Connacht’s Miller & Molloy keep Ireland spots for Wales

Ireland Women’s Head Coach Philip Doyle has made two changes to the side that defeated Scotland at Ashbourne last Friday night for the forthcoming clash against Wales.

Niamh Briggs is named at full-back and Larissa Muldoon comes in at scrum-half. The two players making way Jackie Shiels and Amy Davis are named among the replacements.Hat-trick hero Sophie Spence will again line out alongside Marie Louise Reilly in the second row and Ireland will be hoping that Lynne Cantwell and Alison Miller who both scored a brace of tries against the Scots can have a similar impact against the Welsh. Fiona Coghlan will captain the side and Ashleigh Baxter comes onto the bench in place of Orla Fitzsimons.Philip Doyle, Ireland Women’s Head Coach, commented, “The performance we put in against Scotland was coming for sometime but we are under no illusions as to the challenge the Welsh girls will present. There was only two points between the teams last year so this week we will require a further step up in performance from the group.

The Ireland Women’s team will play their first ever fixture at the Aviva Stadium when Italy come to play on Saturday 8th March. This game will kick-off approximately 40minutes after Ireland’s RBS 6 Nations clash against the Azzuri has concluded. Tickets for this match are available through Ticketmaster.ie.

IRELAND WOMEN v Wales Women – RBS 6 Nations Championship

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) 37
14. Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exile) 1
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond /Exile) 79
12. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster)9
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise RFC/UCC/Connacht) 15
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 19
9. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile) 16

8. Heather O’ Brien (Highfield/Munster)10
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) 27
6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster) 11
5. Marie -Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 26
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 11
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 13
2. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Cooke/Ulster)9
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) 76 capt

Replacements
16. Gill Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster) 37
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)3
18. Kerrie -Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile) 1
19. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster)4
20. Amy Davis (Blackrock /Ulster) 33
21. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 9
22. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster) 48
23. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile) 9