Wafer & Monaghan In Contention To Face Black Ferns

Ireland backmost statement Aoife Wafer and co-captain Sam Monaghan are "in contention" to look New Zealand successful Sunday's Pool C decider.

Key backmost statement Wafer has missed Ireland's wins complete Japan and Spain arsenic she recovered from knee room successful July.

Monaghan was forced disconnected successful nan triumph complete Spain arsenic a "precaution", according to Irish scrum coach Denis Fogarty.

While he would not corroborate whether nan duo would beryllium selected against New Zealand, Fogarty said "if group are fresh and fresh to play, we want to get them connected nan park".

"Ultimately we're going retired to execute and really triumph nan game, that's been nan extremity for america nan full time," said Fogarty.

"I understand that there's a quarter-final [the pursuing week] but nan measurement we've been building and really we train, we're afloat focused connected this crippled and making judge we've a capacity successful spot to springiness america momentum going into a quarter-final.

"If everyone is disposable to play, we want to get them connected nan pitch."

Ireland stunned reigning world champions New Zealand successful WXV1 past September.

Both teams person qualified for nan quarter-finals and whoever comes retired connected apical successful Brighton connected Sunday will advancement to nan past 8 arsenic Pool winners.

Fogarty said Wafer, who was subordinate of nan tourney successful this year's Six Nations, has "continued connected her progression" arsenic she returns from injury.

Wafer joined up pinch nan Irish squad aft nan opening triumph complete Japan aft continuing her rehab successful Dublin.

He said nan 22-year-old had returned to afloat interaction "in a controlled area" and she will return to nan "team environment"

"That will beryllium nan adjacent step. We're hopeful of everything going good for her and she'll beryllium successful contention for nan weekend," added Fogarty.

"She's bursting to go, if nan crippled was coming she'd want to play it. There's a spot of controlling her and holding her backmost a bit.

"She'll beryllium fresh and we person nary doubts that erstwhile she gets onto nan section she'll beryllium bulling to go.

"In her mind she's fresh to go, it's breathtaking for her."