Scott Bemand names his side for New Zealand clash

Stacey Flood comes into the backline at full back. 

TEAM NAMED: Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand names his starting XV for New Zealand opener. Picture: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his side to take on New Zealand in their opening fixture of the WXV1 at BC Place in Vancouver (7pm local time/3am Irish time).

Edel McMahon will captain the side from the back row as Bemand aims to keep continuity with his selection from their six-try win over Australia in Belfast last month.

Bemand has made one change to the backline with Stacey Flood coming in at full-back, Eimear Considine moving to the right wing and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe maintaining her place on the left wing.

Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton partner at midfield with Molly Scuffil-McCabe and Dannah O'Brien continuing their half-back partnership.

The front row is unchanged with Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang with Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite in the engine room. 

Aoife Wafer starts at blindside flanker with McMahon at openside and Brittany Hogan packing down at eight.

Bemand has picked a mixture of youth and experience on the bench with Clíodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Grace Moore and Erin King joined by uncapped Andrew Stock as the forwards replacements with Emily Lane, Eve Higgins and Vicky Elmes Kinlan completing the match day 23.

Speaking ahead of the Black Ferns game Bemand "We've had a really good training week here in Vancouver, including a valuable hit out against France on Wednesday. 

"We're facing into three matches against the top teams in the world, and New Zealand first up on Sunday present physical and ball movements threats, so the training we've done and the intensity of the session against France has let us tune into that.

"In terms of selection, we've had some good competition for places in recent weeks which has led to some difficult conversations. We're pleased with how the group are performing, and we feel we've got the right blend in our Match Day Squad for the opening game of the campaign."

Watch the game live on RugbyPassTV. 

IRELAND (v New Zealand): Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC), Eimear Considine (Munster), Aoife Dalton (Leinster), Enya Breen (Munster) ,Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Munster), Dannah O’Brien (Leinster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster); N O’Dowd (Leinster), N Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), L Djougang (Leinster), D Wall (Munster), F Tuite (Ulster), A Wafer (Leinster), E McMahon (Connacht)(c), B Hogan (Ulster).

Replacements: C Moloney (Exeter Chiefs), S McCarthy (Munster), A Stock (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)*, G Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby), E King (Old Belvedere RFC), E Lane (Blackrock College RFC), E Higgins (Railway Union RFC), V Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC).