Bemand makes two changes for Six Nations clash with England
O'connor Brady, Pic: Ben Inpho Hannah Ireland's
Although the majority of his team remains intact, Ireland women’s head coach Scott Bemand has made two alterations to his starting line-up for a Six Nations Championship clash with England at Twickenham Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 2.15pm).
Having previously featured in the position for a tournament opener against France in Le Mans, Hannah O’Connor returns to the second-row in place of co-captain Sam Monaghan - who also missed out on the French game as she was still working her way back from a head injury.
Aoife Dalton was also included in the first 15 for that particular tussle (and even crossed over for a second-half try) and she resumes her spot at inside centre in place of Cork native Enya Breen.
Whereas Monaghan is absent from the match day 23, Breen will take her place amongst the replacements in the London venue.
She will be joined by Blackrock College and Connacht back Meabh Deely, who had a 13-minute cameo off the bench in that aforementioned 38-17 defeat to France.
Elsewhere, there is a familiar look to the Irish team with Lauren Delany, Katie Corrigan and Beibhinn Parsons named in the back-three for a fourth game in succession.
Eve Higgins, Dannah O’Brien and Aoibheann Reilly complete the Irish back line, while Molly Scuffil-McCabe provides cover for the latter at scrum-half.
Linda Djougang has recovered from a knock picked up in last weekend’s encouraging victory over Wales in Cork to take her spot alongside Neve Jones and Christy Haney in the front-row.
In addition to Tipperary’s Dorothy Wall partnering O’Connor in the second-row, the in-form Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon and Brittany Hogan are all retained at the base of the Irish pack.
Having made a long overdue return to international rugby against the Welsh, Cliodhna Moloney is once again named in reserve for Saturday’s game.
The Exeter Chiefs hooker is one of five English-based players in the match day 23 and with former England women’s lead coach Bemand at the helm of the side, they will be hoping that some insider knowledge can work to Ireland’s benefit in Twickenham.
It is going to take a gargantuan effort to topple an English side that are currently on a run of 27 consecutive Women’s Six Nations victories and the likes of Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite and Ealing Trailfinders’ Shannon Ikahihifo will also be needed off the bench as the action progresses.
Meanwhile, Ulster interim head coach Richie Murphy has named his side to take on Cardiff Blues at Kingspan Stadium (kick-off, 7.35pm) in Round 14 of the BKT United Rugby Championship.
Al O’Connor retains his starting spot, and will captain Friday’s side from the second row alongside Harry Sheridan.
A changed front row from last week’s encounter in Clermont sees Eric O’Sullivan, Tom Stewart and Scott Wilson get the nod.
In the back row, David McCann makes the switch to the number eight jersey, and will pack down alongside Dave Ewers and Marcus Rea.
Nathan Doak and Jake Flannery take to the pitch at Kingspan Stadium as the half-back partnership.
In the centre pairing, James Hume is named alongside 22-year-old Jude Postlethwaite.
On the left wing, Jacob Stockdale makes a return to the starting line-up, with Mike Lowry moving to the right wing after last week’s test in France.
Will Addison completes the starting line-up at full-back.
L Delany; K Corrigan, E Higgins, A Dalton, B Parsons; D O’Brien, A Reilly; L Djougang, N Jones, C Haney; D Wall, H O’Connor; A Wafer, E McMahon, B Hogan.
C Moloney, N O’Dowd, S McGrath, F Tuite, S Ikahihifo, M Scuffil-McCabe, E Breen, M Deely.
W Addison; M Lowry, J Hume, J Postlethwaite, J Stockdale; J Flannery, N Doak; E O’Sullivan, T Stewart, S Wilson; H Sheridan, A O’Connor; D Ewers, M Rea, D McCann.
J Andrew, A Warwick, T O’Toole, C Izuchukwu, G Jones, J Cooney, B Burns, EMcIlroy.