Women’s Six Nations: Three changes to Irish team to face Scotland

First start for Vicky Irwin at fullback and Sam Monaghan returns from injury

Daire Walsh

Greg McWilliams has made three changes to his starting line-up as he looks to end his first Six Nations campaign as Ireland women’s head coach on a high against Scotland at Kingspan Stadium on Saturday (kick-off 8pm).

With Nicole Cronin and Eimear Considine ruled out of contention as a result of the injuries they sustained in last Sunday’s 69-0 defeat to England in Leicester, a pair of players at the opposite end of the international rugby spectrum are drafted into the backline.

Currently lining out for Sale Sharks in the Premier 15s, Vicky Irwin is selected at fullback for her Ireland debut. Having made her own international bow in the same position four days ago, Molly Scuffil-McCabe will take over from Considine on the left wing.

In Cronin’s absence, Belfast native Nikki Caughey earns a long-awaited recall to the Irish side at outhalf. A debutant way back in 2012, Caughey – who has encountered her own injury woes in the past – last featured in the green jersey against England back in November 2018.

The loss of Cronin and Considine will be keenly felt, given they both played for Ireland in Kingspan during the 2017 Women’s Rugby World Cup. Sene Naoupu also featured back then and she retains her spot at outside centre after having her red card from the England game downgraded to a yellow on review.

After missing out on the England game with a calf injury, a fully-fit Sam Monaghan returns to the secondrow for her fourth start of the championship alongside team captain Nichola Fryday. McWilliams has kept faith with the remainder of the side that started against England, but Ailsa Hughes is drafted on to the bench as cover for scrumhalf Kathryn Dane.

Speaking ahead of their duel with the Scots in Belfast, McWilliams said: “A couple of injuries have forced us to make minor changes this week, but overall we are very pleased with the dynamic of the team and we’re excited to get to work on Saturday.

“It will be a special moment for us all to have a big home crowd behind us at Kingspan Stadium, but for Neve [Jones], Kathryn [Dane] and Vicky [Irwin] it will be particularly special to play in Belfast.

“We have received huge support in Dublin and Cork so far in this Six Nations and it’s a massive boost for the whole group to have so many people – young and old – behind us as we embark on our journey together.”

IRELAND: Vicky Irwin (Sale Sharks/Ulster); Aoife Doyle (Railway Union/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemian/Munster), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union/Leinster); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby/Leinster), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster), Christy Haney (Blackrock College/Leinster); Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht) (capt), Sam Monaghan (Wasps/IQ Rugby); Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/Munster), Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster).

Replacements: Emma Hooban (Blackrock College/Leinster), Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian/Munster), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Grace Moore (Railway Union/IQ Rugby), Maeve Og O’Leary (Blackrock College/Munster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College/Leinster).