Aoife Wafer has been ruled out of Ireland’s World Cup opener against Japan this coming Sunday.
The backrow forward, named player of the tournament during the last Six Nations, has not joined the squad in England yet as she recovers from knee surgery.
After arriving in Northampton on Friday, Ireland began their build-up for their opener on Tuesday without a full complement at training. Wafer will link up with the group this weekend with a view to returning to training next week ahead of the clash with Spain.
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“Thirty-one players have come through training,” said Ireland assistant coach Larissa Muldoon. “Aoife Wafer stayed at home just to work on a few bits of rehab. She will join us next week in preparation looking into Spain.”
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World Rugby rules for tournament participants state that if a player travels to the host nation, they must be replaced should they leave the country without being replaced in the squad. This is to avoid handing nations closer to the hosts an advantage over those with more onerous travel.
With this in mind, Wafer has been left in Dublin until she can take part in training. During the 2023 men’s World Cup, Stuart McCloskey returned home from France for the birth of his child, only to rejoin the group with special dispensation from World Rugby.
Ireland’s co-captain Edel McMahon, who is another injury doubt with a knee issue, took part in training in Northampton this week.
“She’s a massive personality back in the group, amazing leader,” said Muldoon. “The girls just stride around her. It’s fantastic to have her back in the environment and the standards she sets.”
With Wafer out and McMahon’s status still up in the air, Ireland’s backrow depth is set to be tested on Sunday against a Japanese outfit renowned for their ability at the breakdown.
Muldoon pointed to her confidence in Ireland’s potential replacements for these key players.
“People forget the like of Claire Boles have come back in,” said the former Ireland scrumhalf. “Ivana Kiripati has come through the Under-20s pathway. [There are] amazing players coming through and giving us that element of competition in our training environment and identity, which is all a part of this green wave.
“Japan are ... a very ball-focused team. They have some key personnel that love to target ball. Their kick to create something, fantastic opportunities there across the park. We’ve done our homework but it’s all about us.”
Regarding Wafer’s late arrival, Muldoon said that this was always Ireland’s plan once her recovery timeline became clear after undergoing surgery early in July.
“Aoife is a fantastic athlete,” said Muldoon. “She’s so professional, and I think once that plan was set, she was very much set in stone with ticking off every marker.
“Coming back in, she’ll fit straight back in and just get herself settled into the new environment and back in with the group and training.”
No confirmation was forthcoming that Wafer, once she is back in training next week, would be available to play Spain on Sunday week – also in Northampton. “As far as I’m aware, 31 players are available for selection this week, and then we will reassess and see what’s available next week.”
Boles, one of the players name-checked by Muldoon as a backrow option amid the injury-forced absences, played down the idea that whoever does line out on Sunday is under pressure to keep their place.
“I don’t really feel it that way,” said the Ulster and Railway Union forward. “Individually the backrows are so different. Aoife Wafer compared to Erin King herself, they’re so different. Us backrows coming in, we bring our own wee bit of personality into the game. Obviously we want to keep the momentum going.
“I try to bring a quickness, speed to the line. I also just love tackling to be honest. I wouldn’t mind being in defence all day. I love defending but I also love getting the team momentum in attack.
“If we’re able to start out of the blocks fast and be our best. Do everything with intent.”
A fast start has been Ireland’s theme of the week heading into their first World Cup game in eight years. In the World Cup warm-ups, both matches saw Ireland give up an early lead, only for a fightback to lead to victory against Scotland and some scoreboard consolation in the defeat to Canada.
“We didn’t put ourselves in the best position that we know we are capable of,” said Muldoon. “So it’s all about starting fast, and that starts from this week. That’s the focus.
“It’s been addressed. We’ve implemented some elements into our training session to be able to really emphasise how we get on to the pitch and how we start well.
“So I just want them to take real confidence from that and go and enjoy Sunday.”
