Autumn Test Match: Ireland v USA

History will be made in Ballsbridge tonight as the RDS hosts its first ever women’s rugby international match. Ciara Griffin and her Ireland team-mates entertain the USA Eagles, who are ranked sixth in the world.

AUTUMN TEST MATCH: Friday, November 12

IRELAND WOMEN v USA WOMEN, the RDS, 7.15pm (live RTÉ Player/www.florugby.com)

Team News: For their first outing of the November Test window, Ireland head coach Adam Griggs has made six changes to the team that lost to Scotland in September’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers.

Tickets for the historic game at the RDS, which are priced between €5 and €10, are available to buy here from Ticketmaster.ie.

Tickets are selling well and walk-up sales will also be available (card/contactless only) through the Ticketmaster main office on Anglesea Road and at the Wiley Gate from 5pm.

There are first starts since the 2019 Women’s Six Nations for Ailsa Hughes at scrum half and Leah Lyons at tighthead prop respectively, while winger Laura Sheehan and back rower Anna Caplice also earn recalls.

Sheehan was a try scorer on her debut against the USA at Energia Park in November 2018, the last time the Women’s Eagles visited Dublin. They won 19-10 that day.

With some strong recent performances for Exeter Chiefs, Sheehan joins Lauren Delany and Beibhinn Parsons in the back-three. Eimear Considine switches to midfield where she pairs up with Sene Naoupu.

Hughes and Stacey Flood make up an all-Railway Union half-back partnership, Lyons and Lindsay Peat combine with Cliodhna Moloney in the front row, and Caplice’s inclusion at number 8 means a positional change for Ciara Griffin.

The Ireland captain reverts to blindside flanker, on the occasion of her 40th cap, and there is one uncapped player on the replacements bench in Blackrock College and Munster’s Maeve Óg O’Leary.

O’Leary, the 21-year-old back rower, was a standout performer during the recent Vodafone Women’s Interprovincial Championship, and has impressed the Ireland coaches since her call-up to the squad.

Commenting on his selection, Griggs said: “We have had two good weeks of preparation for the autumn Tests and the group are excited to get back out on the pitch and put that hard work into action.

“A first Test at the RDS under Friday night lights will be a special occasion, and we’re looking forward to having family, friends and our supporters back in the stands to get behind us.”

Meanwhile, USA boss Rob Cain has made nine changes to the squad that lost 26-13 to Canada in Glendale last Friday. Notably, Alev Kelter and Ilona Maher have returned to Sevens training back in the States.

This is the Women’s Eagles’ third game in less than two weeks, following an initial 15-9 defeat to Canada at the start of the month.

San Diego Surfers’ Megan Foster comes in at out-half, US Sevens international Kayla Canett starts at full-back, and the absence of both Kelter and Maher is covered by Amy Bonte, at outside centre, and Tess Feury on the right wing.

Up front, Colorado’s Rachel Ehrecke wins her second cap at blindside flanker, while Catherine Benson and Alycia Washington – two of the seven English-based players in the starting XV – are added to the tight five.

Alaska native Kathryn Treder is standing by for her first Test appearance since November 2019, and Sarah Levy, who is also part of the USA Sevens programme, comes back into the matchday 23 this week.

IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby); Laura Sheehan (Exeter Chiefs/IQ Rugby), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht); Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Leah Lyons (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Anna Caplice (Gloucester-Hartpury/IQ Rugby).

Rob Cain (USA Women):

The Canada series allowed us to get some positive answers individually and collectively both in our technical and tactical execution. The players’ effort has been incredible as they’ve changed so much in terms of their rugby.

“That said, it has also been a frustrating two weeks, especially when this hard work and evolution hasn’t always translated in real time.

“To have momentum and the opportunity to win both Test matches slip away at crucial times after some real positive moments prior has shown the progress being mad.

“But it also highlighted how, at critical times, our focus, execution and precision needs to always be at the highest level. We are excited at the prospect of this squad bringing those key learnings to life tonight.”