The road towards Rugby World Cup 2021 qualification begins for the Ireland and Scotland Women this afternoon, as both sides look to put their best foot forward in their Six Nations opener at Energia Park.
2020 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, February 2
IRELAND WOMEN v SCOTLAND WOMEN, Energia Park, 1pm (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/BBC ALBA)
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Adam Griggs has selected a strong team for their opening 2020 Women’s Six Nations game against Scotland. Tickets, priced from €10 for adults and €5 for kids, will be available at the gate.
Noted Sevens international Aoife Doyle makes her return to 15s international rugby after winning her first cap back in 2015. She forms an exciting back-three with Lauren Delany and 18-year-old flyer Beibhinn Parsons.
Sene Naoupu and Michelle Claffey form a familiar centre partnership, while the back-line will be led by Longford woman Ellen Murphy, who gets the nod at out-half, and her former Old Belvedere club-mate Kathryn Dane.
In the forwards, Linda Djougang, who made her Ireland debut against Scotland last year, joins Lindsay Peat and Cliodhna Moloney in the front row, while the tight five is completed by Aoife McDermott and Nichola Fryday.
Clare woman Edel McMahon steps up in the openside flanker role, taking the reins from Claire Molloy who is on a break from international rugby. She has captain Ciara Griffin and Anna Caplice for company in a well-balanced back row.
Dynamic number 8 Caplice was a try scorer and the player-of-the-match when Griggs’ side defeated Scotland 22-5 at Scotstoun last February.
For this weekend’s rematch, Munster duo Claire Keohane and Dorothy Wall are standing by to make their 15s international debuts, while ‘Belvo hooker Victoria Dabanovich-O’Mahony is another Six Nations newcomer on the bench.
Meanwhile, new Scotland head coach Philip Doyle has made three changes to the team that defeated Spain 36-12 two weeks ago in Almeria. Captain Rachel Malcolm is back from injury as is flying full-back Chloe Rollie.
Hillhead Jordanhill’s Mairi McDonald will start at scrum half in only her second Scotland appearance. Jenny Maxwell’s knee injury rules her out of the Championship, but Scottish stalwart Sarah Law has returned from her own injury to provide support from the bench.
Emma Wassell and Sarah Bonar bring experience to the second row, packing down behind a front row trio of Leah Bartlett, Mairi Forsyth and Darlington Mowden Park hooker Lana Skeldon.
The strong-carrying Jade Konkel anchors a back row that also features skipper Malcolm and openside flanker Rachel McLachlan. Loughborough Lightning’s Helen Nelson leads a back-line which includes Lisa Thomson and Hannah Smith in the centre, and Rhona Lloyd and Megan Gaffney on the wings.
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Aoife Doyle (Railway Union/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht); Ellen Murphy (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Edel McMahon (Wasps/Connacht/IQ Rugby), Anna Caplice (Harlequins/IQ Rugby).
Replacements: Victoria Dabanovich-O’Mahony (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Dorothy Wall (Railway Union/Munster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Keohane (Railway Union/Munster), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster).
SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Harlequins); Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning), Hannah Smith (Watsonians), Lisa Thomson (Darlington Mowden Park), Megan Gaffney (Watsonians); Helen Nelson (Loughborough Lightning), Mairi McDonald (Hillhead Jordanhill); Leah Bartlett (Loughborough Lightning), Lana Skeldon (Darlington Mowden Park), Mairi Forsyth (Corstorphine Cougars), Emma Wassell (Corstorphine Cougars), Sarah Bonar (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning) (capt), Rachel McLachlan (Darlington Mowden Park), Jade Konkel (Harlequins).
Replacements: Molly Wright (Watsonians), Panashe Muzambe (Edinburgh University/Watsonians), Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park), Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), Sarah Law (Darlington Mowden Park), Evie Tonkin (Darlington Mowden Park), Alex Wallace (Harrogate RFC).
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (France)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini, Maria Giovanna Pacifico (both Italy)
Television Match Official: Éric Gauzins (France)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 1/4; Draw: 20/1; Scotland Women to win: 3/1
Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women): “The preparation has been very good. We’ve got a lot of work done through January as a squad and, at this stage, everyone is excited to get the Six Nations started and show the progress we have made.
“We’ve made no secret that last season’s results were not good enough and having a home game first up is the best possible way to start and put in a performance for ourselves and our home crowd.
“We want to make sure that Energia Park is a hard place for travelling teams to come and play, so we must put our words into action and apply pressure from the very start.
“Unfortunately, we have picked up a couple of injuries. Enya Breen and Eimear Considine picked up knocks at last weekend’s camp and will be out of this game.
“However, having the likes of Aoife Doyle returning to the 15s side is testament to the depth that we have built in the squad and also gives other squad members an opportunity to go out and express themselves. We have full confidence that those players stepping up will produce a quality performance.
“Scotland, first up, is a huge game for us. We are well aware what they can bring, and simply, we need to be on our game and deliver our best performance yet to get the tournament off to a winning start and build confidence in what this group can do.”
Philip Doyle (Scotland Women): “It is great to have key players Chloe Rollie and Rachel Malcolm back in the starting squad. Evie Tonkin played well at full-back in Spain, but this is such a big game and Chloe’s experience will be invaluable.
“It is super to have Sarah Law back from injury. I am looking forward to her making a presence on the field when she comes on. It is going to be a great occasion for obvious reasons.
“The squad are really up for it and love playing at Energia Park. They are champing at the bit to get going. They love the Six Nations and have a renewed focus this year. It is all on closing the gap on the other nations.”
Pre-Match Links –
Doyle ‘Very Excited’ For Her Energia Park Debut
Moloney: We Need A Win And A Big Performance
‘We’re Looking To Make Home Advantage Count’ – McGinnis
In Pics: Ireland Women Prepare To Renew Rivalries With Scotland
Recent Meetings –
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Scotland Women 15 Ireland Women 22, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
2018: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 12 Scotland Women 15, Donnybrook
2019: Women’s Six Nations: Scotland Women 5 Ireland Women 22, Scotstoun Stadium
Support the Ireland Women on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #IREvSCO, #ShouldertoShoulder and #WomensSixNations on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.