TOM TIERNEY HAS made two changes to the Irish Women’s Rugby side to face Italy in the Six Nations at the Stadio Tommaso Fattori in L’Aquila on Sunday.
Following last Friday’s bonus-point win in Scotland, Elaine Anthony gets a starting spot alongside Marie-Louise Reilly in the second row, while Hannah Tyrrell — who featured for the Ireland Sevens side in Sydney last weekend — starts on the wing.
The rest of the starting XV remains unchanged, while Ciara Cooney and Sophie Spence take their places on the bench.
Speaking ahead of the match, Tierney said: “It was a very tough encounter on Friday evening in Glasgow. The Scots really put it up to us, and for the players to get that final score when it really mattered, and to come away with the 5 points from such a tough encounter is very pleasing.
“We’ve reviewed the performance against Scotland and the players are aware of the areas that they need to improve on against Italy.
“The nature of the Six Nations is that there are no easy games, so we’ll have to be really focused going into the game this Sunday.”
Ireland women (v Italy):
15. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)
14. Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
13. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
12. Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
11. Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
9. Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union / Leinster)
1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)
2. Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
4. Elaine Anthony (Highfield / Munster)
5. Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
6. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)
8. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary’s College / Leinster)
Replacements:
16. Jennie Finlay (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
17. Ilse Van Staden (Cooke / Ulster)
18. Ciara O Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)
19. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)
20. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
21. Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)
22. Claire McLaughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
23. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster)
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