Sports07 May, 20262 min read
Eve Higgins Returns As Ireland Make One Change For Women’s Six Nations Vs Wales
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Eve Higgins returns to starting XV at inside centre, replacing Nancy McGillivray. It is the only alteration to Ireland's lineup from the France defeat.
Ireland vs Wales
Ireland head coach Scott Bemand made one change for Saturday’s Women’s Six Nations home game against Wales at the Affidea Stadium, with Eve Higgins replacing Nancy McGillivray at centre. Higgins returns after the 26-7 defeat against France in Clermont two weeks ago, and Ireland will look to get back on track following the tournament’s fallow week.
The BBC also states that Stacey Flood continues at full-back with Beibhinn Parsons at right wing and Robyn O'Connor on the opposite side, while Aoife Dalton is partnered by Higgins in midfield. On the bench, 20-year-old Niamh Gallagher is set to make her debut off the bench as Ireland chase their second home victory of the campaign.
Lineups and bench
The Irish Independent says Niamh Gallagher is set to become the fourth player to make her Ireland debut in this year’s Women’s Six Nations after she was named on the bench for Saturday’s game against Wales at Affidea Stadium, Belfast (6.30pm kick-off). The 42 reports that Higgins is named to start at inside centre in an otherwise unchanged Ireland side, and it lists an Ireland back line of Stacey Flood, Béibhinn Parsons, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, and Robyn O’Connor.
The 42 also notes that uncapped back Niamh Gallagher is set for her Ireland debut off the bench against the Welsh at Affidea Stadium. For Wales, The 42 lists wing Nikita Prothero set for her debut off the bench, and it names Aurélie Groizeleau as referee [FFR].
France match context
While the immediate focus is Ireland’s Women’s Six Nations clash with Wales, RueDesJoueurs frames the broader tournament context by describing the two nations wanting to begin the tournament by a victory and by listing recent results for Ireland’s XV du trèfle. It says Ireland’s women “ont vaincu sur une courte marge la Nouvelle-Zélande (29-27)” before conceding a defeat against the Canada (8-21) and then finishing with a victory on the USA (26-14).
For France, RueDesJoueurs says the Bleues washed away an earlier setback by “s’imposant contre les USA pour éviter la dernière place du groupe synonyme de relégation l’an prochain.” It also provides a match prediction for Irlande F France F, stating “La victoire de la France F face à la l'Irlande F a une probabilité de 79%.”