Ireland have made seven changes to their starting line-up for Sunday’s World Cup Pool C encounter against Spain in Northampton but star back row Aoife Wafer is still missing from the matchday squad.
Earlier this week, assistant coach Alex Codling indicated that this year’s Six Nations player of the tournament was back training with the squad and was “very close” to making her return from a knee injury.
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has opted to ring the changes from last week’s opening 42-14 win over Japan, with right wing Anna McGann and scrum-half Molly Scuffil-McCabe coming into the back division.
Prop Ellena Perry and hooker Cliodhna Moloney are drafted into the front row, while Eimear Corri-Fallon is named in the second row alongside captain Sam Monaghan.
The other changes from last week’s victory are the inclusion of flanker Claire Boles and number eight Grace Moore.
Prop Linda Djougang is set to win her 50th cap in the game.
Neve Jones and Brittany Hogan drop to the replacements’ bench but co-captain Edel McMahon is among those who started against Japan but are not included in the 23 for Franklin’s Gardens.
Back row McMahon missed both of Ireland’s warm-up games against Scotland and Canada but sat out part of training this week after featuring for 75 minutes against Japan.
Spain are ranked 13th in the world, eight places below Ireland, and lost 54-8 to New Zealand in their opening fixture.
Ireland will face the holders on Sunday, 7 September in a match which could decide the winners of the group.
