Team News: Irish and Welsh teams named

Ireland and Wales have named their teams to play Italy and England respectively in this weekends third round of the womens 6 Nations.

There are no changes to the Irish team from the side which narrowly lost to France while Welsh centre Rebecca De Filippo starts at Twickenham on her 18th birthday.

The Irish management has kept faith with the same starting XV and replacements that were narrowly defeated 8-7 by France a fortnight ago.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's game, head coach Philip Doyle said Following a very good performance against France in Pau last time out, all girls played extremely well and we did not see the need to make changes.

Italy are a formidable opposition, we are under no illusions about the strength of this side. We have trained well and look forward to playing back in front of a home side

The Ireland v Wales match, which was called off at half-time due to deterioration of weather conditions, has been rescheduled to take place on Saturday 3rd March with a 2.30pm kick-off.

MeanwhileWaleshave made just one change for their clash with England with Rebecca De Filippo, the youngest member of the Wales Womens squad getting a start on the same day she will be celebrating her 18th birthday.

She comes in for Philippa Tuttiett who moves to the bench. The only other change to the match day squad sees flanker Lisa Newton replace Sian Williams as one of the replacements.

De Filippo earned her first cap last weekend when coming on as a late replacement for Tuttiett but did enough to impress Wales head coach Rhys Edwards, to earn her first start for her country on Saturday.

The way she plays suits our game plan to be honest, said Edwards. She possesses great off-loading ability and can do stuff that maybe others cant.

She is more than capable of coping with the pressure. I suppose you could say it is a case of throwing her in the deep end to see if she can sink or swim, but we wouldnt have picked her if we didnt think she was good enough.

Despite going into the match as heavy underdogs, Edwards is quietly confident of giving England a good run for their money.

They have a big squad and have made a number of changes to their side but they can afford to do that with the strength in depth they have. However you look at it, its not going to be easy but if we can improve our finishing off Im confident we can give it a really good go. If we can implement our game plan, I think we can rattle them.

Ireland Womens v Italy (Ashbourne RFC, Co. Meath - February 24th, 19:30): Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster), Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians - Munster), Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians - Munster), Grace Davitt (Cooke - Ulster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield - Connacht), Lynne Cantwell (Exile), Amy Davis (Blackrock - Leinster), Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians - Leinster) Captain, Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians - Munster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere - Leinster), Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere - Leinster), Sophie Spence (Exile), Laura Guest (Highfield - Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol - Exile), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians - Munster)Replacements: Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's - Leinster), Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians - Connacht), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee - Munster), Heather O'Brien (Highfield - Munster), Larissa Muldoon (Exile/UWIC - Ulster) Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins - Ulster), Jen Murphy (Exile)

Wales Women v England (Twickenham Stadium, Saturday February 25th, 18.15): 15 Rosie Fletcher, 14 Charlie Murray, 13 Adi Taviner, 12 Rebecca De Filippo, 11 Caryl James, 10 Naomi Thomas, 9 Amy Day, 1 Caryl Thomas, 2 Rhian Bowden, 3 Jenny Davies, 4 Vicky Owens, 5 Shona Powell-Hughes, 6 Sioned Harries, 7 Rachel Taylor (Capt). 8 Jamie Kift

Replacements 16 Lowri Harries, 17 Megan York, 18 Clare Flowers, 19 Lisa Newton, 20 Laura Prosser, 21 Mared Evans, 22 Phillippa Tuttiett