Ireland'srugby team's opener against Japan in theWorld Cup has lost one of its key players, Aoife Wafer, who will not be participating.
Ireland's preparations for their World Cup opener against Japan have been impacted by the unavailability of Aoife Wafer, the player of the tournament during the last Six Nations. Wafer is currently recovering from knee surgery and will not join the squad in England until this weekend, with a view to preparing for the Spain match.
Edel McMahon, co-captain of Ireland, has also been dealing with a knee issue and participated in training this week with a brace. Her presence in the squad, along with the return of Wafer next week, will provide a much-needed boost to Ireland's backrow depth, which is set to be tested against Japan.
Larissa Muldoon, Ireland's assistant coach, has highlighted the presence of promising players in Ireland's training environment. Ivana Kiripati, who has come through the Under-20s pathway, and Claire Boles, mentioned as a potential replacement for injured players, are among those who could step up to fill the void left by Wafer and McMahon.
Japan, renowned for their ability at the breakdown and their ball-focused approach that targets ball carriers, will present a formidable challenge for Ireland. The Irish team has been doing their homework on Japan's tactics, and Muldoon has expressed confidence in McMahon's leadership and impact on the team.
Despite the injuries and the absence of key players, Ireland began their build-up for their World Cup opener without a full complement at training. However, Muldoon is optimistic about the "green wave" of new talent emerging in the Irish squad, which could help them navigate the challenges posed by Japan.
World Rugby rules state that if a player travels to the host nation, they must be replaced should they leave the country without being replaced in the squad. As such, no specific replacement for Aoife Wafer in Ireland's group game against Japan on Sunday has been announced yet.
As the World Cup approaches, Ireland will be hoping to put their injury concerns aside and focus on delivering a strong performance against Japan. With Wafer set to join the squad this weekend and McMahon participating in training, there is a glimmer of hope that Ireland's backrow depth can be bolstered in time for their crucial opening match.
