Irish women out to mark milestone

IRELAND will play their 100th Women’s international in Sunday’s Six Nations clash with England (Esher RFC, Surrey, 3pm).

And coach Kevin West is targeting a performance to celebrate the century

West said “We are aware of the significance of the 100th Irish Women’s game and the entire team and management team are immensely proud to be involved in such a momentous occasion.”

Six players have been promoted from the bench from the side which lost to France 19-9. Chris Fanning, Lauren Day, Kate O’Loughlin and Claire Molloy take their place in the forwards and Helen Brosnan and Nora Stapleton come in to the backs. West has made two positional changes with Amy Davis switching from right to left wing and Joanne O’Sullivan moving from out-half to the centre.

IRELAND WOMEN’S TEAM: N Briggs (Clonmel/Munster), N Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), J O’Sullivan (Richmond/Exile), S Houston (Blackrock/Leinster), A Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), H Brosnan (Highfield/Munster), T Rosser (Blackrock/Leinster), F Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), C Fanning (Highfield/Munster), L Day (Cooke/Ulster), K O’Loughlin (Clonmel/Munster), M Louise Reilly (Navan/Leinster), O Brennan (Blackrock/Leinster), C Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), J Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster).

Replacements: G Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), E McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster), L Austin (UL Bohemians/Munster), C Staunton (Galwegians/ Connacht), L Beamish (UL Bohemians/Munster), G Davitt (Blackrock/Leinster), A Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht).