Head Coach Scott Bemand has named the Ireland Match Day Squad, sponsored by Vodafone, for Sunday’s Vodafone Ireland WXV Series clash against Japan at Dexcom Stadium (Kick-off 12.45pm).
Ireland continue their Vodafone Ireland WXV Series campaign with a second outing as they welcome Japan to Galway, returning to the Home of Connacht Rugby where the Green Wave made its presence felt during the Guinness Women’s Six Nations last season.
Buy Your Tickets For Ireland v Japan At Dexcom Stadium
Bemand has included uncapped hooker Beth Buttimer in the Match Day 23 for the first time, with the 21-year-old set to make her Test debut off the bench having been in standout form for Munster during the recent Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship.
There are six changes to the starting team from last weekend’s game against the USA, with Connacht’s Béibhinn Parsons, Anna McGann and Aoibheann Reilly all coming into the backline, while Eilís Cahill earns her first Ireland start in the front row, Neve Jones is in at hooker and Brittany Hogan is selected in the back row.
Unfortunately Aoife Wafer was ruled out of selection this week after suffering a minor injury in training.
Stacey Flood starts at full-back, with Parsons and Vicky Elmes Kinlan on the wings and McGann linking up with Eve Higgins as the centre partnership.
Dannah O’Brien starts at out-half alongside Reilly in the half-back pairing.
In the pack, Niamh O’Dowd starts at loosehead prop alongside Jones at hooker and Cahill at tighthead prop.
Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite-O’Sullivan form an unchanged second row pairing, with Hogan, captain Erin King and Jemima Adams Verling completing the back row.
Buttimer, Sadhbh McGrath and Linda Djougang provide front-row cover on the bench, while Jane Clohessy and Grace Moore are the remaining forwards among the replacements.
Backs Emily Lane, Aoife Dalton and Niamh Gallagher complete Ireland’s Match Day 23.
Sunday’s match is live on TG4 Player and YouTube, while tickets are available on General Sale here.
Ireland (v Japan):
15. Stacey Flood (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(30)
14. Béibhinn Parsons (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)(36)
13. Anna McGann (Railway Union RFC/Connacht)(18)
12. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(38)
11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan (Wicklow RFC/Leinster)(7)
10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(36)
9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(20)
1. Niamh O’Dowd (Gloucester-Hartpury)(24)
2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury)(47)
3. Eilís Cahill (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(5)
4. Dorothy Wall (Exeter Chiefs)(43)
5. Fiona Tuite-O'Sullivan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(26)
6. Brittany Hogan (Sale Sharks)(44)
7. Erin King (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(13)(captain)
8. Jemima Adams Verling (Galwegians RFC/Connacht)(1)
Replacements:
16. Beth Buttimer (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)*
17. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster)(22)
18. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(58)
19. Jane Clohessy (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(1)
20. Grace Moore (Munster)(28)
21. Emily Lane (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(26)
22. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(34)
23. Niamh Gallagher (Trailfinders Women/IQ Rugby)(2),
*denotes uncapped player