Head coach Scott Bemand has announced the Ireland team (sponsored by Aon) for their Round 3 Guinness Women’s Six Nations clash with Wales at Virgin Media Park on Saturday (kick-off 4.45pm).
Bemand has made one change to the starting fifteen from the team against Italy with Co-Captain Edel McMahon returning to the back row.
Following the record attendance at the RDS and with 5,500 tickets already sold another large crowd is expected in Cork. Tickets are on sale from ticketmaster.ie and will be on sale on the day from the Ticketmaster booth at the Dolphin end.
The front row remains the same with Linda Djougang and Christy Haney packing down either side of Neve Jones.
Dorothy Wall partners Sam Monaghan in the second row while Aoife Wafer moves across the backrow with McMahon coming in at 7 and Brittany Hogan again named at 8.
Dannah O’Brien is at out-half with Aoibheann Reilly at scrumhalf. Enya Breen and Eve Higgins make up the centre partnership and the back three remains unchanged with Béibhinn Parsons, Katie Corrigan and Lauren Delany all set to start.
The uncapped Shannon Ikahihifo, who came through IQ Rugby, is named on the bench as is Cliodhna Moloney who was recalled to the squad this week.
They join Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite as the forward replacements.
Aoife Dalton is named alongside Nicole Fowley and Molly Scuffil-McCabe, as the replacement backs.
Commenting on the selection, the Ireland Head Coach said,
The front row remains the same with Linda Djougang and Christy Haney packing down either side of Neve Jones.
Dorothy Wall partners Sam Monaghan in the second row while Aoife Wafer moves across the backrow with McMahon coming in at 7 and Brittany Hogan again named at 8.
Dannah O’Brien is at out-half with Aoibheann Reilly at scrumhalf. Enya Breen and Eve Higgins make up the centre partnership and the back three remains unchanged with Béibhinn Parsons, Katie Corrigan and Lauren Delany all set to start.
The uncapped Shannon Ikahihifo, who came through IQ Rugby, is named on the bench as is Cliodhna Moloney who was recalled to the squad this week.
They join Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite as the forward replacements.
Aoife Dalton is named alongside Nicole Fowley and Molly Scuffil-McCabe, as the replacement backs.
Commenting on the selection, the Ireland Head Coach said,
“This game is another opportunity for us to perform in front of our home support. We want to get the tide of support and noise behind us. The hard work has gone in and now we’re ready to go after that winning performance.”Sunday’s match is live on Virgin Media with live updates on our twitter and instagram channels – @irishrugby