The Ireland Women have ten Six Nations newcomers on board for their Championship opener against Wales on Saturday, as the girls in green kick off their 2016 campaign at Donnybrook.
2016 WOMEN’S RBS 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, February 6
IRELAND WOMEN v WALES WOMEN, Donnybrook, 1pm (live stream on Irish Rugby TV/live RTÉ Radio 1 Extra)
Team News: The Ireland Women’s team, sponsored by AON, has been named for their first Women’s RBS 6 Nations fixture as they welcome Wales to Donnybrook on Saturday.
Head coach Tom Tierney has named a side that features two uncapped players in the starting line-up. Winger Elise O’Byrne White (Old Belvedere/Leinster) and hooker Zoe Grattage (Tralee/Munster) will win their first caps on Saturday, with Grattage’s Tralee and Munster team-mate, flanker Ciara Griffin, hoping to make her Ireland debut from the bench.
The selected squad also features seven players who won their first caps last November in Ireland’s maiden autumn international against England.
Aine Donnelly and Mairead Coyne will be making their second international appearances when they run out on Saturday, while replacements Cliodhna Moloney, Lindsay Peat, Fiona Reidy, Ciara Cooney and Mary Healy will all be looking to add a second cap to their collection. In all, there are ten players who will be involved in a Six Nations side for the first time.
Click here to buy tickets for all of the Ireland Women’s three home games. Tickets are priced at €;15 for unreserved seating, €;10 for terrace standing, €;5 for children and €;5 for a family (two adults and two children).
Meanwhile, the Ireland Women have held the upper hand in recent times, having gone four straight games without defeat but the Rachel Taylor-led Welsh side head for Donnybrook buoyed by their recent 15-5 success against the Irish in an uncapped game held at Ystrad Mynach.
Wales Women’s head coach Rhys Edwards openly admits World Cup qualification is the team’s ultimate goal and a first round victory against Ireland would set them on their way nicely.
There are a number of intriguing team selections with Adi Taviner moving to full-back from her customary centre spot, while youngster Robyn Wilkins gets the nod at out-half ahead of the experienced Elinor Snowsill.
In the pack, Sioned Harries is switched to the second row from the back row and Shona Powell-Hughes starts from number 8 instead of the second row.
Women’s RBS 6 Nations Fixtures
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Elise O’Byrne White (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen); Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Zoe Grattage (Tralee/Munster), Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse), Claire Molloy (Bristol), Heather O’Brien (Toulouse).
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (Tralee/Munster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond).
WALES WOMEN: Adi Taviner (Skewen/Ospreys); Elen Evans (Caernarfon/Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Skewen/Ospreys), Hannah Jones (Penybanc/Scarlets), Bethan Dainton (Bristol/Dragons); Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North/Ospreys), Keira Bevan (Skewen/Ospreys); Megan York (Ynysddu/Dragons), Carys Phillips (Skewen/Ospreys), Amy Evans (Skewen/Ospreys), Rebecca Rowe (Richmond/Dragons), Sioned Harries (Whitland/Scarlets), Rachel Taylor (Caernarfon/Dragons) (capt), Sian Williams (Worcester/Dragons), Shona Powell-Hughes (Skewen/Ospreys).
Replacements: Amy Price (Skewen/Ospreys), Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North/Scarlets), Cerys Hale (Pontyclun/Dragons), Siwan Lillicrap (Skewen/Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Penybanc/Scarlets), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol/Dragons), Gemma Rowland (Wasps/Dragons), Dyddgu Hywel (Pontyclun/Scarlets).
Referee: Leah Berard (USA)
Assistant Referees: Joy Neville, Paul Haycock (both Ireland).
Pre-Match Quotes – Tom Tierney (Ireland Women): “It’s very exciting to have so many new players involved in their first Six Nations game. With some of the girls from last year’s campaign involved with the Sevens at the moment, as well as some retirements over the past few seasons, it gives others the opportunity to pull on the green jersey.
“We’re now at a stage where we are developing more and more girls who are capable at competing at international level and it’s a great to see.
“The (warm-up) game against Wales the other week was good for us in that it allowed us to use 26 players and give them all a run against an international side. The fact that we are facing the same opposition so soon is interesting, as both sides will have worked on particular areas of their games over the past two weeks. We’ve trained well, so we’re now looking forward to putting that all into practice in a full-on Test match.
“While Ashbourne served us unbelievably well as a venue over the last number of years, the move to Donnybrook, with its central location and 4G pitch, is something we are all pleased with.
“We have a new crop of players coming through and a new stadium, so it’s a special time for the Women’s game in Ireland and we’re looking forward to getting the season underway on Saturday.”
Rhys Edwards (Wales Women): “It’s important we kick on from the (15-5 warm-up) win against Ireland and take confidence from beating a really good team.
“Adi (Taviner) has been a real threat this season for club and region at full-back – she was a constant threat against Ireland so she has been given another opportunity to show her class.
“Robyn (Wilkins) also came through well against Ireland and controlled the game and with our intent to play an attack-minded game both should figure prominently on Saturday.
“In the forwards it is a case of maximising our strengths – we’re blessed with the talent we have got in the back row with four exceptional players fighting for three positions so it is a case of managing our best players and getting them on the pitch at the same time.”
Pre-Match Links –
Ireland Women Lose To Wales In Six Nations Warm-Up
‘In Touch’ Digital Magazine Out Now
Ireland Women Ranked Fourth In New World Rugby Standings
Match Facts –
– Ireland are the reigning Women’s RBS 6 Nations champions, having taken the title in two of the past three years
– Ireland’s only defeat in the Women’s RBS 6 Nations last season was at home to France in round 2
– This game is Ireland Women’s first outing at Donnybrook since they lost to Wales there in 2006
– The Wales Women have finished in fifth place for the past two seasons and in 2015 began their campaign with a pair of victories, over England and Scotland, before being defeated in the last three rounds
– The two countries have met on 20 previous occasions with Ireland Women winning seven and Wales thirteen, however Ireland have won the last four since Wales’ 15-14 victory at Cross Keys in 2011
Recent Meetings –
2013: Women’s RBS 6 Nations: Wales Women 10 Ireland Women 12, Talbot Athletic Ground, Aberavon RFC
2014: Women’s RBS 6 Nations: Ireland Women 14 Wales Women 6, Ashbourne RFC
2015: Women’s RBS 6 Nations: Wales Women 0 Ireland Women 20, St. Helen’s, Swansea RFC
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