Wafer 'very Close' To Ireland Return After Knee Injury

Ireland adjunct coach Alex Codling says prima backmost statement Aoife Wafer is "very close" to making her return from knee injury.

This year's Women's Six Nations subordinate of nan tourney missed Ireland's opening World Cup triumph complete Japan aft undergoing knee room past month.

Wafer stayed successful Dublin past week to proceed her rehab, and while she has trained pinch nan squad since arriving successful England, Codling stopped short of saying nan 22-year-old is successful contention to look Spain successful Northampton connected Sunday (12:00 BST).

"She's moving really hard, she's coming back, she's very close," said Codling.

"Obviously arsenic a coaching group it's important we make judge that moment's correct for her and for nan team. We'll show that complete nan adjacent mates of days."

Codling added: "I'm not moving straight pinch her, but successful position of running, she joined successful pinch nan lineouts, that gives an denotation that she's connected way and going really well."

Codling besides said Ireland are "looking after" Edel McMahon aft nan co-captain sat retired portion of Wednesday's training session.

Having missed some warm-up games, McMahon managed 75 minutes successful nan triumph complete Japan.

"It's important for america arsenic a coaching group, we're managing loads of players and she's evidently been retired for a while," explained Codling.

"She was exceptional astatine nan play truthful we're looking aft her and making judge she is fresh and ready."

Spain opened their World Cup run pinch a 54-8 nonaccomplishment to holders New Zealand, but ran Ireland adjacent successful their WXV3 gathering successful 2023 aft winning nan 2021 World Cup qualifier betwixt nan sides.

Spain are classed 13th successful nan world, 8 places beneath Ireland, but Codling insists "a portion of insubstantial has ne'er won games".

"I deliberation we dainty everyone nan same, for tons of different reasons. Certainly, they are a squad that will situation us.

"They person sewage a batch of Sevens players successful nan group, and you could spot against New Zealand, if you springiness them abstraction and clip they will wounded you."