During the forthcoming World Cup quarterfinals, Ireland, the opposition the Blues will encounter, is a team whose outcome can be foreseen with a degree of accuracy.

Ireland Prepares for Quarter-Finals Amid Injury Concerns and Tactical Challenges

Ireland's journey in the Women's Rugby World Cup has been a mix of victories and setbacks, with the team gearing up for the quarter-finals against a formidable opponent - France.

Kevin Rouet, the French coach of Canada, has highlighted France's strengths in the lineout and ruck against Ireland. This prediction comes after France's victory over Ireland (15-27) in their previous encounter, a match in which Ireland's Aoife Wafer scored two tries.

Wafer, a 22-year-old third-line player for Ireland, was named the tournament's best player, and Rouet considers her to be Ireland's best player. However, her current fitness and form are uncertain, as she did not play any minutes in the match against the New Zealand women's rugby team, the Black Ferns, in Brighton.

The Black Ferns, who advanced to the quarter-finals after a resounding 40-0 victory over Ireland, will present a significant challenge. Rouet believes that to beat the Black Ferns, Ireland needs to avoid making too many mistakes and giving O'Brien too many opportunities. O'Brien, known for her excellent kicking game, seemed muted in the match against France, playing all three matches and coming off for only a few minutes against Spain.

Stacey Flood, the centre who was planned to replace O'Brien, had to leave the field with a right knee injury at the 34th minute. This injury leaves Ireland with a crucial void to fill, especially considering Wafer's uncertain fitness.

Despite these challenges, Ireland has shown progress in the tournament, with wins against Japan and Spain. Their game strategy is structured, with few risks taken and minimal kicking from their own half. However, they were unable to cross the try line against France in their last match.

Ireland's captain, Edel McMahon, and her teammates will be aiming to turn this around in the quarter-finals. The team's resilience, as shown by their podium finish in the last Six Nations competition in 2015, will undoubtedly play a role in their approach.

As Ireland prepares for their quarter-final match, the focus will be on recovery, strategy, and the determination to overcome the challenges posed by France. The outcome of this match could well determine Ireland's journey in the Women's Rugby World Cup.

During the forthcoming World Cup quarterfinals, Ireland, the opposition the Blues will encounter, is a team whose outcome can be foreseen with a degree of accuracy.