The Ireland Women are determined to complete a clean sweep of home wins in the 2020 Women’s Six Nations. Adam Griggs’ charges will wear their newly-launched Canterbury jerseys for the first time against Italy, one of their Rugby World Cup qualification rivals.
2020 WOMEN’S SIX NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP: Saturday, October 24
IRELAND WOMEN (3rd) v ITALY WOMEN (4th), Energia Park, 6.30pm (live RTÉ 2/www.rte.ie/player/BBC Red Button/BBC iPlayer/RTÉ Radio 1 Extra/Eurosport Player (Italy)/Women’s Six Nations YouTube/Facebook (UK & France))
Team News: There are two personnel changes and one positional switch to the Ireland Women’s team originally selected to play Italy in round 4 of the Women’s Six Nations at Energia Park.
The IRFU advise that Laura Sheehan and Leah Lyons will replace Eimear Considine and Laura Feely respectively.
This decision is a precaution following inconclusive outcomes of COVID-19 tests on one player and a resultant potential close contact with two other players, one of which is not in the matchday selection but is part of the wider squad.
The IRFU are assisting the three players, who remain well. They have not been in contact with any other team member.
UL Bohemians speedster Sheehan comes into the starting XV on the right wing, with versatile front rower Lyons from Harlequins joining the replacements. Lauren Delany, another of the IQ Rugby players, switches to full-back.
Sheehan is an additional change to the seven head coach Adam Griggs made to the team that lost to England last time out. There are also positional switches for captain Ciara Griffin, who reverts to number 8, and Sene Naoupu who fills the inside centre berth.
20-year-old Tipperary talent Dorothy Wall will make her first international start in a back row completed by Griffin and the returning Claire Molloy, who comes in for her 70th Ireland cap.
The lock positions are occupied by Nichola Fryday and Ciara Cooney, with Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney, the newly-announced Irish Women’s 15s Player of the Year, and Linda Djougang combining in the front row for the four game in succession.
Former Sevens star Hannah Tyrrell makes her first start of the campaign, featuring at out-half alongside her Old Belvedere club-mate Kathryn Dane. Exciting youngsters Enya Breen and Beibhinn Parsons also slot back into the back-line.
Griggs says the entire squad are aware that they are part of a select group of people permitted to play competitive rugby at the moment.
“We’ve spoken about it,” said the head coach. “No one across Irish Rugby in the Women’s game is actually able to pull on a jersey and play right now and yet here we are already privileged to represent our country and be one of the only teams actually playing in these times.
“It’s not lost on us and we want to make sure that we perform really well and give everyone watching something to cheer about come the final whistle on Saturday.”
There is potential for Ireland debuts off the bench with uncapped forwards Neve Jones, Katie O’Dwyer and Brittany Hogan all earning their place in the matchday squad.
Lyons and Hannah O’Connor will provide the remaining cover for the pack, while Ailsa Hughes, Larissa Muldoon and Katie Fitzhenry will give Griggs further options in the back-line. Tyrrell, Hogan and Fitzhenry have all featured for Ireland in last season’s HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series.
Speaking about team selection, Griggs added: “I think the beauty of what we’ve got now is such a competitive wider squad and some of those selections weren’t as straight forward as you think. Some of those players who’ve missed out can take credit for how hard they’ve pushed these girls.”
Meanwhile, Italy head coach Andrea di Giandomenico has made six changes to the side that 45-10 to France back in early February. Veteran full-back Manuela Furlan is back in the starting XV after an 18-month absence due to a shoulder injury.
Buoyed by last year’s thrilling 29-27 win over Ireland, the Azzurre, who have only played two 2020 Championship games so far, have brought in Colorno’s Veronica Madia at out-half and added Aura Muzzo of Villorba to the left wing.
Sara Tounesi, one of four French-based players in the starting pack, joins forces with Giordana Duca in the second row, while Romagnat’s Francesca Sgorbini gets the nod at blindside flanker for her fourth cap.
Women’s Six Nations Fixtures/Results
Women’s Six Nations Table
IRELAND WOMEN: Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby); Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College/Connacht); Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht), Ciara Cooney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster), Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).
Replacements: Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Harlequins/IQ Rugby), Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union/Leinster), Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College/Leinster).
ITALY WOMEN: Manuela Furlan (Arredissima Villorba) (capt); Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba); Veronia Madia (Rugby Colorno), Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova); Silvia Turani (FC Grenoble), Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais), Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Sara Tounesi (ASM Romagnat), Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Francesca Sgorbini (ASM Romagnat), Giada Franco (Rugby Colorno), Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova).
Replacements: Giulia Cerato (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Erika Skofca (Valsugana Rugby Padova), Michela Merlo (Kawasaki Rugby Calvisano), Valeria Fedrighi (Stade Toulousain), Francesca Sberna (Kawasaki Robot Calvisano), Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba), Beatrice Capomaggi (Unione Rugby Capitolina), Benedetta Mancini (Unione Rugby Capitolina).
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant Referees: Nikki O’Donnell (England), Peter Martin (Ireland)
Television Match Official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Pre-Match Quotes – Ciara Griffin (Ireland Women):
We want to win three home matches so we want to win on Saturday night – that’s the bottom line really. These are two really important matches leading up to December for us as well.
“We have to take every opportunity we can to keep those performances up. Keep working on what we’ve been working on in camp and putting in the performances. Italy are a really good team to play against, they love expansive rugby. It’s just going to be exciting to play against them.
“I think it’s great having that first game in so long at home. It’s lovely having that as well. These Six Nations matches are a great opportunity for us to build up for December. To up our intensity and get our performances in. That execution that we want.
“I suppose it does make a massive difference that young girls out there who want to wear green can wear the (newly-launched) Women’s jersey. When you put your hand up for an international, you want to play in the Women’s team and wear the Women’s jersey. That’s massive.
“The fact that my cousins now, who love playing rugby, can wear the same jersey as me. Those things make a difference in terms of girls seeing that it is accessible. That you have an opportunity and it’s there.”
Manuela Furlan (Italy Women):
After a year-and-a-half out injured, I really missed training with the girls. The truth is that when you find yourself with them you realise how much you have missed them.
“I found the group united and the enthusiasm in the camp is sky high. We can’t wait to get out onto the field, and for me especially I can’t wait to get back to being able to help out my team-mates.”
Pre-Match Links –
Griggs Targets ‘Fast Start’ As Ireland Women Resume Campaign
Free Digital Match Programmes – Ireland Men & Women
A New Horizon: The Official Launch Of The Ireland Women’s Jersey
Parsons Primed As Ireland Women ‘Hit The Ground Running’
Wall Ready To Stand Tall Alongside ‘Wise Heads’ Molloy And Griffin
Guinness Stands Shoulder To Shoulder With Women’s Rugby
Recent Meetings –
2017: Women’s Six Nations: Italy Women 3 Italy Women 27, Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L’Aquila
2018: Women’s Six Nations: Ireland Women 21 Italy Women 8, Energia Park, Donnybrook
2019: Women’s Six Nations: Italy Women 29 Ireland Women 27, Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma
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