Campbell returns to starting lineup for Pool C decider against New Zealand

Kildare’s Ruth Campbell has earned a place in the starting lineup for Ireland’s final pool game this Sunday against the reigning World Champions, New Zealand.

Campbell started against Japan in Ireland’s opening game of the tournament where she put in a fine display in the second row before being called ashore after an hour.

The Johnstown native lost her place for the second game and only made a brief cameo off the bench in last week’s win over Spain, leading many to speculate that she was being held in reserve for the New Zealand game.

The Kildare powerhouse has been named in the second row alongside co-captain Sam Monaghan, with Laois’s Eimear Corri-Fallon providing cover on the bench.

Ireland and New Zealand both come into this game with 100% records from their first two fixtures, meaning Sunday’s clash will be a playoff for top spot in Pool C.

The prize for the winners will be a quarter-final against the Pool D runners-up in Sandy Park, home of former European Champions Exeter Chiefs; while the losers will face the Pool D winners, likely to be France, also in Sandy Park.

The Black Ferns will go into the game as heavy favourites, having won six of the last seven Women’s Rugby World Cups going back to 1998.

Ireland have had New Zealand’s number when the two teams have collided in the past, holding a 2-1 record against the Kiwis, including a shock victory at the 2014 World Cup as well as a win in last year’s WXV tournament.

Irish Head Coach Scott Bemand will be hoping the venue for the game will be a good omen; Ireland v New Zealand takes place in the AmEx Stadium, home of Premier League side Brighton, and the site of one of the most famous upsets in rugby history – the Brighton Miracle – where Japan shocked the world by beating South Africa at the 2015 Men’s World Cup.