Ireland captain Edel McMahon to start against Italy

Ireland Head coach Scott Bemand has named a handful of changes in his side for Sunday's Guinness Women's Six Nations clash against Italy in Parma (15:00 GMT).

Edel McMahon returns to the starting XV to captain Ireland with an unchanged back three as Stacey Flood continues at fullback and Anna McGann and Amee-Leigh Costigan are named on the wings.

Eve Higgins and Aoife Dalton once again make up the centre partnership. Aoibheann Reilly starts at scrum-half alongside Dannah O'Brien.

In the pack, Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones and Linda Djougang are selected in an unchanged front row, with Ruth Campbell and Fiona Tuite in the second row.

Erin King will start at openside flanker alongside McMahon at six and Aoife Wafer- last weekend's Guinness Women's Six Nations Player of the Round - wearing number eight.

On the bench, Cliodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Christy Haney, Grace Moore, Dorothy Wall and Brittany Hogan provide the forward power, with Emily Lane and Enya Breen the backline options.

Ireland team to play Italy :

15. Stacey Flood

14. Anna McGann

13. Aoife Dalton

12. Eve Higgins

11. Amee-Leigh Costigan

10. Dannah O'Brien

9. Aoibheann Reilly

1. Niamh O'Dowd

2. Neve Jones

3. Linda Djougang

4. Ruth Campbell

5. Fiona Tuite

6. Edel McMahon

7. Erin King

8. Aoife Wafer

Replacements:

16. Cliodhna Moloney

17. Siobhan McCarthy

18. Christy Haney

19. Grace Moore

20. Dorothy Wall

21. Brittany Hogan

22. Emily Lane

23. Enya Breen