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Two Changes To Ireland Women’s Team For Twickenham Tie

Two Changes To Ireland Women’s Team For Twickenham Tie

Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle has made two changes to the side that earned a hard-fought win over Wales in round 2 of the Women’s RBS 6 Nations.

Ashleigh Baxter comes in on the right wing for Hannah Casey and Gillian Bourke replaces Stacey-Lea Kennedy at hooker.

Both Casey and Kennedy will start from the bench. The only other change to the matchday 23 sees Laura Guest added to the replacements in place of Paula Fitzpatrick.

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Niamh Briggs and Larissa Muldoon, who came into the side after the opening round win over Scotland, are retained at full-back and scrum half respectively.

Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle commented: “The team showed great character to secure the win against Wales but they are in for a huge test this weekend facing England at Twickenham.

“England will be smarting from last year’s defeat and are a quality side who have shown their power and skill already in this Championship.”

Saturday’s showdown with England will be shown live on RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (worldwide) following the men’s game at Twickenham – approximately 6.20pm.

The Ireland Women will play their first ever fixture at the Aviva Stadium when they face Italy in round 4 of the Six Nations on Saturday, March 8.

The game will kick off approximately 40 minutes after the Ireland men’s match against the Azzurri has concluded. Tickets for the Women’s fixture are available through Ticketmaster.ie.

IRELAND WOMEN’S Team & Replacements (v England Women, 2014 Women’s RBS 6 Nations Championship, Twickenham, Saturday, February 22, kick-off 6.20pm):

Player/Club/Province/Caps –

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) 38
14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 10
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile) 80
12. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 10
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/UCC/Connacht) 16
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 20
9. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile) 17
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) 77 (capt)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster) 38
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 14
4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 12
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 27
6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster) 12
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) 28
8. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster) 11

Replacements:

16. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Cooke/Ulster) 10
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster) 3
18. Kerrie-Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile) 1
19. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster) 31
20. Amy Davis (Blackrock /Ulster) 33
21. Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exile) 2
22. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster) 48
23. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile) 9

IRELAND WOMEN’S RBS 6 NATIONS FIXTURES:

IRELAND WOMEN 59 Scotland Women 0
Asbourne RFC
Friday, January 31

IRELAND WOMEN 14 Wales Women 6
Ashbourne RFC, 7.30pm
Friday, February 7

England Women v IRELAND WOMEN
Twickenham, 6.20pm
Saturday, February 22

IRELAND WOMEN v Italy Women
Aviva Stadium, 5pm
Saturday, March 8

France Women v IRELAND WOMEN
Stade du Hameau, Pau, 6.45pm local time/5.45pm Irish time
Friday, March 14