Ireland Women change two for Italy clash
07 Feb 2018
Ireland Women's head coach Adam Griggs has made two changes to his team from the opening-round defeat to France last weekend.
Ireland lost 24-0 to France on Saturday but host Italy at Donnybrook this weekend with sevens star Katie Fitzhenry coming into the side to partner Sene Naoupu at centre. Fitzhenry was involved with the Ireland squad at the Sydney 7s last weekend and comes in to replace Claire McLaughlin, who moves to the replacements bench.
The rest of the backline remains unchanged but in the forwards Paula Fitzpatrick moves from the replacements to partner Nichola Fryday in the second row. The front row remains the same, with hooker Cliodhna Moloney partnered by props Lindsay Peat and Fiona Reidy. Flankers Anna Caplice and Claire Molloy will again join captain Ciara Griffin in the back row - two uncapped players, Edel McMahon and Michelle Claffey, are named on the bench.
Speaking ahead of the game, Griggs commented: "It was a very tough encounter in France last weekend. It's always hard to go there and get a result and while we were disappointed in some aspects of our execution, there was plenty to learn from and build on for this week. "There were a number of new combinations and while that will take time to bed in we are focused on improving our performance for the first of three home games in Donnybrook."
IRELAND WOMEN TEAM TO PLAY ITALY
- 15 - Kim Flood (Railway Union/ Leinster)
- 14 - Megan Williams (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
- 13 - Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock College/ Leinster)
- 12 - Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/ Leinster)
- 11 - Alison Miller (Old Belvedere /Connacht)
- 10 - Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian / Munster)
- 9 - Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/ Leinster)
- 1 - Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/ Leinster)
- 2 - Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/ Leinster)
- 3 - Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemian/ Munster)
- 4 - Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's/ Leinster)
- 5 - Nichola Fryday (Tullamore/ Connacht)
- 6 - Anna Caplice (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
- 7 - Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
- 8 - Ciara Griffin (Tralee/ Munster) Captain
Replacements:
- 16 - Leah Lyons (Highfield/ Munster)
- 17 - Laura Feely (Galweigians/ Connacht)
- 18 - Ciara O'Connor (Galwegians/ Connacht)
- 19 - Orla Fitzsimons (St Mary's/ Leinster)
- 20 - Edel McMahon (Galwegians/ Connacht)
- 21 - Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemians/ Munster)
- 22 - Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College/ Leinster)
- 23 - Claire McLaughlin (Cooke/ Ulster)
