It is still all to play for in the final round of the Women’s RBS 6 Nations as defending champions France fight to hold onto their title, with Ireland, who are pressing for the Triple Crown and a possible Championship, snapping at their heels.
2015 WOMEN’S RBS 6 NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Sunday, March 22
SCOTLAND WOMEN (6th) v IRELAND WOMEN (2nd), Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld, 1pm (live RTÉ Two HD/RTÉ 2fm)
Team News: The Ireland Women’s team to face Scotland in the final game of the Women’s RBS 6 Nations at Broadwood Stadium on Sunday has been named.
Head coach Tom Tierney has kept faith with the same side that overcame Wales 20-0 in Swansea last week, with experienced number 8 Heather O’Brien recovering from the injury that forced her off in the first half.
It is cap number 50 for full-back and captain Niamh Briggs, who made her debut for Ireland against Italy back in 2008. She will join a select band of players who have played 50 times for the Ireland Women, including her current team-mates Gillian Bourke (50) and Tania Rosser (57).
Fresh from whitewashing the Welsh, the girls in green head to Scotland looking to claim the Triple Crown and a possible RBS 6 Nations title. They will know exactly what they have to do in order to be crowned champions as England host France at Twickenham on Saturday night.
Previewing the final round clash, Tierney said: “It’s been a huge three months, a lot of change and getting to know people and new ways of doing things on the field. Thankfully the quality of the players has shone through in the results and fingers crossed Scotland will be another win.
“We are going to be mentally ready to take Scotland on its merits. We have to win the game first before we look at anything (regarding chasing points). We’re going to concentrate on our basics, both in defence and attack, and how we go about the first 10, 15, 20 minutes and set the scene for ourselves. We just work our way through the game and keep doing what we’ve been doing throughout the Six Nations.”
Sunday afternoon’s game will be broadcast live on RTÉ Two Television and RTÉ 2fm Radio. Tickets are available for adults (£5), while under-18s, students and over-60s go free. Turnstiles open at 12pm – Broadwood Stadium will be selling tickets on the day. Buy ticket(s) here.
Meanwhile, Scotland will field an unchanged pack for the visit of Ireland but they have made changes to the back-line from the 42-13 loss to England in the last round.
The selected side sees Melrose’s Chloe Rollie retain her place at full-back, having made her Scotland debut in the opener against France and kept the number 15 jersey throughout the campaign. Fellow new cap this season, Nuala Deans, who scored a penalty last week, moves from inside centre to the right wing.
Making a welcome return from a hand injury sustained in the France game, Gillian Inglis is named at outside centre where she wins her tenth cap.
Swapping the number 13 shirt for 12, Hillhead Jordanhill’s Hannah Smith moves to inside centre and last week’s try scorer, Kirkcaldy-born Eilidh Sinclair, moves across to start on the left wing. Murrayfield Wanderers duo Lisa Martin and Sarah Law are retained at half-back.
Packing down again in the front row are Lisa Robertson at loosehead prop, hooker Lana Skeldon and captain Tracy Balmer at tighthead, the latter winning her 30th international cap.
The second row pairing of Richmond’s Deborah McCormack and Murrayfield Wanderers’ Emma Wassell is retained, as is the back row unit of Rachel Cook at blindside flanker, openside Karen Dunbar and Jade Konkel at number 8.
Women’s RBS 6 Nations Fixtures/Results
SCOTLAND WOMEN: Chloe Rollie (Melrose); Nuala Deans (Wasps), Gillian Inglis (Melrose), Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers); Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers); Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lana Skeldon (Melrose), Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (capt), Deborah McCormack (Richmond), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Rachael Cook (Murrayfield Wanderers), Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill).
Replacements: Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), Fiona Sim (Saracens), Lyndsay O’Donnell (Worcester), Mhairi Grieve (RHC Cougars), Claire Bain (RHC Cougars), Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield).
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen); Ruth O’Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster).
Replacements: Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exile), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona O’Brien (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Katie Norris (Blackrock/Leinster), Tania Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), Aoife Doyle (Shannon/Munster).
Referee: Jess Beard (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Alex Pratt, Mhairi Hay (both Scotland)
Match Odds (Paddy Power): Scotland Women to win: 35/1; Draw: 150/1; Ireland Women to win: 1/200
Pre-Match Quotes – Sophie Spence (Ireland Women): “One thing Tom (Tierney) said last week was, ‘live in the occasion, don’t let pressure be a bad thing for you’. Pressure could be a good or bad thing depending on how individuals take it.
“We know what we have to do, but we have to actually execute that, play as a team and put our structures in place. We’re under no illusions about Scotland because they put up points against England last week in a big stadium with a good crowd watching them.
“We did a good job with Wales, not letting them in, but it’s good to know we’re the last game to be played (this weekend). We’ll know what we have to do (in terms of the title race) and then it’s all about our own performance and on the day if we give that performance, hopefully we’ll be successful.”
Jules Maxton (Scotland Women): “We’re steadily improving with every game but we need to cut out the basic skills’ mistakes and defensive errors from last Friday’s match, going into this game.
“I was pleased with some of our work in the contact area last weekend but it’s all about consistency and we’ve been working hard this week on the areas that let us down in the (42-13) defeat to England.
“It’s good to be back home and have more of our own support there. We’re looking to show more progress, build on our performance against England and finish on a high.”
Pre-Match Links –
Briggs Stars As Ireland Women Win In Wales
RTE To Televise Ireland Women’s RBS 6 Nations Clash
Match Facts –
– The Scotland Women have not won a game in the Six Nations since beating France in the opening round of the 2010 campaign
– The Ireland Women will know what they have to do to take the title – on scoring difference or otherwise. They play this game on Sunday after England host current leaders France at Twickenham on Saturday night
– A victory (by any margin) at Broadwood Stadium would see the girls in green claim their second Triple Crown in three years
– The Scotland Women won the first 14 clashes with Ireland between 1993 and 2006 but Ireland have won all nine encounters since then
– Ireland full-back and captain Niamh Briggs is the 2015 tournament’s third top points scorer so far with 26 points (1 try, 3 conversions and 5 penalties), behind France’s Jessy Tremouliere (27 points – 1 try, 5 conversions and 4 penalties) and Julie Billes (30 points – 6 tries)
– Flanker Paula Fitzpatrick is Ireland’s top try scorer after the opening four rounds. She touched down in the Championship opener against Italy and added her second against Wales last weekend
Recent Meetings –
2012: Women’s RBS 6 Nations: Ireland Women 20 Scotland Women 0, Ashbourne RFC
2013: Women’s RBS 6 Nations: Scotland Women 3 Ireland Women 30, Lasswade RFC, Edinburgh
2014: Women’s RBS 6 Nations: Ireland Women 59 Scotland Women 0, Ashbourne RFC
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