Hannah O'Connor doesn’t believe that the inclusion of three relatively unknown players in Ireland’s squad will be disruptive to the team's Rugby World Cup hopes.
Former England prop Ellena Perry and Exeter centre Nancy McGillivray both made their Ireland debuts in the recent warm-up games against Canada and Scotland, respectively, while Connacht back row Ivana Kiripati played in both Tests.
Kiripati, 22, played most of her adult rugby in college in the USA but dovetailed her time there with stints in Ireland, impressing for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge, and Connacht.
Gloucester's Perry, 28, is a replacement for injured front row Christy Haney, while 22-year-old McGillivray’s PWR experience has earned her a place in Scott Bemand's 32-player squad.
Neither was named in the 37-player preparation panel back in May.
Back row Deirbhile Nic a Bháird and back Vicky Elmes Kinlan are among those who didn't make the cut for the trip to England, where Ireland will face Japan, Spain and New Zealand in Pool C.
Asked what sort of effect parachuting players in at a late stage has on a squad, former Ireland forward O’Connor told the RTÉ Rugby podcast: "You can kind of get the gist from the girls and from what you hear in the media and anybody doing interviews, it's a very tight-knit group.
"Everybody gets along very well and they spend a lot of time in each other's company.
"We've heard it in the past from Irish teams under Andy Farrell as well of how cohesive they are as a group in terms of how they get along and that makes a huge difference.
"So from that point of view of the new girls coming in, I wouldn't be overly worried about cohesion in terms of knitting in with the group and I heard Scott mention about everybody who has been in the group has brought something to the group."
On the overall squad selection, O'Connor, who retired last year after leading Leinster to the Women's Interprovincial crown, added: "I suppose no massive surprises in the backs.
Former international @HannahOConnor22 believes the three new Ireland call-ups won't disrupt squad cohesion so close to #RWC2025 - full #RTERugby podcast here https://t.co/dpVmhQ0U29 pic.twitter.com/iSn5Bp5RA8
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 13, 2025
"I think they kind of picked themselves, there hasn't been a lot of surprises.
"I suppose Nancy McGillivray being the only kind of new face in there compared to what we had seen over the last little while [it's] Vicky Elmes Kinlan who'd be disappointed to miss out there.
"In the forwards, obviously Christy Haney is a big blow in terms of the scrum.
"We're not flush on props in Ireland in terms of the grassroots, Ellena Perry comes in [because of her] experience.
"It's such a key position and [I’m] gutted for Christy.
"Scrummaging is her baby and as I said she brings a lot of stability there when she's either started or come off the bench.
"Ivana Kiripati is probably the bolter there.
"She's obviously been in the extended squad the last number of years and been in and around the group and training.
"She has played a rugby overseas with college in America and come home for the Celtic Challenge and has played a few interpro games with Connacht.
"I suppose someone like Deirbhile Nic a Bháird is a big name that misses out, which I was surprised at myself, to be honest.
"Her versatility and what she's done both in a Munster jersey and in a club jersey for Belvedere, any time she's gotten a chance to shine for Ireland, she is that kind of all-action back row player."
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