Ireland's World Cup preparations were boosted on Wednesday when FIFA gave the Girls in Green a training ground upgrade.
They were due to train at Goodwin Park in Brisbane, home of semi-professional side Olympic FC.
However, when FIFA inspected the playing surface, they decided to move Vera Pauw’s side to Meakin Park, a half-hour journey from their plush Emporium Hotel base in the city centre.
They were initially moved to The Underwood, and used that facility earlier this week.
And they were on the move again in time for yesterday’s training session, which was attended by more than 100 Irish fans living in Brisbane.
The surface at Meakin Park is of a much higher standard than either of the two grounds that were offered to the Girls in Green ahead of their arrival in Australia.
Pauw explained: “It was FIFA’s decision, it was not coming from us at all.
“But FIFA was not happy with the quality of the allocated training pitch, so a few weeks ago they commanded to get this pitch here done.
“Looking at it, they have done an amazing job. It maybe is not all green, but it’s all flat, short grass and it’s really good to work on.”
As for the quality of The Underwood, Pauw added: “It was okay for the first (few) days, but not for preparation for the World Cup.
“But the people there were so welcoming and did everything they could on it.
“But at the World Cup there are standards that FIFA has and they decided it had to be on another level.”
Meanwhile, Ireland’s preparations for next Thursday’s Group B opener against Australia won’t be interrupted by a row over World Cup bonuses.
Several countries, including England and Group B rivals Nigeria, have had their plans rocked by cash-related rows between players and their national associations.
“We’ve been reading about that,” said Pauw. “The talks here have been good but I’m not part of that at all.
“Some management has taken part in that with the representation of the players and from what I understand everything is okay and fine so well done to everybody.”
Pauw doesn’t believe that the performance of Nigeria - Ireland’s final group opponents on July 31 - will be affected by their off-field issues.
“No, no, and theirs is our third game so they’ll be in full swing and I don’t think either,” she said.
“I’ve coached in South Africa and these issues are quite common. It doesn’t influence the players on the pitch at all.
“They are so used to these issues that they have to fight for themselves. So well done to them I will say.”
