Irish and Scottish teams named

The women's rugby coaches of Ireland and Scotland have named their sides for this weekend’s clash in Edinburgh.

Published by Scrum Queens, February 23rd, 2011

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Irish and Scottish teams named

Both sides have named changes in their starting line-up from the last round where the both suffered defeat.

Irish coach Philip Doyle has promoted two players from his bench from the side that lost out 12-14 to France in the last round of the championship.

Leinsters Emer McManamly makes a start in the front row while Heather OBrien comes into the in the second row to partner Marie-Louise Reilly. Laura Guest moves from the second row to the back row.

Lauren Day and Carol Staunton have been named in the replacements. With two tries in her first two appearances, winger Niamh Kavanagh (pictured) stays on the wing in an exciting looking backline.

Doyle said We came very close to a win against France, but in the end they held out. We can take a lot of positives from that performance with us to Scotland.

"The mood in the camp is upbeat and there is a sense of desire to deliver a performance in what will be another tough encounter against Scotland"

Meanwhile Scotland are looking for their first win of the championship after a couple of chastening defeats under new head coach Karen Findlay.

Findlay has also made changes in a team where prop, Heather Lockhart will make her 50th Test appearance for the national team.

Following defeat in their second match against Wales last weekend, Findlay said: "We're looking to try and improve on that performance and see what a few new different combinations can achieve, given that several players have an opportunity against Ireland to show us what they can do.

"Ros Murphy is starting in the second-row with Lindsay Wheeler, and the different configuration in the backline will be interesting to watch with Lisa Martin stepping in at stand-off with Steph Johnson and Annabel [Sergeant] as the centre combination. That backline unit of three looked exciting in training!

"Lauren Harris gets her first start in this competition on the wing, and again is an exciting prospect."

"This weekend will again be a test to see if we have improved on the areas in our defence that we have spent time working on, so it's key that the players show they've taken on board what we've talked about and put that into practice in the match."

Irish teamNiamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile), Geraldine Rea (Highfield/Munster), Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster), Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) Captain, Gillian Bourke (Bristol/Munster), Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster), Heather O'Brien (Highfield/Munster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements: Stacey Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster), Lauren Day (Waterloo/Ulster), Deirdre O'Brien (Blackrock/Leinster), Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht), Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exile), Gill Nolan (St. Mary's/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Leinster)

Scotland team:Victoria Blakebrough (Richmond), Lauren Harris (Aberdeenshire Quines), Annabel Sergeant (Dundee University), Steph Johnston (Hillhead / Jordanhill), Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead / Jordanhill), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead / Jordanhill), Tracy Balmer (Worcester), Rosalind Murphy (Edinburgh University), Lindsay Wheeler (Darlington Mowden Sharks), Charlotte Veale (London Wasps), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Susie Brown (Richmond)

Replacements: Alison MacDonald (RHC Cougars), Elizabeth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), Anna Swan (Edinburgh University), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead / Jordanhill), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle Cougars)

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