Two Changes For Ireland Women

The Ireland Women’s team to play Scotland in the Women’s RBS 6 Nations Championship in Edinburgh on Saturday has been named.

Ireland Women’s head coach Philip Doyle has made two changes in personnel to the team that lost 14-12 to France in the last round of the Championship.

Promoted from the replacements bench, Leinster’s Emer McManamly will start in the front row, while Heather O’Brien comes into the second row to partner Marie Louise Reilly.

Laura Guest moves from the second row to the back row. Meanwhile, Lauren Day and Carol Staunton have been named amongst the replacements.

Looking forward to his side’s third Championship outing, Doyle said: “We came very close to a win against France, but in the end they held out. We can take a lot of positives from that performance into the Scotland game.

“The mood in the camp is upbeat and there is a sense of desire to deliver a performance in what will be another tough encounter against Scotland.”

Ireland beat Scotland 15-3 at Ashbourne RFC in last year’s Championship, and ran out 32-8 winners when the sides met in a Women’s Rugby World Cup play-off game in September.

Admission is free into Saturday’s Six Nations match at Lasswade RFC. Make the trip and support the girls in green!

IRELAND WOMEN’S Team & Replacements (v Scotland Women, 2011 Women’s RBS 6 Nations, Lasswade RFC, Edinburgh, Saturday, February 26, kick-off 2pm):

15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile)
12. Geraldine Rea (Highfield/Munster)
11. Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2. Gillian Bourke (Bristol/Munster)
3. Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster)
4. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:

16. Stacey Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster)
17. Lauren Day (Waterloo/Ulster)
18. Deirdre O’Brien (Blackrock/Leinster)
19. Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht)
20. Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exile)
21. Gill Nolan (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
22. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Leinster)