The Ireland Women’s team to play Italy has been named.
Doyle has named two changes to the starting line-up that overcame France last week. Niamh Kavanagh and Grace Davitt return to the starting XV.
Davitt has been named in the centre replacing Jenny Murphy who picked up a hamstring injury in the game against France. Kavanagh comes in on the wing replacing Ashleigh Baxter who takes her place on the bench.
Heather O’Brien and Shannon Houston have also been included in the replacements.
The Irish side face into this fixture on the back of four wins from four in the tournament so far and have already secured the 2013 championship.
Speaking ahead of the game, Coach Philip Doyle said
“It’s a testament to Ross Callaghan’s strength and conditioning of the squad that we have got this far without injury. Unfortunately Jenny Murphy picked up a knock in the last game and she is missing this weekend but it’s great that we have the dept in the squad that we can call on Grace Davitt to easily slip into the starting lineup. “
“We know it’s a huge task ahead of us this weekend an there is a lot of expectation on our shoulders but at the end of the day it’s a game of rugby that we have to go out to win and it will be treated as another international match that the team are well up for.”
“Italy has shown in their past matches that they are very resilient and without doubt will be a huge task for our girls to break them down.”
Sunday’s game will be broadcast live from Milan Park on RTE Two with coverage starting at 13.45hrs GMT.
Ireland Women’s Team & Replacements (v Italy Women, Parabiago Milan – Kick-off 15.00hrs local, 14.00 hrs GMT):
15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14. Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exiles)
12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster)
11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)
10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9. Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exiles)
1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) (capt)
2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster)
3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
4. Sophie Spence (Mowden Park Sharks/Exiles)
5. Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster)
7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Exiles)
8. Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)
Replacements:
16. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster)
17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster)
18. Lauren Day (Waterloo/Exiles)
19. Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
20. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
21. Amy Davis (Blackrock College/Ulster)
22. Shannon Huston (Blackrock/Leinster)
23. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster)
Ireland Women RBS 6 Nations Fixtures and results 2013 (All Kick-off Times GMT):
Sun 3rd Feb Wales v Ireland 10-12
Sat 9th Feb Ireland v England U20 25-0
Sat 23rd Feb 14:00 Scotland v Ireland Lasswade 3-30
Fri 8th Mar 19:30 Ireland v France Ashbourne RFC 15-10
Sun 17th Mar 14:00 Italy Women v Ireland Women Parabiago, Milan
