Changes For Grand Slam Chasers

It’s a case of all eyes on Sunday’s action in Milan where the Ireland Women’s team look for Grand Slam glory against Italy in their final RBS 6 Nations game, with supporters getting the chance to watch coverage live on RTE 2 from 1.45pm.

Niamh Kavanagh and Grace Davitt return to the starting XV with injury to centre Jenny Murphy (hamstring), and Ashleigh Baxter moving to the bench.

Heather O’Brien and Shannon Houston have also been added to the replacements.

The Irish Women secured their first Championship title following their fourth victory last weekend, claiming the scalp of France in Ashbourne on Friday night.

Speaking ahead of the game, Coach Philip Doyle said “It’s a testament to Ross Callaghan’s strength and conditioning of the squad that we have got this far without injury. Unfortunately Jenny Murphy picked up a knock in the last game and she is missing this weekend but it’s great that we have the dept in the squad that we can call on Grace Davitt to easily slip into the starting lineup. “

“We know it’s a huge task ahead of us this weekend an there is a lot of expectation on our shoulders but at the end of the day it’s a game of rugby that we have to go out to win and it will be treated as another international match that the team are well up for.”

“Italy has shown in their past matches that they are very resilient and without doubt will be a huge task for our girls to break them down.”

Ireland Women play Italy Women in Parabiago on Sunday at 3pm (2pm Irish time)

Ireland Women’s Team & Replacements:
15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exiles)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exiles)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Mowden Park Sharks/Exiles)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Exiles)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:
16. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Lauren Day (Waterloo/Exiles)
19. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
20. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
21. Amy Davis (Blackrock College/Ulster)
22. Shannon Huston (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)

Ireland Women RBS 6 Nations Fixtures and results 2013 (All Kick-off Times GMT):
Sun 3rd Feb Wales v Ireland 10-12
Sat 9th Feb Ireland v England U20 25-0
Sat 23rd Feb 14:00 Scotland v Ireland Lasswade 3-30
Fri 8th Mar 19:30 Ireland v France Ashbourne RFC 15-10
Sun 17th Mar 14:00 Italy Women v Ireland Women Parabiago, Milan