Preview: Black Ferns to provide Ireland with stiff test

Ireland take on the world champions New Zealand in Canada in the early hours of Monday morning.

The game in Vancouver is the first match of the WXV1 series and has a 3am kick-off (Irish time).

Scott Bemand's side, ranked seventh in the world, come into the game off the back of consecutive victories, the friendly win against Australia in Belfast two weeks ago and the Six Nations success over Scotland last April.

That ensured a third-place finish and guaranteed World Cup qualification, while also meaning that the team would skip WXV2; they won the third tier of the inaugural series last year in Dubai soon after Bemand took over from Greg McWilliams.

The 36-10 victory over the Wallaroos showed that the team is on an upward trajectory; Australia are in the second tier and Ireland were good value for that winning margin.

The Black Ferns, however, are a different proposition altogether.

They sit second in the rankings behind England and their 2022 World Cup final win over England secured a fifth title in the last six renewals.

"We wanted to qualify and that’s what we did, and we found ourselves in WXV1," said centre Aoife Dalton.

"That’s where we want to be. What an opportunity to play against the World Cup champions."

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The last time they met opposition of this calibre was against the Red Roses in the Six Nations when England ran in 14 tries in a demolition job.

While the hosts were on fire that day in Twickenham, Ireland were guilty of some shocking defensive play and naive kicking.

It