Aoibheann Reilly gets the nod at scrum-half for Ireland's World Cup opener

Ireland face Japan at Franklin's Gardens on Sunday. 

Aoibheann Reilly was chosen at scrum-half ahead of Emily Lane, who will be on the bench, and Molly Scuffil-McCabe. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady

Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has declared his hand for the first of his team’s World Cup duties with scrum-half Aoibheann Reilly the big winner as they prepare to face Japan in Franklin’s Gardens on Sunday.

The head coach had three live options for the No.9 shirt but he has gone with the Ballinasloe woman, which means Emily Lane will provide back-up from the bench and Molly Scuffil-McCabe loses out on this occasion.

Reilly started just one of the 2025 Six Nations ties, away to Italy, with Lane getting the nod at home to France and England before Scuffil-McCabe was chosen for the closing fixtures against Wales and Scotland.

This was always a wait-and-see position but much of the rest of the side picked itself, not least at out-half where the impressive Dannah O’Brien will be orchestrator-in-chief. Munster’s Enya Breen provides cover there, and in the centre, from the replacements.

Ireland boast an excellent back three with Stacey Flood another playmaking option at No.15 and there is real pace and threat out wide in the form of Beibhinn Parsons and Amee-Leigh Costigan. Anna McGann offers further danger when brought on.

The centre pairing is rock solid with the classy Eve Higgins having been joined in recent times by Aoife Dalton who had an explosive spring.

Tweaks were needed up front, though, in the absence of key players through injury.

Dorothy Wall would have started in the second row and Erin King in the back row but they instead sit the tournament out. Aoife Wafer, player of the Six Nations, is another absentee here, although she is expected back before the pool stage’s end game against New Zealand.

There is still plenty to be said for a pack that has Brittany Hogan at No.8 and two co-captains, Edel McMahon and Sam Monaghan, back from their own injuries in recent times. Fiona Tuite, more of a second row, is chosen at blindside flanker.

The Ulsterwoman has played there before.

The front row was well signposted with Niamh O’Dowd locking down the loosehead spot long before now, Neve Jones continuing at hooker and Linda Djougang ever-dependable on the tighthead side.

The three front row replacements are all excellent deputies at this level. Eimear Corri-Fallon and Grace Moore step into the 23, thanks in part to the injury situation, having impressed in the warm-ups against Scotland.

Sunday's match kicks off at 12 noon. It is live on RTÉ2 and BBC Two, while there will be live radio commentary on RTÉ 2FM.

IRELAND (v Japan): S Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 20 caps); B Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht, 28), A Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 24), E Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster, 28), AL Costigan (Railway Union RFC/Munster, 19); D O'Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 26), A Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht, 16); N O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 17), N Jones (Gloucester Hartpury, 37), L Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 48); R Campbell (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster, 8), S Monaghan (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby, 23)(co-captain); F Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster, 17), E McMahon (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht, 34, co-captain), B Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster, 34).

Replacements: C Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter Chiefs, 45), E Perry (Gloucester Hartpury/IQ Rugby, 1), S McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster, 16), E Corri-Fallon (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster, 6), G Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby, (22), E Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster, 17), E Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster, 31), A McGann (Railway Union RFC, 11).