IRELAND WOMEN’S COACH Philip Doyle has handed a debut to wing Hannah Casey for this Friday’s Six Nations opener against Scotland in Ashbourne.

The Grand Slam champions show six changes from the side that started the victorious day in Italy last year, with fullback Niamh Briggs among those who must wait for their opportunity on the bench.

Also among the replacements will be uncapped Orla Fitzsimons of Leinster and Kerri-Ann Craddock – who, like Casey, plays her rugby with Saracens.

Fiona Coghlan will once again lead the side as loosehead in a pack showing just two changes from the hard-fought win over Italy. In comes number eight Heather O’Brien, and Ulster hooker Stacey-Lea Kennedy gets the nod ahead of  Gillian Bourke.

Ireland Women (v Scotland): Jackie Shiels, Hannah Casey, Lynne Cantwell, Jenny Murphy, Alison Miller; Nora Stapleton, Amy Davis: Fiona Coghlan (Capt.), Stacey-Lee Kennedy, Ailis Egan, Sophie Spence, Marie-Louise Reilly, Siobhan Fleming, Claire Molloy, Heather O’Brien.

Replacements: Gill Bourke, Fiona Hayes, Kerr-Ann Craddock, Orla Fitzsimons, Paula Fitzpatrick, Larissa Muldoon, Grace Davitt, Niamh Briggs.

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