As a stand-in, Fiona Tuite is standing out.
Injuries to back row forwards Erin King and Aoife Wafer have meant Ireland head coach Scott Bemand has had to shuffle his deck with erstwhile lock Tuite, who has featured in Ireland's last 12 fixtures, making a move to the flank.
The Ulster forward started in the second row against Canada in the warm-up game in Belfast before switching to the blindside when Sam Monaghan came off the bench.
And the Old Belvedere player made her first start at wing forward in Sunday's Pool C win over Japan, capping off a solid setpiece contribution with her first international try after running a superb line in support of Eve Higgins.
🇮🇪 28-7 🇯🇵
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 24, 2025
Fiona Tuite with the bonus-point try after a fantastic break and step from Eve Higgins #WRWC2025
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That was one of nine carries over 37 metres from the 28-year-old Dubliner, while she also took nine lineout throws as Ireland ran out 42-14 winners.
There were 13,053 boisterous fans, made up of Irish, Japanese, Brazilian and South Africans, whose team played in the second game of the double-header, in attendance but Tuite knew where her entourage, including Ulster prop and fiancé Eric O’Sullivan, were located.
"I knew exactly where they were sitting, so I just looked up to the crowd, saw them all there, gave a little wave to them," said Tuite.
"Because, to be honest, everything I do is for them.
"This is so important for me, but for my family as well, and incredible to have them all here.
"There was just so many Irish in general, it was genuinely class. Ireland's Call was literally bellowing through the stadium.
"So really proud moment to get that try. But I think Eve set me up nicely."
Ireland are hopeful that Wafer may return to play a part later on in the tournament, with Sunday’s game against Spain still looking like a long shot although she is in line to take some part in training this week.
If Tuite can continue her form, Scott Bemand will be in no rush to get Wafer back sooner than is necessary.
"We want [Aoife] back on pitch," said Tuite, who won her 18th cap against Japan.
"If that means I’ve to maybe push [back onto] the bench, back into the second row, who knows?
"We don't know what's to come in the next couple of weeks but it's so great to have her back. She's working so hard.
"She landed in the middle of our jersey presentation [on Saturday] and smiles on everyone's faces.
"[I was] delighted to get the start at 6.
"We always talk about the back five rather than a front-five and a back-three."
🇮🇪 42-14 🇯🇵
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 24, 2025
'There were some magnificent pieces of rugby…we have started off really well' - @lilypeat11@niamhbriggs15 and @HannahTyrrell21 reflect on a job well done for Ireland #WRWC2025
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Spain, who lost 54-8 to New Zealand on Sunday, are up next for Ireland and Tuite is determined that the team continue their upward trajectory.
She said: "We are building a lot of momentum, we are really looking forward.
"We’ve been very open that our goal is to get to London [for a semi-final].
"This is the start of it. We’ll bring this energy on to Spain and then New Zealand and take it from there."
Tuite also revealed that the squad had a visit from injured forward Dorothy Wall ahead of the game.
The Tipperary woman is also on the RTÉ Sport TV panel for the World Cup
"[It was] emotional for all of us," she said.
"Doro and I built a really good connection over the last number of years, I suppose, but particularly over the last number of months when Codders [Alex Codling] came in and we worked really hard together as a unit in the line-out.
"I really miss Doro. She’s so massive for our team. Same with Erin.
"We're missing so many key players.
"Christy [Haney]. We really did get fairly whacked at the start of this campaign but they’re still a massive part of it.
"I know we talk about connections but we genuinely are so connected.
"We all love each other so much and we miss the girls but they're still a part of everything we do."
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