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Briefs

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Thu Mar 07 2013 - 00:00

A round-up of today's other stories in brief

Same again as Ireland take on France

WOMEN'S SIX NATIONS:Coach Philip Doyle has named an unchanged side to face France in Ashbourne tomorrow night. Ireland, who overcame Scotland in their last Six Nations outing to secure the Triple Crown, are now chasing a Grand Slam, with just the French and Italy remaining.

A win tomorrow would set up Ireland for an historic success in Italy next weekend. “It is great to have our goals already reached for this season with Rugby World Cup qualifications and the Triple Crown secured,” said Doyle. “That being said, this squad has further goals and a win over France will certainly get us a step closer to those.

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“Having seen France’s very strong performance a fortnight ago we know that this fixture will be a very tight one but will certainly be very entertaining for the crowd.”

IRELAND (v France, kick-off 7.30pm): N Briggs (Munster); A Baxter (Ulster), L Cantwell (Exiles), J Murphy (Leinster), A Miller (Connacht); N Stapleton (Leinster), L Muldoon (Exiles); F Coghlan (Leinster) (capt), G Bourke (Munster), A Egan (Leinster), S Spence (Exiles), M Louise Reilly (Leinster), S Fleming (Munster), C Molloy (Exiles), J Neville (Munster). Replacements: S Kennedy (Ulster), F Hayes (Munster), L Day (Exiles), L Dargan (Exile), L Guest (Munster), A Davis (Ulster), G Davitt (Ulster), N Kavanagh (Munster).

Bradley and Back leave Pro12

PRO12:Ireland's Michael Bradley and England World Cup winner Neil Back will leave their posts as head coach and assistant coach respectively with Edinburgh. The move takes place with immediate effect.

Bradley's contract was due to expire in May and Back's the following season. Scotland assistant coaches Stevie Scott and Duncan Hodge were yesterday appointed interim coaches.

The former Irish scrumhalf left the Connacht job at the end of the 2011 season to take up the coaching role in Edinburgh on a two-year contract. Although the team reached last season's Heineken Cup semi-final, their performances in the Pro12 this year have them sitting 10th in the table with four wins from 17.

Former Scottish internationals Scott and Hodge are committed to Scotland's Six Nations campaign, and will take over at Edinburgh only after the competition's conclusion on March 18th.