There are three Connacht Women included in the Ireland squad to face Scotland in the Women’s Six Nations on Sunday. Ciara O’Connor, Laura Feely and Edel McMahon will all start on the bench for the final home match of the Championship.
Hannah Tyrrell, who was a try-scoring replacement in the 35-12 bonus point win over Wales, is promoted from the bench to the left wing, while up front, Cliodhna Moloney resumes at hooker with Ciara O’Connor making way.
Moloney’s Railway Union club-mate Aoife McDermott retains her place in the second row after an impressive debut last time out. She stepped in for the ill Nichola Fryday and made her presence felt both in the lineout and the loose. Number 8 Paula Fitzpatrick wins her 40th cap this weekend.
Ireland Sevens regulars Ashleigh Baxter and Louise Galvin have been added to the matchday 23, with winger-turned-flanker Baxter providing another link back to the 2013 Grand Slam-winning side and Galvin looking to add to her three previous 15s caps.
Speaking ahead of the round 4 clash with Scotland, Adam Griggs said: “We came away with a good win against Wales and there are some huge positives to come out of that. We are in a good place going into the final two games.
“I’ve no doubt Scotland will be looking to push us hard on Sunday afternoon. If we replicate our last performance, get the small things right, I am confident we will have a successful outcome.”
Tickets for the Ireland Women’s home matches at Donnybrook are available via www.ticketmaster.ie. The IRFU is offering a bus subsidy of up to 400 euro per club for private transport hire. For more information on the bus subsidy for the 2018 Women’s Six Nations, contact womensrugby@irfu.ie before purchasing tickets.
IRELAND WOMEN’S Team & Replacements (v Scotland Women, 2018 Womens Six Nations Championship, Donnybrook, Sunday, March 11, kick-off 1pm.
15 - Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)
14 - Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13 - Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
12 - Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
11 - Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
10 - Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
9 - Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
1 - Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
2 - Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)
3 - Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)
4 - Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster)
5 - Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
6 - Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt)
7 - Claire Molloy (Bristol)
8 - Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
Replacements:
16 - Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)
17 - Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht
18 - Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
19 - Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster
20 - Edel McMahon (Galwegians/Connacht)
21 - Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
22 - Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster)
23 - Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster)
