It's not just the men's team that are looking to defend their Six Nations crown this weekend. The Ireland women's team lead by head coach Tom Tierney will be looking for more of the same when the fourth ranked Ireland team host 13th ranked Wales at Donnybrook, with a kick off at 1 pm.
Niamh Briggs captains an inexperienced side shorn of their sevens' internationals with ten players in their squad making their Six Nations debuts including three debutants.
IRELAND WOMEN: Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Elise O'Byrne White (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen); Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Zoe Grattage (Tralee/Munster), Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse), Claire Molloy (Bristol), Heather O'Brien (Toulouse).
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (Tralee/Munster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond).
WALES WOMEN: Adi Taviner (Skewen/Ospreys); Elen Evans (Caernarfon/Scarlets), Kerin Lake (Skewen/Ospreys), Hannah Jones (Penybanc/Scarlets), Bethan Dainton (Bristol/Dragons); Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North/Ospreys), Keira Bevan (Skewen/Ospreys); Megan York (Ynysddu/Dragons), Carys Phillips (Skewen/Ospreys), Amy Evans (Skewen/Ospreys), Rebecca Rowe (Richmond/Dragons), Sioned Harries (Whitland/Scarlets), Rachel Taylor (Caernarfon/Dragons) (capt), Sian Williams (Worcester/Dragons), Shona Powell-Hughes (Skewen/Ospreys).
Replacements: Amy Price (Skewen/Ospreys), Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North/Scarlets), Cerys Hale (Pontyclun/Dragons), Siwan Lillicrap (Skewen/Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Penybanc/Scarlets), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol/Dragons), Gemma Rowland (Wasps/Dragons), Dyddgu Hywel (Pontyclun/Scarlets).
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Picture credit: Stephen McCarthy / SPORTSFILE
