Day and Staunton earn recalls

IRELAND’S women’s rugby team will be hoping to secure back-to-back wins when they take on Wales at Pandy Park, Cross Keys tomorrow (kick-off 2.30pm).

Wales lost their last game to Italy, while the Irish beat Scotland 22-5. Both have made changes, Ireland manager Philip Doyle making two.

Lauren Day and Carol Staunton return to the starting line-up in the front and back row, respectively. Laura Guest, who started at blindside flanker against Scotland, partners Marie Louise Reilly in the second row.

Ailis Egan comes into the squad as a replacement prop, while Heather O’Brien provides back-up on the bench.

However, Wales head coach Kris de Scossa, believes his side can topple Ireland. “We looked at the things which didn’t work well against Italy,” he said.

“Training has gone fantastically well. The squad is looking strong and we’re confident. We know we head into this match as underdogs as the Irish are a very strong and capable side. We’re hoping for another fantastic crowd at Pandy Park and we hope to give them as much entertainment as last time (against England) and a match to remember.”

WALES WOMEN: A Young (Bath Ladies), M Evans (UWIC), A Taviner (Neath Athletic), E Evans (Dolgellau), K Lake (Neath Athletic), E Snowsill (Cardiff Quins), A Day (Cross Keys); J Davies (Waterloo), R Bowden (Cross Keys), C Edwards (Cardiff Quins), S Powell Hughes (Neath Athletic), A Rowlands (Wasps), L Newton (UWIC), S Harries (UWIC), J Kift (Cross Keys).Replacements: L Harries (Neath Athletic), C Thomas (Bath Ladies), V Owens (UWIC), R Taylor (Cardiff Quins), L Prosser (Pontyclun), A Thomas (Cross Keys), C James (Cardiff Quins).

IRELAND WOMEN: N Briggs (Clonmel, Munster), N Kavanagh (UL Bohemian, Munster), L Cantwell (Richmond, Exile), G Rea (Highfield, Munster), M Kelly (UL Bohemian, Munster), N Stapleton (Old Belvedere, Leinster), A Davis (Blackrock, Leinster), F Coghlan (UL Bohs, Leinster), G Bourke (Bristol, Munster), L Day (Waterloo, Ulster), L Guest (Highfield, Munster), M Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere, Leinster), C Staunton (Galwegians, Connacht), C Molloy (Bristol, Connacht), J Neville (UL Bohs, Munster).

Replacements: S Kennedy (City of Derry, Ulster), A Egan (Old Belvedere, Leinster), D O’Brien (Blackrock, Leinster), H O’Brien (Highfield, Munster), L Muldoon (UWIC, Exile), G Nolan (St Mary’s, Leinster), J Shiels (Richmond, Leinster).

Picture: Laura Guest (Pic: Eddie O’Hare)