Ireland Women’s Team v England

Head Coach Adam Griggs has confirmed the Ireland Women’s side to take on England in Coventry this Friday at 5.30pm.

A total of seven Munster players have been included in the squad with Louise Galvin, Niamh Briggs, Nicole Cronin, Leah Lyons and Captain Ciara Griffin named to start. Fiona Reidy and Anna Caplice are among the replacements.

The team, for their final game of the Championship, shows changes to the one that lost out to Scotland last weekend.

Hannah Tyrrell moves to full back with Louise Galvin moving from the bench to take her place on the wing.

Cronin is named at scrum half, having been promoted from the bench to make her first start of the tournament.

Paula Fitzpatrick moves from no. 8 to the second row while Ashleigh Baxter is named at flanker with Captain, Griffin moving to No. 8.

Ciara Cooney, returning from injury, is named on the bench.

Speaking ahead of the test, Griggs said: “We have big test ahead of us playing England at home in our last game of the tournament. They could potently still win the tournament and we have no doubt they will want to finish the tournament on a positive note.

We have a huge opportunity, and we want to rectify some of the areas of our game that we haven’t been happy with over the past few weeks and if we can make those small changes, then Friday evening’s game should be a great one.”

Ireland Women Team & Replacements (v England, 2018 Womens Six Nations Championship, Ricoh Arena, Coventry, Friday, March 16th, kick-off 5.30pm)

15. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
14. Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13. Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/Leinster)
12. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
11. Louise Galvin (UL Bohemian/Munster)
10. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/Munster)
9. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian/Munster)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster)
2. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster)
3. Leah Lyons (Highfield/Munster)
4. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster)
5. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
6. Ashleigh Baxter (Cooke/Ulster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol)
8. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemian/Munster) (capt)

Replacements:

16. Ciara O’Connor (Galwegians/Connacht)
17. Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht)
18. Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster)
19. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/ Leinster)
20. Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
21. Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster)
22. Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)