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Ireland coach 'fully confident' Wafer fit for Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final / Photo: © AFP
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Ireland coach 'fully confident' Wafer fit for Women's Rugby World Cup quarter-final
Ireland are "fully confident" in Aoife Wafer's fitness as the back-row prepares to make her first appearance of the Women's Rugby World Cup in Sunday's quarter-final against France.
Wafer, 22, who will join English club Harlequins after the tournament, missed the pool stages as she recovered from a knee operation.
The return of the 2025 Women's Six Nations player of the tournament is one of two changes to Ireland's starting side for their first World Cup quarter-final since 2014.
Wafer replaces Ireland co-captain and flanker Edel McMahon, who went off with a knee injury during Ireland's 40-0 loss to reigning world champions New Zealand in their final pool match.
"We've all wanted to see Aoife back on the pitch," said Ireland coach Scott Bemand after announcing his team on Friday. "She's been desperate to get out there and give herself to the cause.
"She's worked incredibly hard behind the scenes and there's been huge support for her in getting back to this point. We're fully confident she's fit and ready."
Bemand added: "She's exactly where she wants to be and we believe this gives her the best opportunity to get her best game out there at a quarter-final."
Bemand has also brought in Fiona Tuite for Grace Moore in the back row for the game in Exeter.
Stacey Flood and Eve Higgins, both injured against New Zealand, are fit to start at full-back and inside centre.
Ireland qualified for the quarter-finals as runners-up in Pool C, while France are unbeaten after topping Pool D.
France won 27-15 when the teams last met, during the Six Nations in Belfast in March.
Les Bleues have made two personnel changes and one positional switch to the side that thrashed fellow quarter-finalists South Africa 57-10 in their concluding group game.
Kelly Arbey comes in on the left wing, with France captain Marine Menager moving to outside centre as Nassira Konde drops out of the matchday 23.
Morgane Bourgeois starts at full-back, with Emilie Boulard now on the bench.
M. Andrade--JDB
