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Two debutants and Moloney-MacDonald set to reach 50 Test caps v England
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Ireland Head Coach Scott Bemand has named his match day squad for Saturday’s opening Guinness Women’s Six Nations clash against England at Allianz Stadium, Twickenham.
The biggest storylines of the day include newly appointed captain Erin King leading Ireland into her first Six Nations Championships, and hooker Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald set to reach the milestone of 50 Test caps.
Bemand names uncapped duo of prop Eilís Cahill (who impressed for the Clovers in the Celtic Challenge) and scrum-half Katie Whelan (who has previously been capped for Ireland Sevens) on the bench, with the pair in line for their debut appearances.
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Stacey Flood starts at full-back, with Béibhinn Parsons and Vicky Elmes Kinlan on the wings. Stable centre combination Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton are selected in the midfield, with Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien at scrum-half and fly-half respectively.
In the pack, Ellena Perry, Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang are Ireland’s starting front row. Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite make up the engine room against the world champions, with Brittany Hogan starting at blindside flanker, King at openside and Aoife Wafer packing down at number eight.
Neve Jones, Niamh O’Dowd, Ruth Campbell and Grace Moore join Cahill as the forward reinforcements, with Whelan, Nancy McGillivray and Anna McGann completing Ireland’s match day 23.
Sam Monaghan and Aoibheann Reilly are ruled out of selection through injury.
Ireland match day squad v England:
15. Stacey Flood (24)
14. Béibhinn Parsons (31)
13. Aoife Dalton (28)
12. Eve Higgins (32)
11. Vicky Elmes Kinlan (4)
10. Dannah O’Brien (30)
9. Emily Lane (20)
1. Ellena Perry (4)
2. Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald (49)
3. Linda Djougang (52)
4. Dorothy Wall (37)
5. Fiona Tuite (20)
6. Brittany Hogan (38)
7. Erin King (Captain)(7)
8. Aoife Wafer (16)
Replacements:
16. Neve Jones (41)
17. Niamh O’Dowd (20)
18. Eilís Cahill*
19. Ruth Campbell (12)
20. Grace Moore (26)
21. Katie Whelan*
22. Nancy McGillivray (3)
23. Anna McGann (14)
* denotes uncapped
