What are the teams for Ireland v France

Ireland host France in Round 2 of the TikTok Women’s Six Nations at Musgrave Park with a point to prove after a 31-5 defeat to Wales in the opening match of the Championship.

Nichola Fryday’s try in the 66th minute proved to be their only score in Cardiff and they will be hoping to put on a show for their passionate supporters in Cork.

In contrast, Les Bleues ran out 22-12 winners over Italy in Parma last Sunday following their third place finish at the 2021 Rugby World Cup and they come to Ireland looking to go two wins from two.

The last time the two sides met, France cruised to a 40-5 win in Toulouse, with now retired scrum-half Laure Sansus scoring a brace of tries.

Ireland Team News

Greg McWilliams has made five changes to the Ireland side that lost to wales at Cardiff Arms Park last week.

Vicky Irwin comes into the centres to form an exciting young centre partnership alongside Aoife Dalton after Enya Breen’s injury, while Dannah O’Brien comes in to start at fly-half, joining Molly Scuffil-McCabe in the half-backs.

The Ireland back three remains unchanged with Méabh Deely continuing at fullback and Aoife Doyle and Natasja Behan named on the wings.

In the forwards, there are three further changes, with Linda Djougang moving from tighthead prop to loosehead, allowing Christy Haney to come in at tighthead, with Neve Jones starting at hooker.

Nichola Fryday remains captain, alongside Sam Monaghan in the second row, while in the back row there are two changes, with Dorothy Wall joined by Grace Moore and Deirbhile Nic a Bháird.

On the bench there are two potential debuts, both of which come in the front row.

Hooker Ciara Nelson and tighthead prop Kathryn Buggy could both make their debuts off the bench, while there is also a potential first appearance since the 2022 Championship for Anna McGann.

Ireland team to face France: 15 Méabh Deely, 14 Aoife Doyle, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Vicky Irwin, 11 Natasja Behan, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Molly Suffil-McCabe, 1 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 3 Christy Haney, 4 Nichola Fryday, 5 Sam Monaghan, 6 Dorothy Wall, 7 Grace Moore, 8 Deirbhile Nic a Bháird

Replacements: 16 Ciara Nelson, 17 Sadhbh McGrath, 18 Kathryn Buggy, 19 Hannah O’Connor, 20 Brittany Hogan, 21 Nicole Cronin, 22 Anna McGann, 23 Lauren Delany

France Team News

Morgane Bourgeois is set to make her France debut against Ireland in one of just two changes from France’s win over Italy.

The uncapped 20-year-old has been named at full-back, joining wingers Cyrielle Banet and Caroline Boujard in an exciting back three.

She is the only change in the backs, with centres Gabrielle Vernier and Marine Menager continuing outside the half-back pairing of Carla Arbez and Pauline Bourdon.

The other change comes in the front row, where Clara Joyeux comes in at tighthead in place of Assia Khalfaoui, who drops to the bench.

Joyeux joins Agathe Sochat and Annaelle Deshaye in the front row, while in the second row Manae Feleu plays alongside captain Audrey Forlani.

The back row also remains the same, with Axelle Berthoumieu, Emeline Gros and Charlotte Escudero forming a perfect balance.

Among the replacements, there is another potential debut, with hooker Elisa Riffoneau named on the bench, with Khalfaoui dropping down for Rose Bernadou the only other change in an otherwise settled 23.

France team to face Ireland: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Cyrielle Banet, 13 Marine Menager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Caroline Boujard, 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Pauline Bourdon, 1 Annaelle Deshaye, 2 Agathe Sochat, 3 Clara Joyeux, 4 Manae Feleu, 5 Audrey Forlani, 6 Axelle Berthoumieu, 7 Emeline Gros, 8 Charlotte Escudero

Replacements: 16 Elisa Riffoneau, 17 Coco Lindelauf, 18 Assia Khalfaoui, 19 Maelle Picut, 20 Gaelle Hermet, 21 Alexandra Chambon, 22 Jessy Tremouliere, 23 Marie Dupouy