Eve Higgins comes in at centre as Ireland’s head coach Scott Bemand has made one change for Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations clash against Wales at Affidea Stadium (kick-off 6.30pm, live on RTÉ2 and BBC iPlayer).
Higgins replaces Nancy McGillvray, while Aoibheann Reilly was expected to feature at some stage but has suffered a leg injury in training.
Bemand has named an unchanged back three of Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons and Robyn O’Connor, as Higgins comes in to link up with Aoife Dalton in midfield, while in the halfbacks, Emily Lane and Dannah O’Brien are selected at scrumhalf and outhalf respectively.
Up front, Ellena Perry, Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald and Linda Djougang pack down together, with Dorothy Wall and Fiona Tuite in the engine room and Brittany Hogan, captain Erin King and Aoife Wafer in the backrow.
Bemand has named uncapped back Niamh Gallagher among the replacements following her impressive performances for Ireland Under-21s in recent weeks.
Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilís Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan and Grace Moore are the forwards on Ireland’s bench, with backs Katie Whelan and Gallagher completing the matchday 23.
Ireland: Stacey Flood; Béibhinn Parsons, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Robyn O’Connor; Dannah O’Brien, Emily Lane; Ellena Perry, Clíodhna Moloney-MacDonald, Linda Djougang; Dorothy Wall, Fiona Tuite; Brittany Hogan, Erin King (capt), Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Neve Jones, Sadhbh McGrath, Eilís Cahill, Ruth Campbell, Sam Monaghan, Grace Moore, Katie Whelan, Niamh Gallagher.