireland regular Josh van der Flier take over from Max Deegan and Will Connors in the back row.

Clarkson, Deeny and Ross Byrne are named on a replacements bench that includes Ireland player Ryan Baird.

Leinster comfortably beat the Dragons after edging out Edinburgh away in their opener while Benetton thumped 42-10 by champions Glasgow last weekend after a 20-20 draw with the Scarlets in their home opener.

Leinster: Hugo Keenan; Jimmy O'Brien, Garry Ringrose, James Lowe; Andrew Porter, Ronan Kelleher, Tadhg Furlong; Joe McCarthy, RG Snyman; Jack Conan, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (capt).

Replacements: Lee Barron, Michael Milne, Thomas Clarkson, Ryan Baird, Brian Deeny, Fintan Gunne, Ross Byrne, Scott Penny.

Image source, Inpho

Ulster have made nine changes from last weekend's 35-22 defeat by the Lions for Saturday's United Rugby Championship game against the Bulls in Pretoria (15:00 BST).

Iain Henderson returns to the starting line-up to captain the Irish province as the pack shows six changes in personnel from a week ago.

James McCormick and Corrie Barrett, who scored a try after coming off the bench last weekend, take over from John Andrew and Tom O'Toole in the front row.

Henderson and Charlie Irwin replace Kieran Treadwell and last weekend's skipper Alan O'Connor in the lock positions with James McNabney and David McCann taking over from Matty Rea and Nick Timoney in the back row.

Behind the scrum, Mike Lowry comes in for Ethan McIlroy at full-back with Ben Carson named at centre in place of Stuart McCloskey and Nathan Doak taking over from John Cooney at scrum-half.

McCormick, Carson and academy lock Irvine will be making their first Ulster starts with hooker Tadgh McElroy and development fly-half, James Humphreys also in line to make their debut for the Irish province after being named in the replacements.

O'Toole, O'Connor and Timoney drop to a replacements bench that also includes Dave Shanahan as Cooney is not named in the matchday squad.

Henderson started in Ulster's opening home win over defending champions Glasgow and came on a 51st-minute replacement for Treadwell last weekend as Ulster secured a four-try losing bonus point.

The Bulls have only played one game so far which was last weekend's 22-16 home win over Edinburgh.

Ulster: Mike Lowry; Werner Kok, Stewart Moore, Ben Carson, Jacob Stockdale; Aidan Morgan, Nathan Doak; Andrew Warwick, James McCormick, Corrie Barrett; Iain Henderson(capt), Charlie Irwin; James McNabney, Sean Reffell, David McCann.

Replacements: Tadhg McElroy, Eric O’Sullivan, Tom O'Toole, Alan O'Connor, Nick Timoney, Dave Shanahan, James Humphreys, Ben Moxham.

Image source, Getty Images

Munster centre Enya Breen will skipper Ireland for the first time against Canada in Vancouver on Saturday (23:45 BST) in a game to be shown live on BBC iPlayer.

The change comes after usual captain Edel McMahon was ruled out of the WXV1 fixture against the world's second ranked side through an injury sustained in training.

For the second of three Tests in this year's competition, head coach Scott Bemand has made four changes in total from the side that had a shock win over New Zealand in their opener.

Hooker Neve Jones drops to the bench with Cliodhna Moloney starting in the front-row alongside Niamh O'Dowd and Linda Djougang.

Erin King, who scored two tries in that victory over the Black Ferns, replaces McMahon in the back-row, starting at six with Aoife Wafer shifting over to openside.

Eve Higgins takes the place of Aoife Dalton alongside Breen in midfield, with the Leinster centre to wear the number 23 jersey, while there is a first start for Emily Lane at scrum-half as Molly Scuffil-McCabe reverts to the bench.

Munster back-row Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird and Connacht fly-half Nicole Fowley both are among the replacements having not featured against the Black Ferns.

Ireland coach Bemand said a number of players had earned their opportunity to play this weekend "having worked hard" this week.

"There has been a real hunger within the group this week to reset the focus," said Bemand.

"We want to keep momentum going and be a bit better again this week. Character and performance will keep this moving forward."

Bemand said that captaining her country would be a "special moment" for Breen.

"A strong Canada outfit will provide a different challenge for us and we're looking forward to testing ourselves against one of the best teams in the world," added the Ireland coach.

After facing Canada, Ireland will round out their campaign by facing USA next weekend.

Ireland: Flood; Considine, Higgins, Breen, Murphy Crowe; O'Brien, Lane; O'Dowd, Moloney, Djougang; Wall, Tuite; King, Wafer, Hogan.

Replacements: Jones, McCarthy, Stock, Moore, Nic a Bhaird, Scuffil-McCabe, Fowley, Dalton.

Andy Gray
BBC Sport NI Journalist

Image source, Inpho

Pumas (7) 24

Tries: Msenge, Swanepoel 2, E Swart Cons: C Swart 2

Emerging Ireland (19) 36

Tries: Ward, Murray, Izuchukwu, Smyth, McCarthy, penalty try Cons: Prendergast 2

Emerging Ireland started their tour of South Africa with a strong 36-24 win over the Pumas in Bloemfontein.

Sevens star Zac Ward, who is transitioning back into the 15s game after impressing at the Paris Olympics, showed pace and power to score Ireland's first try in the 15th minute.

Darragh Murray crossed for a second Irish score, but the Pumas grew into the game and hit back when Lundi Msenge darted over.

Ulster forward Cormac Izuchukwu powered over in the final play of the half to give Ireland a 19-7 lead at the break.

Hooker Stephen Smyth crashed over and extended their lead in the opening stages of the second half after a superb break by Ulster's Harry Sheridan, but the South Africans kept in touch when the impressive Tino Swanepoel sprinted over in the corner.

Front rows Gus McCarthy and Eduan Swart exchanged scores, but the game was decided when a penalty try was awarded with six minutes to play.

Phiko Sobahle was sent to the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on when Ireland had three players queuing up to score, and that gave the visitors the daylight required to see out the match despite a late consolation try by full-back Swanepoel.

Simon Easterby's side are back in action on Sunday against Western Force, and finish their tour against the Cheetahs on Wednesday, 9 October.