Women’s Six Nations Preview: Ireland Women v England Women

The Ireland and England Women’s teams have the honour of kicking off the first Six Nations weekend of 2019, with plenty of established stars and some bright new faces looking to shine on the opening night in Donnybrook.

2019 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Friday, February 1

IRELAND WOMEN v ENGLAND WOMEN, Energia Park, Donnybrook, 5pm (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/Sky Sports Mix/Arena/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra)

Buy your ticket(s) for Ireland Women v England Women on Ticketmaster.ie.

Team News: Ireland head coach Adam Griggs has made six personnel changes and two positional switches to the team that lost 37-15 to England at Twickenham in November. Injuries play their part with the likes of Lindsay Peat ruled out with a shoulder/neck injury and Nicole Cronin recovering from an Achilles injury.

Ballybofey native Laura Feely, who was a Championship newcomer last year, will make her first start at loosehead prop, joining Leah Lyons, who reverts to hooker, and Fiona Reidy in the front row. Locks Aoife McDermott and Nichola Fryday combine for their second successive Test start together.

There are Six Nations debuts for flanker Juliet Short, who won her first cap against the same opposition just over two months ago, out-half Nicole Fowley and IQ Rugby recruit Lauren Delany. Fowley’s strong kicking game sees her get the nod at number 10 after winning her first three caps at centre in 2016.

One of Leinster’s leading lights in their Interprovincial title-winning run, Short links up with Claire Molloy (pictured below) and captain Ciara Griffin in the back row, while Fowley will have Railway Union’s Ailsa Hughes alongside her at half-back. Megan Williams returns on the left wing and vice-captain Sene Naoupu marshals a back-line that is otherwise unchanged from the Twickenham game.

The presence of fit-again winger Alison Miller on the bench is a big boost, almost a year on from her horrific ankle injury against Italy. The replacements also include three uncapped players – in-form Old Belvedere forward Linda Djougang, Connacht’s Anne-Marie O’Hora and young Ulster scrum half Kathryn Dane.

Meanwhile, with 108 international caps to her name, Sarah Hunter again captains the England team from number 8. She is joined by fellow 2014 Rugby World Cup winners Katy Daley-Mclean, who is another Test centurion with 102 caps, Emily Scarratt, Marlie Packer and Natasha Hunt.

2017 World Cup finalist Sarah Bern starts at tighthead prop in her first international appearance since the 2018 Six Nations. Poppy Cleall features in the second row and her twin sister and Saracens team-mate Bryony is poised to make her England debut off the bench.

Saracens lock Rosie Galligan is another potential new cap for the Red Roses, while Firwood Waterloo teenager Sarah Beckett, who made her England debut against the USA in November, starts at blindside flanker. Wasps hooker Amy Cokayne returns having missed the autumn fixtures due to RAF commitments.

IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby); Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster); Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Leah Lyons (Harlequins), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Juliet Short (Railway Union/Leinster), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Anne-Marie O’Hora (Galwegians/Connacht), Anna Caplice (Richmond), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht).

ENGLAND WOMEN: Sarah McKenna (Saracens); Jess Breach (Harlequins), Emily Scarratt (Loughborough Lightning), Tatyana Heard (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelly Smith (Gloucester-Hartpury); Katy Daley-Mclean (Loughborough Lightning), Leanne Riley (Harlequins); Hannah Botterman (Saracens), Lark Davies (Worcester Valkyries), Sarah Bern (Bristol Bears), Catherine O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning), Poppy Cleall (Saracens), Sarah Beckett (Firwood Waterloo Ladies), Marlie Packer (Saracens), Sarah Hunter (Loughborough Lightning) (capt).

Replacements: Amy Cokayne (Wasps), Bryony Cleall (Saracens), Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins), Rosie Galligan (Saracens), Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), Natasha Hunt (Gloucester-Hartpury), Zoe Harrison (Saracens), Emily Scott (Harlequins).

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron (South Africa)
Assistant Referees: Tim Baker (Hong Kong), Helen O’Reilly (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Éric Gauzins (France)

Match Odds (Paddy Power): Ireland Women to win: 13/2; Draw: 33/1; England Women to win: 1/10

Pre-Match Quotes – Adam Griggs (Ireland Women): “There’s no bigger challenge than to open the Six Nations against England. They are second in the world for a reason and are a very good side who challenge you in every part of the game.

“We had a good Test against them in November and while we didn’t get the result, we showed some of the standards and improvements that are required to compete at this level which was a huge positive for us.

“We have had good preparations leading into this Friday’s opening match of the tournament, and we’re looking for a strong performance to get the Championship started in front of what we hope will be an amazing crowd in Donnybrook.”

Simon Middleton (England Women): “We are looking forward to getting our Six Nations campaign underway and implementing some of the things we have been working on since the November internationals. It’s great to have a number of players back in the squad from the 2017 World Cup, as well those newer names who have impressed through the season so far.

“This first game has come a week too soon for a couple of players but this gives us an opportunity to test others, and there were some tough calls over positions. Selection has been based on recent form.

“We know that conditions are likely to be testing in Dublin on Friday but we’re looking forward to returning to Donnybrook, a ground we know well, having won the Grand Slam there in 2017. Whatever the conditions, we will be focused on the task in hand.”

Pre-Match Links –

Naoupu: Team Culture Is Everything For Us

‘There’s That Bit Of Extra Rivalry With England’ – McDermott

‘It’s Been Fantastic To Have The Extra-Time Together’ – Griggs

Ireland Women’s Captain’s Run At Aviva Stadium Back Pitch

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; Women’s November Test: England Women 37 Ireland Women 15, Twickenham

Support the Ireland Women on www.facebook.com/irishrugby or search #IREvENG, #ShouldertoShoulder and #WomensSixNations on www.twitter.com/irishrugby.