Five Munster Players In Irish Women’s Squad v Italy

Ireland face Italy on Sunday at 12pm irish time at the Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L’Aquila. The game will be broadcast on RTE 2.

Highfield second-row Elaine Anthony moves to the starting 15 ahead of Ireland Women’s trip to L’Aquilla to face Italy on Sunday afternoon, making it three Munster girls in the pack ahead of the second Six Nations clash.

Last Friday a late Jenny Murphy try secured a bonus point victory for the Girls in Green against Scotland in Cumbernauld.

The front-row remains unchanged, with hooker Leah Lyons, partnered by props Lindsay Peat and Ailis Egan.

Flankers Ciara Griffin and Claire Molloy will again join Captain Paula Fitzpatrick, in the back-row.

Alisa Hughes, who won her first Ireland cap last week in Glasgow will again partner Nora Stapleton at out-half.

Sene Naoupu and Jenny Murphy renew their centre partnership, with Alison Miller and Tyrrell on the wings and Mairead Coyne at full-back.

There are also two changes in the replacements, as Ciara Cooney fills the space vacated by Anthony, and Sophie Spence comes into the side as cover for the back-row.

Speaking on the selection, 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's no easy games, so we'll have to be really focused going into the game this Sunday.”

Ireland Women v Italy, Sunday 12^th Feb, 1.00pm (local time) / 12.00pm (Irish time), Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila (Live on RTE)
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) Captain
9. Ailsa Hughes – (Railway Union / Leinster)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
11. Alison Miller (Old Belvedere / Connacht)
12. Sene Naoupu (Aylesford Bulls)
13. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians / Munster)
15. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)

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 Mc Laughlin (Cooke / Ulster)
23. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster).