'Tough' choices as Black Ferns named to face Ireland at Rugby World Cup

The Black Ferns have reshuffled their starting side for what shapes as their toughest Rugby World Cup pool assignment yet, against Ireland.

Coach Allan Bunting had a fully available squad for the first time and said the selection was genuinely difficult, with training sessions described as confrontational and separated by millimetres rather than obvious gaps in form.

Of the three players injured in the opening pool match against Spain, winger Ayesha Leti-I'iga returns as an impact player off the bench after recovering.

Bunting also made the point that every member of the squad has now had time on the world stage across the first two games, which is both a depth strategy and an insurance policy for the knockout rounds.