With just two weeks to go until the start of the World Cup, Canada will have one final tune-up when they take on Ireland in Belfast on Saturday. The two sides are both in the top 5 of the official World Rankings but the Maple Leafs were clearly the better team when the last met a year ago and will be confident once again after maintaining their unbeaten record in 2025 with a big win over the Eagles last week.
Current World Ranking: 5 (79.17 points)
2025-08-02 – Ireland 27, Scotland 21 (Cork)
2025-04-26 – Scotland 26, Ireland 19 (Edinburgh)
2025-04-20 – Wales 14, Ireland 40 (Newport)
2025-04-12 – Ireland 5, England 49 (Cork)
2025-03-30 – Italy 12, Ireland 54 (Parma)
Current World Ranking: 2 (89.77 points)
2025-08-01 – Canada 42, USA 10 (Ottawa)
2025-07-12 – South Africa 5, Canada 33 (Port Elizabeth)
2025-07-05 – South Africa 20, Canada 50 (Pretoria)
2025-05-23 – Australia 7, Canada 45 (Brisbane)
2025-05-17 – New Zealand 27, Canada 27 (Christchurch)
 |
IN | OUT |
| 1 | Niamh O’Dowd | Siobhan McCarthy |
| 2 | Neve Jones | Cliodhna Moloney |
| 3 | Linda Djougang | Sadhbh McGrath |
| 4 | Ruth Campbell | Eimear Corri-Fallon |
| 5 | Fiona Tuite | Sam Monaghan |
| 9 | Aoibheann Reilly | Molly Scuffil-McCabe |
| 11 | Anna McGann | Amee-Leigh Costigan |
| 12 | Enya Breen | Eve Higgins |
| 13 | Aoife Dalton | Nancy McGillivray |
| 15 | Stacey Flood | Meabh Deely |
|
IN | OUT |
| 7 | Caroline Crossley | Gabrielle Senft |
| 9 | Justine Pelletier | Olivia Apps |
| 14 | Alysha Corrigan | Fancy Bermudez |
- the two sides first met during the pool stage of the 2002 World Cup, but surprisingly have only faced each other in three tests since
- despite sporting a 2-3 record during the Six Nations, Ireland finished third behind only England and France… they also lost to Scotland but were ranked higher on bonus points and differential
- Scott Bemand’s side redeemed themselves with a victory over the Scots a week ago, but two thirds of the run-on side have been rotated for Saturday’s match
- Ireland remain without world class loose forward Aoife Wafer who is recovering from knee surgery… Wafer was named Player of the Championship for the Six Nations… hooker Neve Jones and midfielder Aoife Dalton were also part of the tournament’s top XV… Jones captains Ireland for the first time with Edel McMahon absent and Sam Monaghan on the bench
- by contrast it’s a very similar Canadian lineup this weekend to the team that ran away with victory in Ottawa with just three personnel changes
- Caroline Crossley is the only new starter up front, stepping in on the flank with Fabiola Forteza switching to the back of the scrum and Gabrielle Senft left out
- Justine Pelletier and Alysha Corrigan get a chance to make their case for a starting job at the World Cup, running out at scrumhalf and right wing respectively… it’s a conventional 5-3 split on the bench this week with versatile Sarah-Maude Lachance the extra reserve back
Scott Bemand (Head Coach)
“Having another opportunity to test ourselves is essential in the run up to the Rugby World Cup and we know Canada will provide us with a really strong test. Last week we fought back hard from conceding early tries and we know we will need to start stronger this week. There is a lot at stake with the squad for the Rugby World Cup being announced early next week.”
Kévin Rouet (Head Coach)
“We have been building for the last three years so I know we are ready for the World Cup but this game against Ireland is one last opportunity to focus on the details of our game and system to make sure we are as prepared as possible. Ireland will be a tough opponent, they showed that to us last year at WXV so we have to be ready for the challenge on Saturday.”
Windy conditions await at Ravenhill which could suit the home side more than the visitors. The Irish pack features experienced campaigners in Linda Djougang and Brittany Hogan, but it’s a powerful Maple Leaf tight five in front of a very mobile loose forward trio. It’s a good test for the Canucks and should be a closer match than in Ottawa, but on current form anything other than a convincing win would be a disappointment for Rouet & Co. Canada are favorites in Belfast.
IRELAND
1 Niamh O’Dowd, 2 Neve Jones (capt.), 3 Linda Djougang, 4 Ruth Campbell, 5 Fiona Tuite, 6 Grace Moore, 7 Ivana Kiripati, 8 Brittany Hogan, 9 Aoibheann Reilly, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 11 Anna McGann, 12 Enya Breen, 13 Aoife Dalton, 14 Beibhinn Parsons, 15 Stacey Flood
Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Ellena Perry, 18 Sadhbh McGrath, 19 Eimear Corri-Fallon, 20 Sam Monaghan, 21 Claire Boles, 22 Emily Lane, 23 Eve Higgins
CANADA
1 McKinley Hunt, 2 Gillian Boag, 3 DaLeaka Menin, 4 Sophie de Goede, 5 Tyson Beukeboom, 6 Karen Paquin, 7 Caroline Crossley, 8 Fabiola Forteza, 9 Justine Pelletier, 10 Claire Gallagher, 11 Paige Farries, 12 Alex Tessier (capt.), 13 Florence Symonds, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 15 Julia Schell
Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 Brittany Kassil, 18 Olivia DeMerchant, 19 Courtney O’Donnell, 20 Pamphinette Buisa, 21 Olivia Apps, 22 Shoshanah Seumanutafa, 23 Sarah-Maude Lachance
Date: Saturday, August 9
Venue: Ravenhill, Belfast
Kickoff: 12:00 local (04:00 Pacific, 07:00 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 64°F (18°C), wind W 16-23mph (26-38km/h)
Broadcasts: TSN+ (Canada), RugbyPass TV
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistants: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand) & Berenice Loubet (France)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)
HEAD-TO-HEAD (4): Canada 3, Ireland 1
2024-10-05 – Canada 21, Ireland 8 (Langley)
2016-11-19 – Ireland 7, Canada 48 (Dublin)
2006-04-29 – Ireland 15, Canada 8 (Galway)
2002-05-13 – Ireland 0, Canada 57 (Barcelona)
