Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025: Ireland v Japan – Match Preview
Pool C opener • Franklin’s Gardens, Northampton • Kick-off 12:00 (Sun)
Betting Angle
Handicap: Ireland -20 – on form and power profiles, this looks a very solid play. Ireland’s pack should dominate gainline and set-piece, while their back-three pace gives them multiple strike avenues. Verdict: Ireland to cover.
How to Watch
Live on RTÉ2 and BBC Two. Live radio commentary on RTÉ 2FM.
Ireland XV
- 15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster) (20)
- 14. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock/Connacht) (28)
- 13. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (24)
- 12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster) (28)
- 11. Amee-Leigh Costigan (Railway Union/Munster) (19)
- 10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (26)
- 9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock/Connacht) (16)
- 1. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (17)
- 2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) (37)
- 3. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (48)
- 4. Ruth Campbell (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (8)
- 5. Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ) (23) co-captain
- 6. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere/Ulster) (17)
- 7. Edel McMahon (Exeter/Connacht) (34) co-captain
- 8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere/Ulster) (34)
Replacements
- 16. Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald (Exeter) (45)
- 17. Ellena Perry (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ) (1)
- 18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke/Ulster) (16)
- 19. Eimear Corri-Fallon (Blackrock/Leinster) (6)
- 20. Grace Moore (Trailfinders Women/IQ) (22)
- 21. Emily Lane (Blackrock/Munster) (17)
- 22. Enya Breen (Blackrock/Munster) (31)
- 23. Anna McGann (Railway Union) (11)
Prediction
Ireland by 20+ (cover the -20). Suggested scoreline: Ireland 34–10 Japan.
