Two changes for Ireland for Six Nations trip to leaders England

Scott Bemand has made two changes to his Ireland team to face defending Guinness Six Nations champions England this Saturday at Twickenham.

The Irish snapped their recent championship losing streak with a commanding 36-5 win last weekend over Wales in Cork and they now head to London with one change to the back line and another to their pack.

Aoife Dalton, a replacement against the Welsh, has taken the No12 shirt from the benched Enya Breen, while Hannah O’Connor takes over at second row from Sam Monaghan. Meabh Deely is a new addition to the subs.

Bemand said in an IRFU team release: “We get another chance to perform as a group, in a great stadium with a big crowd. We are building some momentum in training and games. This is the kind of Test we want, against the best out there."

"We want these occasions to be the norm and our players are excited by the opportunity. Judging by training intent and competition for selection, the players are ready.

"Hopefully we will see a wave of green around the stadium that will continue to get behind our group, each opportunity they have."

Ireland (vs England, Saturday)

15. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby) 25

14. Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 3

13. Eve Higgins (Railway Union RFC) 15

12. Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 13

11. Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) 24

10. Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 13

9. Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) 10

1. Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 35

2. Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury) 24

3. Christy Haney (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 16

4. Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) 26

5. Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 20

6. Aoife Wafer (Blackrock College RFC/Leinster) 5

7. Edel McMahon (Exeter Chiefs) 26 Captain

8. Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 21

Replacements:

16. Cliodhna Moloney (Exeter Chiefs) 32

17. Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere RFC/Leinster) 5

18. Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke RFC/Ulster) 11

19. Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere RFC/Ulster) 5

20. Shannon Ikahihifo (Ealing Trailfinders/IQ Rugby) 1

21. Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster) 15

22. Enya Breen (Blackrock College RFC/Munster) 19

23. Meabh Deely (Blackrock College RFC/Connacht) 11