The Ireland Women return to Broadwood Stadium – the scene of their memorable 2015 Six Nations title win – as they take on ever-improving Scotland on the opening night of this year’s Championship.
2017 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 3
SCOTLAND WOMEN v IRELAND WOMEN, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld, 6.35pm (live RTÉ Two/www.rte.ie/live (island of Ireland only)/Six Nations Facebook Live Stream)
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Tom Tierney has named the team, sponsored by Aon, to face Scotland in tonight’s Women’s Six Nations opener at Broadway Stadium in Glasgow.
There are five uncapped players named in the matchday 23, with Railway Union’s Ailsa Hughes winning her first cap as the starting scrum half.
In the replacements, all three of the front row forwards are uncapped, with hooker Jennie Finlay and props Ilse van Staden and Ciara O’Connor all in line to wear the green jersey for the first time.
Eimear Considine, who has been capped for the Ireland Sevens side, will be looking to win her first international cap in the 15-a-side game on Friday evening.
In the starting XV, Highfield hooker Leah Lyons, who won her first cap back in November, is partnered in the front row by props Lindsay Peat and Ailis Egan. Experienced campaigner Marie Louise Reilly will have Orla Fitzsimons of St. Mary’s as her second row partner.
The back row will see flankers Ciara Griffin and Claire Molloy pack-down with number 8 Paula Fitzpatrick, who will captain the team in absence of regular skipper Niamh Briggs who is continuing her rehab from injury.
In the back-line, the uncapped Hughes will link up with her Leinster colleague Nora Stapleton at half-back, while Sene Naoupu partners the returning Jenny Murphy in the centre, and the back-three sees Alison Miller and Niamh Kavanagh on the wings with Mairead Coyne at full-back.
Speaking ahead of the opening Championship clash, Tierney said: “The first game of the Six Nations is always a big challenge, as it’s very difficult to know what the opposition are going to throw at you.
“Scotland, in front of their home crowd, will be looking to give their fans something to get excited about, so it’s really important that we go into the game fully focused.
“There’s some new caps in the side for this Friday, and those players have performed really well in the camps that we’ve had over the previous number of weeks, so now it’s their chance to transfer what they’ve been doing in training into the international arena.
“It’s very exciting that all the matches in this year’s Championship will be broadcast live, so we hope everyone will tune in (to RTE 2) on Friday evening to watch the game.”
Meanwhile, Scotland captain Lisa Martin will start at inside centre alongside powerful newcomer Lisa Thomson, who made her debut in last year’s opening match against England.
There is speed in the backs in the form of Murrayfield Wanderers full-back Chloe Rollie and Edinburgh University wingers Megan Gaffney and Rhona Lloyd, the latter also making her debut in the opening game of last year’s campaign.
The hosts’ back-line is completed by scrum half Sarah Law, who started her international career in 2013, and her Murrayfield Wanderers club-mate Helen Nelson, the out-half who was named player of the match on her first start for Scotland against Spain in November.
This blend of experience and fresh talent runs throughout the squad with Rachel Malcom making her first start for Scotland in the front row following two appearances off the bench against Spain. She is joined by props Tracy Balmer (38 caps) and Lindsey Smith (32 caps).
In the second row, Emma Wassell and Deborah McCormack have locked in their positions for the 19th consecutive Tests together following their debut in the opening 2014 Six Nations match against Ireland.
With two caps under her belt against Spain, flanker Louise McMillan is selected alongside RHC Cougar’s Karen Dunbar on the opposite flank.
Scottish Rugby’s first full-time female player Jade Konkel returns from the injury which saw her sidelined during the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in autumn. Reclaiming the number 8 jersey, Konkel is one of 11 BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy players selected to play against Ireland, including Lucy Park and Eilidh Sinclair who are named on the bench.
Match Ticket Info: Click here to buy tickets for the Scotland v Ireland Women’s & Under-20s double header. Adult tickets are priced at £10 (valid for both matches). Senior citizens, under-18s and Scotland Season Pass holders go free.
SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Murrayfield Wanderers); Megan Gaffney (Edinburgh University), Lisa Thomson (Edinburgh University), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers) (capt), Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University); Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh University); Tracy Balmer (Worcester), Rachel Malcolm (Lichfield), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Deborah McCormack (Aylesford Bulls), Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill).
Replacements: Lucy Park (Murrayfield Wanderers), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), Katie Dougan (Edinburgh University), Sarah Bonar (Lichfield), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead Jordanhill), Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield), Lauren Harris (Melrose), Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers).
IRELAND WOMEN: Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster) (capt).
Replacements: Jennie Finlay (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Ilse van Staden (Cooke/Ulster), Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht), Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster), Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/Connacht), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/Ulster), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster).
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy) Graham Cooper (Australia)
Television Match Official: Jon Mason (Wales)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scotland Women to win: 12/1; Draw: 40/1; Ireland Women to win: 1/25
Pre-Match Quotes – Paula Fitzpatrick (Ireland Women): “We have had good results (against Scotland in recent years), but within the games themselves the first halves were quite tough.
“Scotland will come out all guns blazing and they’ll be very tough. They lost to Spain in a World Cup qualifier recently which means they’re missing out on the World Cup so they’ll be looking to take a big scalp in the Six Nations and prove their worth.
“They’re a proud group of players with a lot of talent within their team. They’ll really be looking to put a marker down. We’re very conscious that anything can happen. The more years the Six Nations goes on, the closer the teams are coming together.
“The time you take a team for granted is the time you slip on the banana skin so we would be wary of that – we’re confident, but wary of that. Playing in front of a home crowd, Scotland will come out with all guns blazing.”
Shade Munro (Scotland Women): “The squad have been working hard in the lead up to this year’s Women’s Six Nations. Ireland first up is going to be a challenge, but we are focused on getting off on a positive note and improving our performances with every match.
“It’s great to open our campaign at Broadwood Stadium – the artificial surface should allow for some fast-paced action – and we’re hoping for a big turnout of support as it gives the players a boost.
“In terms of the squad, it’s great to see new players pushing for places while our leaders are continuing to step up and show what it takes to be a high performance athlete. I’m looking forward to seeing the group move forward and rise to the challenge and opportunity the Six Nations poses.”
Pre-Match Links –
Irish Rugby TV: Inside Pass – Six Nations Episode 1
Ireland Squad Announced For Women’s Six Nations
Valuable Hit-Out For Ireland Women Ahead Of Six Nations
Ireland Women’s Six Nations Matches To Be Broadcast Live On TV
Match Facts –
– The Scotland Women’s most recent victory came in a friendly against the Netherlands in Amsterdam in November 2011
– The Ireland Women lost all three Tests in the autumn internationals, to England, Canada and New Zealand, while all five of their games in the Six Nations last year went in favour of the home team
– These two nations have met on 25 previous occasions with Scotland winning the first 14 matches between 1993 and 2006 and Ireland winning the last eleven from 2007 up to last year
– The Ireland Women’s only previous match at Broadwood Stadium resulted in a 73-3 victory in round 5 in 2015 which clinched their second Six Nations title in three years
Recent Meetings –
2014: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 59 Scotland Women 0, Ashbourne RFC
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
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