Vera Pauw: 'We have fantastic defenders but they are not the quickest'

The possibility of one of three centrebacks being sacrificed to provide a third midfielder to support Denise O’Sullivan and Ruesha Littlejohn has been floated

PLAYING TO OUR STRENGTHS: Ireland manager Vera Pauw won't be changing from her back five unit as her side prepare for Canada. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Vera Pauw insists Ireland won’t deviate from her preferred back-five unit as she feels her backline are too slow.

Thursday’s 1-0 defeat to co-hosts Australia in their World Cup opener accumulated Ireland’s blanks to five in six games this year.