As Published on www.rte.ie/sport Friday, 27 August 2010 16:37

Ireland have made two changes to the starting XV to play Kazakhstan on Saturday from the team that beat USA 12-22 in their last Women’s Rugby World Cup match.

Scrum-half Tania Rosser, a try-scorer against the US, picked up a shoulder injury during that game and is replaced by the experienced Louise Beamish.

Eliza Downey will make her first appearance of the tournament on the wing with Nora Stapleton dropping out of the 22.

Carol Staunton, Jackie Shiels and Yvonne Nolan are included on the bench.

Ireland hope to improve their performance in the scrum against the Kazakhs.

Commenting on the victory over the US, Ireland head coach Philip Doyle told IRFU.ie: ‘The scrum was under pressure against the Americans, but they are a strong and heavy pack and we’re not.

‘We know Kazakhstan are similar and so we’ll have to have a look at that and work on our scrums and hope to improve.’

Ireland Women (v Kazakhstan), Women’s Rugby World Cup, Pool B, Surrey Sports Park, Saturday 28 August:

15 – Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster)
14 – Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
13 – Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond/Exile)
12 – Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians)
11 – Eliza Downey (Cooke/Ulster)
10 – Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster)
9 – Louise Beamish (UL Bohemian/Munster)
1 – Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2 – Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3 – Louise Austin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
4 – Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster)
5 – Marie Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster)
6 – Orla Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster)
7 – Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8 – Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:

16 – Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/Leinster)
17 – Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
18 – Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht)
19 – Sinead Ryan (Blackrock/Leinster)
20 – Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Leinster)
21 – Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
22 – Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster)