The Ireland Women are aiming to avenge last year’s dramatic 15-12 defeat to Scotland as they look to get their attack firing on all cylinders in the second round of the Women’s Six Nations Championship in Glasgow.
2019 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 8
SCOTLAND WOMEN (4th) v IRELAND WOMEN (5th), Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, 7.35pm (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/BBC ALBA)
Team News: The Ireland Women’s team, sponsored by Aon, has been selected for their eagerly-awaited Women’s Six Nations encounter with Celtic rivals Scotland at Scotstoun Stadium. Friday night’s game will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2.
Head coach Adam Griggs has made three personnel changes and one positional switch to the starting XV from last week’s 51-7 defeat to England. Portlaoise youngster Emma Hooban (21) steps up for her first Six Nations start at hooker, with the versatile Leah Lyons moving to the tighthead position.
Aoife McDermott and Nichola Fryday continue together as the second row pairing, while Cork native Anna Caplice, who impressed off the bench against England, slots in at blindside flanker alongside Claire Molloy – the most experienced member of the squad with 65 caps – and captain Ciara Griffin, who wins her 25th cap this weekend.
There is just one change in the back-line where winger Alison Miller, almost exactly twelve months on from breaking her leg against Italy, comes in for her first Ireland start since then. Having got upwards of 20 minutes under her belt last Friday, Miller makes up a potent back-three with Lauren Delany and Eimear Considine.
Sene Naoupu wins her 30th cap alongside her Leinster team-mate Michelle Claffey in midfield, with the Sligo-born Nicole Fowley retaining the number 10 jersey outside Ailsa Hughes. There could be two Ireland debuts at Scotstoun with Sevens regulars Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird, fresh from playing her part in the team’s historic fourth place finish in Sydney, and Claire Boles both added to the bench.
Meanwhile, Scotland Women’s boss Shade Munro has made two personnel changes as his squad look to rebound from their 28-7 loss to Italy at the same venue last week. Harlequins’ Debs McCormack, who has 28 Test caps, returns from injury in the second row having missed the November internationals and the Italy game.
Sarah Bonar from Loughborough Lightning moves from the engine room to number 8 to replace Siobhan Cattigan who picked up an injury against the Italians. The injured Jade Konkel, the player-of-the-match against Ireland last year, is another notable absentee. Centre Lisa Thomson, who plays her club rugby with Darlington Mowden Park, continues as captain.
Tickets for the Scotland Women v Ireland Women clash are available to buy via the Scottish Rugby website. Adult tickets for the Main Stand are priced £15 and it is £5 for Under-18s. Adult tickets will increase by £5 on match day.
Women’s Six Nations Results/Fixtures
Women’s Six Nations Table
SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios); Liz Musgrove (Hong Kong RFC), Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Lisa Thomson (Darlington Mowden Park) (capt), Annabel Sergeant (Heriot’s Rugby Club); Helen Nelson (Montpellier), Mhairi Grieve (Firwood Waterloo Ladies); Lisa Cockburn (Darlington Mowden Park), Lana Skeldon (Watsonians), Megan Kennedy (Stirling County), Emma Wassell (Heriot’s Rugby Club), Debs McCormack (Harlequins), Rachel Malcolm (Loughborough Lightning), Rachel McLachlan (Stirling County), Sarah Bonar (Loughborough Lightning).
Replacements: Jodie Rettie (Saracens), Katie Dougan (Gloucester-Hartpury), Mairi Forsyth (Stirling County), Sophie Anderson (Hillhead Jordanhill), Nicola Howat (Edinburgh University), Sarah Law (Edinburgh University), Lisa Martin (Lille Metropole Rugby Club Villeneuvios), Rhona Lloyd (Loughborough Lightning).
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht); Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Harlequins), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Anna Caplice (Richmond), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).
Replacements: Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (UL Bohemians/Munster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster).
Referee: Maria Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), tba (Scotland)
Television Match Official: Stefano Roscini (Italy)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scotland Women to win: 6/4; Draw: 16/1; Ireland Women to win: 4/7
Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women): “The game against England last week was undeniably a tough start to the Women’s Six Nations and while the final scoreline was far from ideal, there are positives we will take from that game. Our set piece was solid throughout and we were able to challenge England at times during the game.
“We need to build on those positives now and make improvements in other areas of our game to become more consistent and force more pressure on our opponents. Scotland will bring new challenges and we know they’re also hurting from a loss last weekend.
“They will come out strong in front of their home crowd in Glasgow and will want to start the game with intent. We need to weather that initial pressure and stay focused on our game and what we can bring, which I know the team are looking forward to.”
Shade Munro (Scotland Women): “It will be good to welcome Debs McCormack back onto the field on Friday. Our scrums were good last week but Siobhan Cattigan sustained an injury so will be out this week. She has been playing well at number 8, but Sarah Bonar is comfortable in this position as well. Debs will bring some experience into the second row in Sarah’s absence.
“We put in a gritty performance last Friday against a strong Italian team. The result was not in our favour but there are plenty of positives that we have taken into training this week and hope to improve on ahead of Friday.
“Ireland are an extremely physical and tough team to play against and performed very well in the set piece against England. We are very much looking forward to the challenge and to performing again in front of our home crowd at Scotstoun Stadium.”
Pre-Match Links –
Griffin And Griggs Take Positives Forward Into Scotland Game
Ross: Result Stung But They’ll Be The Better For It
‘It’s Great To Be Back In The Green Jersey’ – Miller
Full Video Replay: Ireland Women 7 England Women 51
Full Video Replay: Scotland Women 7 Italy Women 28
Recent Meetings –
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
2018: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 12 Scotland Women 15, Donnybrook
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