Key performers during Ireland’s Grand Slam success, Niamh Briggs and scrumhalf Larissa Muldoon, return to the starting XV for Friday’s meeting with Wales in Ashbourne RFC (kick-off 7.30pm).

Briggs’ presence was so obviously missed during the 59-0 rout of Scotland last week as Nora Stapleton and Jenny Murphy both struggled with place-kicking, between them converting just two from 11. Jackie Shiels and Amy Davis drop to the bench.

Philip Doyle, Ireland Women’s head coach, commented, “The performance we put in against Scotland was coming for sometime but we are under no illusions as to the challenge the Welsh girls will present.

"There was only two points between the teams last year so this week we will require a further step up in performance from the group."
IRELAND: N Briggs (UL/Bohs); H Casey (Saracens), L Cantwell (Richmond), J Murphy (Old Belvedere), A Miller (Portlaoise); N Stapleton (Old Belvedere), L Muldoon (Bristol); F Coghlan (UL/Bohs, capt), S-L Kennedy (Cooke), A Egan (Old Belvedere); S Spence (Old Belvedere), M-L Reilly (Old Belvedere); S Fleming (Tralee), C Molloy (Bristol), H O'Brien (Highfield). Replacements: G Bourke (UL/Bohs), F Hayes (UL/Bohs), K-A Craddock (Saracens), P Fitzpatrick (St Mary's), A Davis (Blackrock), A Baxter (Belfast Harlequins), G Davitt (Cooke), J Shiels (Richmond).