The Ireland Women’s team to face Wales in the RBS 6 Nations Women’s Championship on Saturday in Taff’s Well, Cardiff (KO: 1pm)…Ireland Under-20 team includes 12 Leinster players in panel…
Highfield’s Helen Brosnan comes into the starting XV at centre with Lynn Cantwell moving to the wing and Amy Davis reverting to the bench. Replacement Hooker Jess Limbert faces a late fitness test as she recovers from a knock. Connacht’s Claire Molloy remains on standby to take Limbert’s place on the bench.
Ireland are second in the table, ahead of Wales on points difference with both teams having won three out of four so far. England remain favourites for the tournament but Ireland will be hoping to maintain their winning form which has seen them defeat France, Italy and Scotland this season with the title still on the line.
A win on Saturday would bring Ireland to their best ever finish in the tournament and cement the excellent progression the team have made in recent seasons.
The game kicks off at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Taff’s Well, Cardiff, so a large crowd of Irish fans are expected to lend their support to Captain Joy Neville and the rest of the team.
IRELAND WOMEN:
15 – Niamh Briggs (Clonmel/Munster)
14 – Jeannette Feighery (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13 – Helen Brosnan (Highfield/Munster)
12 – Shannon Houston (Blackrock/Leinster)
11 – Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians/Munster)
10 – Joanne O’Sullivan (Richmond/Ulster)
9 – Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster)
1 – Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
2 – Yvonne Nolan (Blackrock/Leinster)
3 – Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
4 – Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians/Leinster)
5 – Orla Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster)
6 – Louise Austin (Blackrock/Leinster)
7 – Sinead Ryan (Navan/Leinster)
8 – Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster) CAPTAIN
REPLACEMENTS:
16 – Jess Limbert (Lichfield/Ulster)
17 – Lauren Day (Cooke/Ulster)
18 – Kate O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster)
19 – Debbie Clarke (Blackrock/Leinster)
20 – Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster)
21 – Laura Nicholl (Cooke/Ulster)
22 – Amy Davis (Blackrock/Ulster)
Meanwhile, the Ireland Under-20 team (Sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers) shows three changes to the side to take on Wales in the final game of the U20 Six Nations Championship in Parc y Scarlets on Friday night (K.O. 7.10pm)
In the front row there are two changes, one positional, with Adam Macklin coming into the side at tight head prop from the bench, a move which sees Jack McGrath shift to the loose head side of the scrum and Paddy McAllister moving into the replacements.
The backline sees one change with Shane Gahan selected in the centre with Ian McKinley swapping places with Gahan to be named on the bench.
Ireland Coach Allen Clarke said: “With Adam Macklin and Shane Gahan coming into the starting lineup, we have focused on improving the accuracy and usage of ball from our set piece. The response from the players after a below par performance against Scotland has been excellent and there is a strong determination to finish the six nations with a quality performance.”
IRELAND UNDER-20:
15: David Kearney (Lansdowne/Leinster)
14: Ronan O’Mahony (Garryowen/Munster)
13: Shane Gahan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
12: Eamonn Sheridan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
11: Michael Keating (Clontarf/Leinster)
10: Ian Madigan (Blackrock College/Leinster)
9: Matthew Healy (Lansdowne/Leinster)
1: Jack McGrath (St. Mary’s College/Leinster)
2: Thomas Sexton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
3: Adam Macklin (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
4: Ciaran Ruddock (Neath/Exiles)
5: James Sandford (Queens University/Ulster)
6: Rhys Ruddock (Millfield School/Exiles)
7: Dominic Ryan (Lansdowne/Leinster)
8: Peter O’Mahony (Cork Constitution/Munster) CAPTAIN
REPLACEMENTS:
16: David McGregor (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
17: Paddy McAllister (Ballynahinch/Ulster)
18: Mark Flanagan (UCD/Leinster)
19: Michael Noone (Seapoint/Leinster)
20: Conor Murray (Garryowen/Munster)
21: Andrew Burke (Garryowen/Munster)
22: Ian McKinley (UCD/Leinster)
