The Ireland Women return to the scene of their standout five-try 35-12 win over Wales, determined to end their three-match stint at Donnybrook with a 100% record and supply further evidence that the future is bright for Adam Griggs’ talented squad.
2018 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, March 11
IRELAND WOMEN (3rd) v SCOTLAND WOMEN (5th), Donnybrook, 1pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only)/YouTube Live Stream (UK & France))
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Adam Griggs has made two personnel changes to the team (sponsored by Aon) for their final home match of the Women’s Six Nations against Scotland at Donnybrook this afternoon.
Hannah Tyrrell, who was a try-scoring replacement in the 35-12 bonus point win over Wales, is promoted from the bench to the left wing, while up front, Cliodhna Moloney resumes at hooker with Ciara O’Connor making way.
Moloney’s Railway Union club-mate Aoife McDermott retains her place in the second row after an impressive debut last time out. She stepped in for the ill Nichola Fryday and made her presence felt both in the lineout and the loose. Number 8 Paula Fitzpatrick wins her 40th cap this weekend.
Ireland Sevens regulars Ashleigh Baxter and Louise Galvin have been added to the matchday 23, with winger-turned-flanker Baxter providing another link back to the 2013 Grand Slam-winning side and Galvin looking to add to her three previous 15s caps.
Speaking ahead of the round 4 clash with Scotland, Griggs said: “We came away with a good win against Wales and there are some huge positives to come out of that. We are in a good place going into the final two games.
“I’ve no doubt Scotland will be looking to push us hard on Sunday afternoon. If we replicate our last performance, get the small things right, I am confident we will have a successful outcome.”
Tickets for the final Ireland Women’s home game at Donnybrook are available now via www.ticketmaster.ie. The IRFU is offering bus subsidy of up to 400 euro per club for private transport hire. For more information on the bus subsidy for the 2018 Women’s Six Nations, contact womensrugby@irfu.ie before purchasing tickets.
Meanwhile, out-half and captain Lisa Martin returns to the Scotland Women’s starting XV for their trip to Dublin. Head coach Shade Munro has named an unchanged pack and makes positional changes in the back-line to accommodate Martin, who returns after recovering from an eye problem.
Helen Nelson moves to inside centre from number 10 and Hannah Smith fills the left wing berth after starting at centre in the 43-8 loss to England. Jade Konkel, Scotland’s try scorer in round 3, continues at number 8, while her fellow full-time professionals, Chloe Rollie, Lisa Thomson and Sarah Law, retain their places in the backs.
Last year’s fixture at Broadwood Stadium saw Ireland claim dramatic 22-15 bonus point victory thanks to a late Jenny Murphy try. Katie Dougan, who played as a replacement in that match, could win her tenth cap if she is sprung from the bench, and Jenny Maxwell returns to the matchday 23 having played in the team’s opening two games of the tournament.
Scotland put in determined performances against France (26-3) and England in front of consecutive record crowds at Scotstoun Stadium, following a narrow 18-17 defeat away to Wales in Colwyn Bay in their first round match.
Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
IRELAND WOMEN: Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster); Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Claire Molloy (Bristol), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster).
Replacements: Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster), Edel McMahon (Galwegians/Connacht), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians/Munster).
SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois); Liz Musgrove (Edinburgh University), Lisa Thomson (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois), Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Hannah Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill); Lisa Martin (DMP Sharks) (capt), Sarah Law (Edinburgh University/Murrayfield Wanderers); Siobhan McMillan (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Lana Skeldon (Watsonians), Megan Kennedy (Stirling County), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Deborah McCormack (Harlequins), Sarah Bonar (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning), Jade Konkel (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvois).
Replacements: Jodie Rettie (Thurrock), Katie Dougan (Edinburgh University/RHC Cougars), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Siobhan Cattigan (Stirling County/Stirling University), Louise McMillan (Hillhead/Jordanhill), Jenny Maxwell (Loughborough Lightning), Lauren Harris (Edinburgh University), Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University).
Referee: Ian Tempest (England)
Assistant Referees: Dermot Blake, Glenn Sheridan (both Ireland)
Television Match Official: Stefano Pennè (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 1/10; Draw: 30/1; Scotland Women to win: 6/1
Pre-Match Quotes – Niamh Briggs (Ireland Women): “Scotland have put a lot of structures in place in fairness to them. They’ve had some dark days in term of them as a squad, and where Women’s rugby was in Scotland, but I think that they’re on the right track now. They’ve got some really dangerous players. They’ve got professional players, we don’t have that.
“They’ve got some good structures in place now, where they train a lot more together. They’ve been unlucky, I think, in some of the results that they’ve had so far, because they’ve had some really good snippets. I think as this tournament and the next tournament goes on, they’re definitely going to keep improving all the time.
“I don’t think we’ve hit any of our heights. This year is definitely very much a learning curve for us as a squad and what we’re trying to build. Every game, we’ve had little snippets of things that have gotten better from the previous game. 100%, we’ve definitely got a lot of work still to do.
“We’ve gained a lot of confidence now from the last two games (against Italy and Wales), and I still think we have to perform well against Scotland. I think there’s a really good vibe within us at the moment. I think we’re trying to be positive in how we play, but we’ve still got a lot to do.”
Shade Munro (Scotland Women): “There have been positives to take from all of our games so far but it is about building on those, identifying what we can do better and putting in a complete performance.
“Playing games away from home always adds to that challenge but we will concentrate on pushing ourselves and controlling what we can. Last year’s match against Ireland was incredibly close and we can expect the same kind of commitment for 80 minutes from them this time round, so we will need to stay focused.”
Pre-Match Links –
IRFU To Cap Over 100 Female Players From 1993-2006
Briggs Enjoying ‘New Lease Of Life’ In Number 10 Role
Carter Backs Moloney And Baxter To Pack A Punch
Women’s Rugby World Cup Wins ‘Best Sports Event’ Award
Ireland Women Move Back Up To Seventh In World Rankings
Recent Meetings –
2015: Women’s Six Nations: Scotland Women 3 Ireland Women 73, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
2016: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 45 Scotland Women 12, Donnybrook
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Scotland Women 15 Ireland Women 22, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld
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