After two away wins, the Ireland Women’s Six Nations title challenge faces an acid test on Sunday when defending champions France pitch up at Donnybrook.
2017 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, February 26
IRELAND WOMEN (1st) v FRANCE WOMEN (3rd), Donnybrook, 12.45pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live(island of Ireland only)/France 4/Six Nations Facebook Live Stream)
Team News: Head coach Tom Tierney has named the Ireland Women’s team, sponsored by Aon, to take on the France in their first home game of the Women’s Six Nations at Donnybrook on Sunday.
There are five personnel changes to the side that claimed bonus point victory over Italy in L’Aquila, including the welcome return of Sophie Spence to the second row where she partners Marie Louise Reilly.
There is a new-look back-line for the visit of les Bleues, with Mary Healy wearing the number 9 jersey after an impressive second half display against Italy.
Ulster’s Claire McLaughlin comes into the starting line-up at inside centre, having been a replacement in Scotland and Italy. She will link up with Jenny Murphy in a powerful midfield pairing.
The back-three sees Mairead Coyne at full-back and Eimear Considine, who is set for her first start, and Kim Flood fill the wing spots. Flood was part of the Ireland Sevens side in Dubai and Sydney this season and won the last of her two 15s caps against Scotland 11 months ago.
The front row remains unchanged with young Highfield hooker Leah Lyons combining again with props Lindsay Peat and Ailis Egan. Flankers Ciara Griffin and Claire Molloy and number 8 and captain Paula Fitzpatrick are all retained in the back row.
The replacements bench sees Ruth O’Reilly make her return to the Ireland set-up, having recovered from a knee injury. She makes up the front row reserves along with Ciara O’Connor and Ilse van Staden.
Ciara Cooney and Nichola Fryday will provide second row and back row cover respectively, while the returning Larissa Muldoon and Nikki Caughey and the uncapped Louise Galvin (pictured below) are the back-line options.
Meanwhile, France Women’s coaches Samuel Cherouk and Olivier Lievremont have unsurprisingly kept faith with the majority of the side that stormed past Scotland on a 55-0 scoreline last time out.
The sturdy pack, led by captain Gaelle Mignot and driven on by strong-carrying number 8 Safi N’Diaye, is unchanged with the same eight having started against both England (a 26-13 loss at Twickenham) and Scotland.
Camille Grassineau returns from injury to make her first start of the Championship on the right wing. She takes over from Elodie Guiglion – one of six backs to touch down against the Scots – who is set for Sevens duty with France in Las Vegas next week.
The 23-year-old Camille Cabalou, who started against Ireland in her debut season two years ago, comes in at out-half in place of Christelle Le Duff. Cabalou scored a try and kicked three conversions as a replacement in round 2.
Match Ticket Information: Tickets can be bought via www.ticketmaster.ie or on the day at Donnybrook. Stand €;15, Terrace €;10, Children Terrace or Stand €;5, Family (Two adults and two children) Terrace €;25.
Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
IRELAND WOMEN: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster) (capt).
Replacements: Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster), Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union), Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster).
FRANCE WOMEN: Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat); Camille Grassineau (FFR), Caroline Ladagnous (Bobigny 93), Elodie Poublan (Montpellier), Shannon Izar (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq); Camille Cabalou (Bayonne), Jade Le Pesq (Rennes); Lise Arricastre (Lons Bearn Pyrenees), Gaelle Mignot (Montpellier) (capt), Julie Duval (Caen), Lenaig Corson (Rennes), Audrey Forlani (Blagnac-St Orens), Marjorie Mayans (Blagnac-St Orens), Romane Menager (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq), Safi N’Diaye (Montpellier).
Replacements: Caroline Thomas (Romagnat), Annaelle Deshayes (Caen), Celine Ferer (Bayonne), Laetitia Grand (Lons Bearn Pyrenees), Yanna Rivoalen (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq), Lucille Godiveau (Bobigny 93), Marine Menager (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq), Patricia Carricaburu (Lons Bearn Pyrenees).
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy), Helen O’Reilly (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Sean Davey (England)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 11/5; Draw: 16/1; France Women to win: 2/5
Pre-Match Quotes – Tom Tierney (Ireland Women): “We made things hard for ourselves at times in Italy, especially in the first half where we weren’t as accurate as we needed to be. However in the second half we improved and to claim the bonus point with the last play of the game was very pleasing.
“We now head into a tough test on Sunday against the French. They recovered well from their defeat to England on the opening weekend to show why they are defending champions as they beat Scotland well.
“We’ve got a couple of players getting their first Six Nations starts of this season, and we’re looking to continue to give players more game-time as we continue to develop depth in the squad ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup in August.
“It’s our first home game of the Six Nations so we’re hoping to see a big turnout of fans on Sunday in Donnybrook.”
Pre-Match Links –
Tickets On Sale Now For Ireland Women And U-20 Home Fixtures
Ireland Women Grind Out Dramatic Late Victory
Tyrrell Magic Keeps Ireland Women Top Of the Table
Women’s Six Nations Attracts Record Audience Numbers
Match Facts –
– The Ireland Women have begun their Six Nations campaign with a pair of maximum point victories and have only once before started with three successive wins in the Championship, when they claimed the Grand Slam in 2013
– Ireland’s only defeat in their last 13 home games in the Women’s Six Nations was to France at Ashbourne in round 2 of the 2015 tournament
– The Ireland Women have played six previous Tests at Donnybrook with their only defeat being 14-7 to Wales in 2006
– France have lost just one of their last four Women’s Six Nations matches: 26-13 to England at Twickenham in round 1 and have not lost back-to-back away games in the Championship since 2009
– In 24 previous encounters between the two nations France have lost just twice, both at Ashbourne, in 2009 and 2013
Recent Meetings –
2014: Women’s Six Nations: France Women 19 Ireland Women 15, Stade du Hameau, Pau; Women’s Rugby World Cup 3rd-4th Place Play-Off: Ireland Women 18 France Women 25, Stade Jean Bouin, Paris
2015: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 5 France Women 10, Ashbourne RFC
2016: Women’s Six Nations: France Women 18 Ireland Women 6, Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan
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