Ireland's World Cup semi-final bid boosted by return of back-row Aoife Wafer
Aoife Wafer was the player of the tournament at the Six Nations last season. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho
Ireland Women's bid to reach a first World Cup semi-final since 2014 is poised for a huge boost with back-row star Aoife Wafer making her tournament entry.
The number eight, last season's Six Nations player of the championship, missed all three pool stage appointments with Japan, Spain and New Zealand.
But her battle back to full fitness from a knee injury is now ready for completion with an appearance against last-eight opponents France in Exeter on Sunday looking likely.
The timing could hardly be better, with all indications that she will take the field at Sandy Park.
"Aoife is back in training with the squad," Ireland kicking coach Gareth Steenson said, at the squad's city centre base.
"She is looking really good. It has been a long road for her, and she has got some good training sessions under her belt.
"All being well, she is available for selection. She has come through the sessions, and we are very pleased with where she is at."
Ireland will have their work cut out against opponents they last beat during the Six Nations eight years ago, but there is also encouraging fitness news surrounding full-back Stacey Flood.
Flood went off seven minutes before half-time after suffering an ankle problem during the 40-0 defeat against New Zealand in Northampton on Sunday.
But Steenson added: "Stacey is being managed. she is in good fettle and hopefully will be on the field.
"It was a real tough physical game against New Zealand. The way it is at the minute, Stacey will be looking to be training and be available for selection.
"We have got a number of players in the back-three. We are very fortunate. But we are pretty confident and hopeful that Stacey can come through.
"We want everyone fighting fit, and Stacey we are expecting to be involved in that."
France will go into the last-eight encounter as favourites, with host nation England potentially awaiting them in the last-four.
But the Irish players have picked themselves up following a heavy loss to world champions New Zealand, and are ready to go again.
"At the end of the day, we are disappointed with how it played out at the weekend," Steenson said.
"But we have put it to bed pretty quickly. We have to because it is knockout rugby this week.
"They are a very good outfit, and it was a good physical test. There were definitely opportunities out there, and we created opportunities that we didn't take.
"The French traditionally have big forward packs, and there is that physical battle. There are loads of threats right across the board, but we definitely feel we have got stuff that can combat that.
"I have no doubt our team is so much better for the experience (against New Zealand). They will pick up so many lessons."
Ireland have lost 25 and drawn one of 29 previous meetings with France - victories came in 2009, 2013 and 2017 - which underlines the size of Sunday's task.
But history shows that Ireland are capable of big performances, suggesting that Sunday's encounter could ultimately prove to be a tight and tense affair.
"It is knockout rugby, and it is about being brave and it is about believing in what we are going to do and building that confidence. Last week has gone now," Steenson added.
"There are loads of positives going into this week. We are very excited at the fact we have got to this stage of the competition. This is what we talked about months and months ago, being in a quarter-final.
"It is about the girls being brave and confident, and going out and executing it. We have got some pedigree in the squad regarding knockout rugby, and hopefully there will be plenty of Exeter supporters wearing green jerseys, and I am sure there are plenty of people coming over from Ireland."
Armagh-born Steenson, 41, is something of a local hero in Exeter, enjoying enormous success with the Chiefs during a 12-year career at Sandy Park.
He was the influential force in Exeter's Championship final victory over Bristol that secured Premiership status 15 years ago, with Premiership titles and a Champions Cup success following during Chiefs' remarkable rise to the summit of English and European rugby.
Such was the impact Steenson had that he was awarded the Freedom of the City of Exeter in 2020, being formally presented to him at Exeter Guildhall, which is situated down the road from Ireland's team hotel.
"It is lovely for me to come back," he said. "Some of the girls were asking me about the nice coffee shops and places to go, but it is not about me, it is what the girls can bring.
"On a personal level, to be involved with an Irish team is a very proud moment for me at the best of times, but to stand here with a green shirt on at Sandy Park, I would never have thought it. I have goosebumps thinking about it."
