Skurr upbeat despite spate of late injuries

Despite incurring a number of late injuries, Irish coach Jon Skurr, insists his side is ready for this weekend’s Women’s Sevens World Cup in Moscow.

Though Skurr must plan without Niamh Briggs, Aisling Hutchings, Claire Keohane, Niamh Kavanagh and Carol Staunton, he was in confident mood before departing for the Russian capital.

“The injuries have come at a bad time, but first and foremost you have to be disappointed for the girls. It’s tough because they had earned the right to wear the jersey but have lost out through injury.

“That said, we’ve a great squad assembled and all 12 can contribute hugely at this level. We’ve been steadily improving and our goal at the start of the year was to make the semi-finals of a European tournament and we did that in Marbella a few weeks ago; it’s just a matter now of continuing that level of performance in Russia.”

Ireland have been drawn in Pool B against the World Cup holders Australia, South Africa and China. However, Plate wins in China, London and Brive have boosted Irish hopes. Ireland must qualify in the top eight to make the IRB World Series in 2014. They kick off their World Cup campaign on Saturday at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex in Moscow, where they will face South Africa at 7.06am, Australia (9.40am) and China (12.58pm) Irish time.