A buoyant Ireland have made seven changes to their starting line-up knowing that one more win will see them through to the knockout stages of RWC 2025. Last week’s impressive 42-14 win over Japan puts captain Sam Monaghan and her team firmly in the driving seat. Although, there is still no Aofie Wafer. The 2025 Six Nations player of the tournament is not risked as she continues her return from injury.
Spain have also tinkered, although their alterations are even more dramatic, following their heavy opening loss to New Zealand. Nine fresh faces come in to the starting line-up, seven of them in the pack. Centre Claudia Pena, who plays for Harlequins in England’s PWR, will be key if Las Leonas are to find their bite.
Kick-off: 12:00 BST, Sunday, 31 August
Venue: Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton
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Ireland team:
Ireland’s key player: Fly-half Dannah O’Brien is a quietly impressive player. Neat and tidy against Japan and flawless off the tee – kicking six out of six – it is instructive that despite all of coach Bemand’s changes, the playmaker retains her spot. Much is expected of her.
Spain team:
Spain’s key player: Lourdes Alameda is the only forward from last week’s defeat to New Zealand to retain her starting spot, giving some sense of the second row’s importance to this team. The fact she is captain only adds to the aura and Las Leonas will be looking for a huge performance from the 34-year-old.
Head-to-head:
Ireland and Spain have played just once in recent times, with the Irish winning a WXV3 nail-biter in 2023 15-13.
What they said:
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand:
“The girls that come in have fully earned their spot and we’ve got the blend right of team and physical capability across the board to get our best game out there against Spain. This is our first chance to nail that quarter-final position, we’re absolutely gunning for it. There’s a couple of tactical changes which gives us slightly different things to what we showed against Japan.
“We want to impose ourselves as quickly as we can. Spain are a mobile team, they have a strong background in sevens. We want to be mobile; we want to create a physical challenge, we want to get on top of them and we believe we picked the right squad to do that.”
Ireland prop Linda Djougang who wins her 50th cap:
“It’s unbelievable to be honest. When I started rugby, I never dreamed of this. For it’s even beyond a dream because I never really imagined that I would reach this milestone. Every game, I just tried to do my best.
“It means so much more for the girls in the squad, knowing that you can get there – I don’t think I have played with someone that gained 50 caps. For me to be able to be that role model for them, it’s amazing. I want them to hit the 100 if they can, and show that this dream is limitless, just go for it.”
Spain head coach Juan González Marruecos:
“The Black Ferns (New Zealand) game was very tough for us. The guys gave everything and they finished strong. We are recovering and we have full confidence in the guys who come into the team and we really want to fight in every minute of the game and we think we need fresh bodies to fight against Ireland.
“We want to show that we will be competitive in every game and we will fight for every inch of the field and we’re going to do that in this game. We have full confidence in all the team and the players have confidence in what we’re doing and what they want to show to the crowd and to the families and to the people.
“I think we’ve got strengths that we can put into the game and make the game really hard and we’re going to play for 80 minutes. We’re really focusing on the first 20 minutes of the game to be very competitive and to fight.”