The Ireland Women will play at Twickenham Stadium for the fourth time since 2004 as they look to end their November international campaign on a high by claiming the scalp of England’s Red Roses.
2018 NOVEMBER TEST MATCH: Saturday, November 24
ENGLAND WOMEN v IRELAND WOMEN, Twickenham Stadium, 5.40pm (live Sky Sports Main Event/Sky Sports Action/Sky Sports Mix)
Team News: Ireland Women’s head coach Adam Griggs has made six changes to the team to play England at Twickenham Stadium this evening. The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Mix, Main Event and Action.
Five of the changes are up front following a bruising 19-10 defeat to the USA at Energia Park last Sunday. Portlaoise youngster Emma Hooban, who won her first international cap off the bench last weekend, will make her first start at hooker.
The 21-year-old Hooban will be joined in the front row by Leah Lyons, who is now playing her club rugby with English side Harlequins, and Lindsay Peat who is set for her 24th Test appearance since her debut against England in November 2015.
Tullamore woman Nichola Fryday replaces Ciara Cooney who suffered a dislocated shoulder during the US game. She packs down with Aoife McDermott in the second row, while Jeamie Deacon and Juliet Short, who comes in for her debut at number 8, slot into a back row marshalled by Claire Molloy.
There is one change in the backs where UL Bohemians and Munster’s Nicole Cronin gets the nod to start at scrum half alongside Nikki Caughey. Michelle Claffey will again partner Sene Naoupu in the centre, with Naoupu taking on the captaincy role for the first time as Ciara Griffin is ruled out with a shoulder complaint.
Naoupu, an experienced operator for Ireland in both 15s and Sevens, will win her 28th cap this weekend. She stepped up as captain of Leinster this season and led them to the IRFU Women’s Interprovincial title with an unbeaten run against the other provinces.
Munster speedsters Laura Sheehan and Eimear Considine, who both touched down against the US Eagles, continue in the back-three along with IQ Rugby full-back Lauren Delany, one of the four new caps last week. There is one more new cap on the bench in the form of Old Belvedere and Leinster’s Ellen Murphy.
Looking forward to the clash at Twickenham, Griggs said: “Although we finished strongly on Sunday against the USA, overall we were disappointed with aspects of the game and the end result. We have reviewed the footage and are aware of the areas we need to improve as we have a big test this Saturday.
“England have shown over the last number of seasons that they are one of the top sides in the world, and it’s set to be a big occasion taking to the pitch at Twickenham Stadium after their men’s side face Australia.
“We will be focusing on our own game and are looking to put in a strong performance to finish these November Tests on a positive.”
Entry to the Women’s international between England and Ireland at Twickenham is free and no ticket is required. Entrance to the ground will be via Gate A from 5pm on Saturday. Bag searches will be in place so please only bring small bags.
Those who attended the England v Australia men’s match can stay for another dose of international rugby as England and Ireland go head to head. Spectators seated in the middle and upper tiers for the men’s game will be asked to be relocate to the lower West and East Stands.
Meanwhile, the England Women are aiming to finish their November international campaign unbeaten, having overcome the USA 57-5 at Allianz Park and Canada 27-19 at Castle Park. Head coach Simon Middleton makes six changes from the Canada game.
Saracens’ Vicky Fleetwood returns at openside flanker and Lydia Thompson slots back in on right wing, having both been rested against Canada. Carys Williams and the 23-year-old Tatyana Heard start at outside and inside centre respectively, having both made their debuts against USA.
Heather Kerr from Darlington Mowden Park Sharks earns her first start of the series at hooker and Gloucester-Hartpury’s Zoe Aldcroft also starts in the second row having been on the bench last Sunday.
Worcester Valkyries’ Lark Davies, the 23-year-old hooker who scored two tries against the Canadians, Catherine O’Donnell (22) and experienced pair Marlie Packer and Rachael Burford all move to the bench. The 107-times capped Sarah Hunter captains the side from number 8.
ENGLAND WOMEN: Sarah McKenna (Saracens); Lydia Thompson (Worcester Valkyries), Carys Williams (Loughborough Lightning), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury); Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Leanne Riley (Harlequins); Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins), Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), Hannah Botterman (Saracens), Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury), Abbie Scott (Harlequins), Poppy Cleall (Saracens), Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning) (capt).
Replacements: Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries), Ellena Perry (Saracens), Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins), Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Claudia MacDonald (Wasps), Katy Daley-Mclean (Loughborough Lightning), Rachael Burford (Harlequins).
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster) (capt), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Leinster), Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/Munster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Harlequins), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Jeamie Deacon (Blackrock/Leinster), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Juliet Short (Railway Union/Leinster).
Replacements: Sarah Mimnagh (Richmond/IQ Rugby), Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Edel McMahon (Galwegians/Connacht), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Connacht).
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell, Tracy Pettingale (both England)
Television Match Official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): England Women to win: 1/50; Draw: 75/1; Ireland Women to win: 20/1
Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women): “We’re hoping that there’ll be a crowd from the men’s game as well as the supporters that come in with free entry, which is really great from the RFU that they’ve put that on. It is about supporting both Ireland and England in this environment and making sure we get plenty of people in to see this game.
“If you look at last Sunday and the crowd that we had, we draw a good crowd. We had really good support. The beauty of the Women’s game is it’s a tight-knit community. A lot of friends and family know these players very personally. What we had on Sunday was brilliant. We couldn’t have asked for better support to cheer us on.
“Ciara Cooney dislocated her shoulder so she’s ruled out probably for most of the season now. Also our captain Ciara Griffin has an injury. She took a knock during the game against the USA. That’s going to keep her out as well, which is difficult because she was one of our best performers.
“Again it gives these players a chance to experience England and Twickenham. If I’m looking forward again, this is probably the best preparation we can get going into a Six Nations. It was a very tough decision to leave Juliet (Short) out of last weekend. I think it highlights the strength in our back row at the moment.
“She was always someone we planned on giving time throughout this November window. Now she gets her chance starting. If you watched Juliet play in the Interpros (for Leinster), she brings physicality. She’s very dynamic on the ball. We’re going to need that to try and get some go-forward this weekend.”
Simon Middleton (England Women): “Saturday’s game gives us one last opportunity to look at the squad this year. There are players we know plenty about and others we need to know more about and the selection reflects that.
“Ireland will be on the rebound from their defeat to the USA last week and we only have to go back to last season’s Six Nations to know how dangerous they can be on any given day. This will be the first Twickenham experience in an England shirt for a number of the team and not only will we be looking to see how those players react, but also how the senior players support them.
“There’s a couple of areas we’ve really focused on but the key ones revolve around being more clinical with the chances we create and individual attention to the job at hand. Last week we came up with too many errors. That stifled our continuity, so getting that error count down and allowing ourselves to build pressure on Ireland through retaining the ball is a big focus.”
Pre-Match Links –
Claffey Takes Centre Stage For Red Roses Showdown
Griggs: The Performances Claire Puts In Are Huge
Irish Rugby TV: Adam Griggs On ‘One Of The Biggest Challenges In Women’s Rugby’
Irish Rugby TV: Michelle Claffey Previews Ireland Women’s Twickenham Test
Recent Meetings –
2016: Women’s Six Nations: England Women 13 Ireland Women 9, Twickenham; Women’s November Series: Ireland Women 10 England Women 12, UCD Bowl
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 7 England Women 34, Donnybrook
2018: Women’s Six Nations: England Women 33 Ireland Women 11, Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Support the Ireland Women on www.irishrugby.ie/facebook or search #EngWvIreW, #ShouldertoShoulder and #wrugby on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.
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