Irish Rugby

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Ireland captain Sam Monaghan says she was "really proud" of her side's second-half performance in their 47-26 defeat to Canada in Belfast.

In their final warm-up game before the Women's Rugby World Cup, Ireland recovered from conceding five first-half tries to score three of their own after the break.

And while they ultimately lost by 21 points, Monaghan was happy with their response after a tough opening half.

"I think our discipline let us down in the first half, but we've been put in situations in this game that we've needed to go forward so I'm really proud of our second-half performance," Monaghan told BBC Sport NI's Orla Bannon.

"We needed to be more physical. We didn't have much ball in the first half, so we needed to keep it.

"And again, just be really clean around the ruck and keep our discipline going forward but I think we really flipped that on it's head in the second half."

Head coach Scott Bemand made 10 changes from the side that fought back to beat Scotland last weekend but there was no heroic comeback this week against the number two ranked side in the world.

With Bemand starting to mould his starting team for their opening World Cup match with Japan in two weeks' time, attention now turns to Monday's squad announcement.

"Everyone that's been involved has gotten us to this point," Monaghan added.

"I wish everyone could get on the plane, but I have to say it's a squad effort and it's tough.

"I think we've become really connected as a group, so it makes that a lot more tough when girls aren't on the plane but hopefully, we can do them proud over there."

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Ireland back row Brittany Hogan says the performance in Saturday's final World Cup warm-up against Canada is more important than the result.

Canada are ranked second in the world and Ireland head into the game in Belfast off the back of a 27-21 comeback win over Scotland.

Scott Bemand's side will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C at the tournament in England.

"At the end of the day with the result, it's another warm-up game but it's another stepping stone towards a successful World Cup," said Hogan, who is one of 10 Ireland changes for the game in Belfast.

"We're going to be looking for a performance, and if that puts us on the right or wrong side of the scoreboard it's not the be all and end all.

"We need to make sure we go through our processes and play our game."

Ireland lost 21-8 to the Canadians in Vancouver in October in WXV1, and Hogan said the Irish were left "very frustrated" in a match that was closer than the scoreline suggested.

"We're under no illusions that this is going to be a hard-fought match," added Hogan.

"We are going to have to earn every single inch against them, and they are a physically dominant team, but we just have to match that.

"We did that when we played against them in Canada in WXV1. It's about bringing our game awareness, knowledge and tactics into it too."

Former Ireland internationals Lindsay Peat, Claire Small and Fiona Hayes will join presenter Nicola McCarthy and commentator Oisin Langan in Belfast from 11:50 BST on BBC iPlayer & BBC Two NI.

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Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has confirmed forwards Edel McMahon and Christy Haney were unavailable for Saturday's World Cup warm-up match against Canada because of injury.

Bemand will name his 32-player squad for the tournament in England on Monday.

Ireland are already without forwards Erin King and Dorothy Wall, who have been ruled out of the World Cup, while star back row Aoife Wafer is yet to regain full fitness after undergoing knee surgery.

Haney and McMahon also missed last weekend's win over Scotland in Cork.

"Christy Haney has picked up a bump, hamstring piece so that rules her out of consideration for this," said Bemand, whose team to face Canada shows 10 changes from the Scotland game.

"Other than that we are in pretty good health coming back from the Scotland game.

"Obviously we've said that Aoife Wafer is tracking nicely but isn't at the point to be considered for this game but other than that, as a squad, we're in reasonable health."

On co-captain McMahon, he replied: "Sorry, Tricky [Edel] as well. She's back on pitch and training and is doing a great job, bringing her leadership capabilities and setting the standard within straining as she always had.

"This one probably comes a beat early but she's right on the cusp of being ready. There'll be a piece that she's in the mix but not quite yet.

"Over the course of the summer we've just being managing a knee piece. She's back on pitch training with the group now and ramping up the training minutes."

Bemand, who led Ireland to third in this year's Six Nations, added that he is "getting closer" to finalising his squad ahead of Monday's announcement.

"We think we're getting closer to what we want to go with. We've all spoken about having squad depth," added the Englishman.

"I think there's 10 changes and it's moving in the direction we want. Squad competition is high.

"We know there's a competition coming over the horizon and actually the players are embracing and putting there best foot forward in terms of their on-pitch performance day in, day out."

Former Ireland internationals Lindsay Peat, Claire Small and Fiona Hayes will join presenter Nicola McCarthy and commentator Oisin Langan in Belfast from 11:50 BST on BBC iPlayer & BBC Two NI.

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Gareth Steenson says he is unsure of his future with the Ireland women's team beyond the World Cup.

The former Exeter Chiefs fly-half has been working as the team's kicking coach under Scott Bemand for the past year alongside his duties as City of Armagh's backs coach.

But with Johnny Sexton having started his full-time position with the Irish Rugby Football Union - which will include work in both the men's and women's programmes - on 1 August, Steenson was coy on what the future holds for him beyond the World Cup in England.

"My future is I'm involved with going to the World Cup, so post-that it will be a matter of seeing where we are post-World Cup really," said the 41-year-old, who won a European Cup and two Premiership titles during his 12-year spell with the Chiefs.

"I've been fortunate since I moved back home a year ago, to work with the pathway, work with the Sevens and right across that kicking regime.

"I've been very lucky since the Six Nations, doing a little bit more with the backs, a bit more work in that area, looking at strike plays and stuff like that.

"I've been very fortunate to be part of the growth piece as well, so all the focus has been getting to this World Cup and now that we're on the brink of it it's been really exciting."

When asked if his and Sexton's roles will overlap, Steenson said: "Again, I know my role. My role is being in with the girls, I've been in here a year, and how that looks going forward...I've been working with these girls for the last year or so.

"We'll see when Johnny comes back."

