On the back of training camps in Scotland and France, the Ireland Women will get a measure of their early season progress when they tackle familiar rivals Wales at the UCD Bowl today.
2019 NOVEMBER INTERNATIONAL: Sunday, November 10
IRELAND WOMEN v WALES WOMEN, UCD Bowl, 1pm (Irish Rugby TV live stream)
Team News: The Ireland Women's team, sponsored by Aon, to face Wales in their November Test at the UCD Bowl (kick-off 1pm) has been confirmed. Today's game will be streamed live on Irish Rugby channels.
Tickets for the Ireland v Wales Women's clash are available from www.ticketmaster.ie, priced from €5, and will be available at the gate this afternoon.
Head coach Adam Griggs has named one uncapped player in the starting XV. Talented Leinster youngster Judy Bobbett will make her debut in the green jersey as she joins Nichola Fryday in the second row.
Fit-again hooker Cliodhna Moloney returns at hooker for her first international appearance since the 2018 Six Nations. She is flanked by props Laura Feely and Linda Djougang, while Anna Caplice, one of Ireland's best performers during the 2019 Championship, features in the back row alongside captain Ciara Griffin and Edel McMahon.
Ballinasloe starlet Beibhinn Parsons will make her second start for Ireland – just a few weeks away from her 18th birthday. She joins Eimear Considine and Lauren Delany in an exciting back-three, with Sene Naoupu, Leinster's Interprovincial title-winning captain, pairing up with Enya Breen in midfield.
A year on from her international debut, Ellen Murphy will make her first start in the number 10 jersey after being back-up out-half throughout last season's Six Nations. She will combine at half-back with Nicole Cronin, the livewire Munster scrum half.
The Ireland management could give debuts to four more new faces on the bench. Victoria Dabanovich-O'Mahony, Katie O'Dwyer, Niamh Ni Dhroma and Hannah O'Connor are all set to gain international honours on the back of helping Leinster to retain their Interprovincial crown earlier this season.
Meanwhile, the Wales Women had the benefit of a Test against Spain in Madrid last weekend. They suffered a 29-5 reversal but did manage to give debuts to eight different players.
Gareth Wyatt, Chris Horsman and Geraint Lewis are in charge while head coach Rowland Phillips takes some time out from the programme. Ospreys number 8 Siwan Lillicrap, who wins her 30th cap, captains the Welsh side this afternoon in Dublin.
An uncapped back three will start the match – full-back Kayleigh Powell and wingers Paige Randall and Courtney Keight – while the latter's Cardiff Blues team-mate Rebekah O'Loughlin will make her debut if she comes off the bench.
The team, which was selected before the loss to Spain, also sees RGC prop Gwenllian Pyrs make her first start in a capped Wales international. Scrum half Ffion Lewis and hooker Kelsey Jones are handed their second starts.
IRELAND WOMEN: Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster); Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht); Ellen Murphy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster); Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Judy Bobbett (Blackrock/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Edel McMahon (Wasps/Connacht), Anna Caplice (Harlequins/IQ Rugby). Replacements: Victoria Dabanovich-O'Mahony (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Katie O'Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster), Anne-Marie O'Hora (Galwegians/Connacht), Niamh Ni Dhroma (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Hannah O'Connor (Blackrock/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster). WALES WOMEN: Kayleigh Powell (Ospreys); Paige Randall (Cardiff Blues), Alecs Donovan (Ospreys), Robyn Wilkins (Cardiff Blues), Courtney Keight (Ospreys); Elinor Snowsill (Ospreys), Ffion Lewis (Scarlets); Gwenllian Pyrs (RGC), Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Natalia John (Ospreys), Gwen Crabb (Ospreys), Alex Callender (Scarlets), Bethan Lewis (Scarlets), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys) (capt). Replacements: Carys Phillips (Ospreys), Gwenllian Jenkins (Scarlets), Cerys Hale (Cardiff Blues), Sioned Harries (Scarlets), Robyn Lock (Ospreys), Keira Bevan (Ospreys), Megan Webb (Cardiff Blues), Rebekah O'Loughlin (Cardiff Blues). Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand) Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Glenn Sheridan (Ireland) Pre-Match Quotes - Adam Griggs (Ireland Women):Sunday is the first marker for our squad with an exciting and challenging season ahead. We have had some good training games and preparation so it's now time to put that into action with a strong performance. "This week sees a step up in intensity as is required from our players as they play this home Test match in front of friends, family and supporters. "Our focus is starting off with a fast start and showing the progress that has been made over the last six weeks in camp. While it is great to have a core of experienced players, we know we will need the entire squad to step up show what they can do."Siwan Lillicrap (Wales Women):
Pre-Match Links - Recent Meetings - 2017: Women's Six Nations: Wales Women 7 Ireland Women 12, Cardiff Arms Park; Women's Rugby World Cup - 7th-8th Place Play-Off: Ireland Women 17 Wales Women 27, Kingspan Stadium 2018: Women's Six Nations: Ireland Women 35 Wales Women 12, Donnybrook 2019: Women's Six Nations: Wales Women 24 Ireland Women 5, Cardiff Arms Park Support the Ireland Women on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #IREvWAL and #ShouldertoShoulder on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.It's a massive honour and privilege to be part of the squad, never mind as captain. There is no doubt we have all put in a huge amount of hard work on and off the pitch in the last six weeks and we are looking forward to putting our stamp on this match as a group of players.
"It's our second Test of the autumn and it's a big one, as it always is against Ireland. They (Ireland) have a lot riding on the game as they're still aiming to claim a World Cup qualification spot. They are a very good and passionate side and they'll throw everything at us.
"It won't be easy but that’s what we want as a squad. I'm confident we can come away with a win. The fact that we have so many new caps shows there's a lot of talent in Wales and we are using this series to develop our strength as individual players, and the depth of the squad."