Griffin and Considine to start for Ireland’s Women in Italy

Ciara Griffin will again captain Ireland’s women’s team and is joined by fellow UL Bohs player Eimear Considine in the starting XV that plays Italy this Saturday night.

Griffin and Considine are two of five Munster players in the squad named by head coach Adam Griggs this lunch time.

Dearbhile Nic a Bhaird is the replacement hooker, with UL Bohs duo Fiona Reidy and Laura Sheehan also on the bench. If Sheehan takes the field, it will be her debut in the Six Nations.

“It was great to come away with five points after the Scotland Test, “said Griggs when the team was announced.

“It was a physical game in tough conditions, but the players were focused on putting in a good team performance together and showing the quality rugby they can produce.

“We were pleased with the opportunities that we created and while the challenge for this group is to become even more clinical under pressure, we definitely feel each week we are improving and taking the right steps to get there.

“The Italian game should be a cracker, they have played well of late and are unbeaten so far in this Championship.

“We’ve been preparing diligently and know they have quality footballers that will put you under real pressure.

“We’ll need to be aware of these and look to close them down early if we are to get any success on Saturday.”

The game is live on RTÉ 2 on Saturday night and has a 6:45pm kick off.

Ireland Women’s team to play Italy

Lauren Delany (Firwood Waterloo Ladies/IQ Rugby), Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians/Munster), Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Michelle Claffey (Blackrock/Leinster), Alison Miller (Old Belvedere/Connacht), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians/Connacht),Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster); Laura Feely (Galwegians/Connacht), Emma Hooban (St. Mary’s/Leinster), Leah Lyons (Harlequins); Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Galwegians/Connacht), Anna Caplice (Richmond), Claire Molloy (Wasps), Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt).

Replacements: Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird (Old Belvedere/Munster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Claire Boles (Railway Union/Ulster), Claire McLaughlin (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Ailsa Hughes (Railway Union/Leinster), Ellen Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Sheehan (UL Bohemians/Munster).