McWilliams turns to experience for stiff England challenge

25 March 2022; Eimear Considine during the Ireland Women's Rugby captain's run at the RDS Arena in Dublin. Photo by Seb Daly/Sportsfile

IRELAND head Coach Greg McWilliams has looked to experience to help steady his weakened ship for Sunday’s TikTok Six Nations clash with England in Leicester (noon kick-off).

Sene Naoupu and Eimear Considine return to the starting line-up in a whole new backline due to the loss of seven players to international Sevens action this week.

And the one change to the pack sees Aoife McDermott come in to replace the injured and in-form lock Sam Monaghan.

McDermott’s Railway Union teammate Molly Scuffil-McCabe gets her first Irish cap at full-back where the 24-year-old joins Aoife Doyle and Eimear Considine in a new back three.

Veteran Naoupu returns to get her 47th cap in midfield alongside Enya Breen, who gets her first start of the campaign after coming off the bench in all three previous games.

The widescale changes to the backline were enforced after losing Lucy Mulhall, Aimee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood and Beibhinn Parsons to Sevens action for the final two Six Nations games.

Kathryn Dane retains the number nine jersey to partner Nicole Cronin in an unchanged half-back pairing that helped Ireland get their first win, against Italy, last time out.

In the pack, Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney continue their front row partnership.

Captain Nichola Fryday leads from the second row alongside McDermott (getting her 19th cap) and the back row of Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon and Hannah O'Connor is unchanged.

The bench contains previously uncapped Niamh Byrne (Railway Union) and Grace Moore, Maeve Óg O'Leary and Michelle Claffey are also in contention for their first appearances of the Championship.

Ireland didn’t meet England in last year’s revamped Six Nations. Steve Middleton’s side are unbeaten in their last 21 Tests and beat Ireland 27-0 when they last met in the 2020 Six Nations.

On giving Molly Scuffil McCabe her debut at full-back coach McWilliams said: “I talked to Molly in January about when her opportunity would likely come. She can play scrum-half or full-back, is a lovely runner, very smooth, very smart.

“She was around the Sevens three or four years ago and had a terrific season with Railway (Union) and came into the squad because of her performances. This is her chance to shine.

“We know the size of the task,” he said of facing the defending champions who are chasing four titles in-a-row.

“But our players are looking forward to that and we’ve put together a plan that we’re happy with and just hope we can go out and compete.

"For some of our players these are the toughest opposition they’ll have played against and the biggest crowd they’ve played against but that’s what sport and life is about, a great opportunity.

Sunday's match in Welford Road is expected to surpass England's Six Nations attendance record of 14,689, set against Wales in Gloucester last time out.

“Unbelievable,” McWilliams said. “I remember glory days like beating England in Ashbourne in 2013. There might have been 1500 people there and that was a big crowd. The numbers (now) are massive. As this competition grows in its own window it’s up to all the unions to put their resources into making sure we get more competitive games.

“It’s growing at an alarming rate, in a good way and our job is to continue improving and adding to that spectacle for supporters. Trust me, we’re working so hard and committed to that.”

Kick-off on Sunday is 12pm and the game is live on Virgin Media Two/BBC Two/BBC iPlayer.

Ireland Women: 15. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)* 14. Aoife Doyle (Railway Union RFC/Munster)(8) 13. Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster)(46) 12. Enya Breen (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(12) 11. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(25) 10. Nicole Cronin (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(19) 9. Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster)(21) 1. Linda Djougang (ASM Romagnat Rugby/Leinster)(20) 2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury/Ulster)(9) 3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(2) 4. Nichola Fryday (Exeter Chiefs/Connacht)(25)(capt) 5. Aoife McDermott (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(18) 6. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(13) 7. Edel McMahon (Wasps/IQ Rugby)(17) 8. Hannah O'Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(10) 

Replacements: 16. Emma Hooban (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(10) 17. Chloe Pearse (UL Bohemian RFC/Munster)(4) 18. Katie O'Dwyer (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)(8) 19. Grace Moore (Railway Union RFC/IQ Rugby)(1) 20. Maeve Óg O'Leary (Blackrock College RFC/Munster)(1) 21. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht)(3) 22. Michelle Claffey (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster)(12) 23. Niamh Byrne (Railway Union RFC/Leinster)*