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Ireland prop Niamh O'Dowd said that she felt her chance to start for her country "was never going to come".

O'Dowd has won 15 caps for Ireland but had to bide her time to establish herself in the front row alongside Linda Djougang and Neve Jones.

She impressed in the WXV1 series and then made her first Six Nations start this year against France after being involved in the squads in 2023 and 2024 without getting on the pitch.

After a try-scoring performance in Saturday's win over Scotland, she is now preparing for a first World Cup with Ireland, who will take on Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C.

"It felt like I was never going to get my chance but when I eventually did, I had to take it with both hands and hold onto it, it timed well with the cycle when I started to get opportunities," she told BBC Sport NI.

"I did spend a lot of time on the bench or as a reserve, but looking back, not that I don't regret any of it, but I learnt a lot in that time without the pressure of starting and it was a time for me to get my skills up to scratch.

"I also learnt about not taking anything for granted and to work hard so I know now I've earned everything."

Ireland have finished third in the last two Women's Six Nations, an improvement on finishing bottom of the table in 2023.

And O'Dowd is proud of the progress made under Scott Bemand after a difficult period.

"My first Six Nations in 2023 was a very tough time for the group, we weren't getting the results we wanted, and it was tough to watch the girls," she added.

"Now we have been on an upward trajectory and we're on the right path and are constantly improving."

Watch Ireland's final warm-up game against Canada in Belfast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website on Saturday 9 August at 12:00 BST.

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Ireland and Ulster second row Fiona Tuite says planning her wedding to Ulster prop Eric O'Sullivan has been a "nice distraction" as she prepares for the Rugby World Cup.

Tuite will marry long-term partner O'Sullivan next summer in Sligo and is balancing planning for the big day with getting ready to play in her first World Cup.

She is also hoping to have her fiancé in attendance when Ireland take on Japan in their opening Pool C game on 24 August.

"Wedding planning is slightly on the backburner with this World Cup coming up but it's nice to have a distraction away from rugby," said Tuite, who came on as a replacement in Ireland's warm-up win over Scotland on Saturday.

"If Ulster could give Eric some time off to come see me that would be great!"

The 28-year-old made the switch from a back to a forward a few years ago, and whilst admitting being in the second row is more demanding, she believes it has given her more opportunities with Ireland.

"I absolutely love it I don't think I would be here in the squad if I didn't make the transition across to the forwards," she added.

Tuite has won 15 caps since her debut since making her debut in 2023 against Colombia in the WXV3 competition.

She has been part of a side that has progressed steadily under Scott Bemand in the two years of his tenure and says it is surreal to now be competing in a World Cup.

"There's a lot of excitement; we have been building momentum with the WXV1 and the Six Nations.

"It is really close to a home World Cup, so we're excited to have a lot of people over supporting.

"I came in at the start of WXV3 and we've been on the up since then, we have had blips along the way but it's amazing that we're going to this World Cup."

Watch Ireland's final warm-up game against Canada in Belfast on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website on Saturday 9 August at 12:00 BST.

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Ireland hooker Neve Jones believes there is "no ceiling" for her side as they prepare for the start of the Rugby World Cup next month.

Scott Bemand's side will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C in the tournament in England.

Jones, who was part of the Irish side that failed to qualify for the last World Cup in 2021, has urged her side to show up on the big stage as they look to progress out of the group stage.

"We've been on an incredible journey, from coming last in the Six Nations two years ago to the World Cup, but the coaching staff and players we've all bought into everything," she told BBC Sport.

"We are all on the same page and we want to strive for excellence. There's no ceiling for us and it's about showing up and putting in performances."

Jones, who featured in Saturday's 27-21 win over Scotland, has picked up three winners' medals in three years at Gloucester-Hartpury since making the switch from Malone in 2022.

She is pleased that she has been able to enjoy an upturn of results with Ireland after some tough years playing for her country that coincided with sustained success at club level.

"I would have really good seasons at Gloucester and then to come here and pull on the green jersey is something you are proud to do, but it was a difficult time for sure," she added.

"We knew what we wanted to do in Ireland, it was just a matter of how we go from not playing so well to building every block to get better, which we have done."

David Mohan
BBC Sport NI journalist

Tadhg Beirne said being named British and Irish Lions player of the series after defeat by Australia in Saturday's final Test was "bittersweet".

Beirne's place on the team for the first Test had been questioned in some quarters, but the Munster forward was instrumental in helping the Lions secure a 2-1 series win over the Wallabies.

Although Joe Schmidt's side won the final Test in Sydney to salvage some pride, the spoils went to the Lions as Andy Farrell masterminded the series win thanks to their earlier victories in Brisbane and Melbourne.

Irish flanker Beirne said he was unsure whether he would make the team for the opening Test, which the Lions won 27-19, but he grabbed his opportunity and comes away as one of the stars of the tour.

"It's a massive honour but more about the series win for me," he said.

"It's a bittersweet moment. It's a class moment we've won the series, but we've lost tonight.. but as Faz [head coach Andy Farrell] said, we'll get over it because we've won the series.

"I was unsure whether Faz was going to pick me, so when you see your name on the board, I knew it was an opportunity for me, but if I didn't play well he would take me out just as quick as he put me in. I needed to step up, as did all of the players, and we did that."

There is not a lot the 33-year-old has not experienced on a rugby pitch, but Saturday's 22-12 win for Australia did throw up a first for Beirne, with the game suspended for 40 minutes because of lightning in the vicinity of Stadium Australia.

"It was just a bit strange," said the Munster player.

"I've never experienced anything like that, so it was a bit of the unknown. You're told it's going to be 45 minutes so you try to relax a bit before getting back up and then all of a sudden it's seven minutes and you're switching on to try and focus the mind again.

"I've never experienced that before, but I have now and will know what to expect the next time."