Aoife Wafer unlikely to feature in Ireland’s second World Cup game against Spain

INJURY DOUBT: Aoife Wafer appears unlikely to feature in Ireland’s second World Cup game against Spain despite returning to training this week. Pic: ©INPHO/Ben Brady.

Aoife Wafer appears unlikely to feature in Ireland’s second World Cup game against Spain despite returning to training this week.

Ireland’s influential backrow, who has suffered a pair of knee injuries that left her battling to be fit for this tournament, only arrived in England last weekend, therefore missing the preparation for Sunday’s win over Japan.

While she took part in training on Tuesday and Wednesday, her role was limited.

“She's working really hard, she's coming back and is very close,” said Ireland assistant coach Alex Codling.

“As a coaching group, it's important we make sure that moment is right for her and right for the team, so we'll monitor that over the next couple of days.

“I'm not working directly with her, but in terms of running, she joined in with the lineouts, that gives an indication that she's on track and going really well.”

Ireland co-captain Edel McMahon came through 75 minutes in her own return from a knee injury on Sunday. The backrow also had a limited part in training on Wednesday and was wearing a protective brace after the session.

“It's important for us as a coaching group where we just manage the loads of players,” said Codling.

“She's been out for a while, she was exceptional at the weekend, so we're just making sure she's fit and ready.”

Codling’s area of expertise, the lineout, saw mixed results over weekend. Ireland lost possession four times on their own throw - including in the build-up to Japan’s opening try - but it also created many opportunities for Irish scores, no more than Neve Jone’s first half maul try.

"What happened was we started really well, we had a little wobble after about 15 or 20 minutes,” explains Codling.

“Those elements were around us, just around our process, but I think it's important to remember this is a young group that has exponentially grown across all areas in the last 12 months.

“What I was really proud of was the second half, we really kicked on, and but for a couple of little handling areas we would have got a couple of more tries with the set-piece, and an interpretation of one of the tries [a penalty try was chalked off for obstruction], which was just out of our control.

“There's always some little bits and pieces, new combinations, players have come back from injury. It's just another game under the belt, understanding the way this competition is, spending time in a foreign environment.

“These are the things that as you spend more time together, it becomes easier.”