21 Apr 2023 | 5 min |

Six Nations Preview: Ireland v Red Roses

Everything you need to know ahead of the Red Roses' round four clash against Ireland Women at Musgrave Park, Cork.

Marlie Packer captains the side and packs down in the back row alongside Sadia Kabeya and Alex Matthews. In the second row, vice-captain Zoe Aldcroft pairs with Sarah Beckett. A changed front row from last week's victory over Wales sees Hannah Botterman return to the starting lineup alongside Connie Powell and Maud Muir.

The Amy Cokayne Column

In the backs, Natasha Hunt starts at scrum half with Holly Aitchison at fly half. Tatyana Heard and Lagi Tuima are the centre pairing, while Ellie Kildunne returns to the fold at full back with Abby Dow and Claudia MacDonald on the wings.

When?	Saturday 22 April
Where?	Musgrave Park, Cork
Kick off?	14:15

On the bench, Lark Davies, Mackenzie Carson and Sarah Bern are the front row replacements. Delaney Burns, Morwenna Talling, Lucy Packer, Amber Reed and Helena Rowland are also named as finishers.

TEAMS

Red Roses

15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Abby Dow, 13. Lagi Tuima, 12. Tatyana Heard, 11. Claudia MacDonald, 10. Holly Aitchison, 9. Natasha Hunt, 1. Hannah Botterman, 2. Connie Powell, 3. Maud Muir, 4. Zoe Aldcroft (VC), 5. Sarah Beckett, 6. Sadia Kabeya, 7. Marlie Packer (C), 8. Alex Matthews

Finishers

16. Lark Davies, 17. Mackenzie Carson, 18. Sarah Bern, 19. Delaney Burns, 20. Morwenna Talling, 21. Lucy Packer, 22. Amber Reed, 23. Helena Rowland

Ireland

15. Lauren Delaney, 14. Aoife Doyle, 13. Aoife Dalton, 12. Vicky Irwin, 11. Natasja Behan, 10. Dannah O'Brien, 9. Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 1. Linda Djougang, 2. Neve Jones, 3. Christy Haney, 4. Nichola Fryday (C), 5. Sam Monaghan, 6. Brittany Hogan, 7. Grace Moore, 8. Deirbhile Nic a Bhaird

Replacements

16. Clara Nielson, 17. Sadbh McGrath, 18. Kathryn Buggy, 19. Hannah O'Connor, 20. Jo Brown, 21. Nicole Cronin, 22. Anna McGann, 23. Meabh Deely

VIEWS FROM CAMP

Simon Middleton: "We got properly tested in the first 25 minutes against Wales. They put us under pressure and the way we responded was something I was really proud of. We defended really well over that period of time and we invited some pressure onto us, and Wales brought it incredibly well.

"We're approaching this game like we do any other game. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and the expectation we put on ourselves is greater than any expectation put on us by anyone else. We'll play flat out and at our very best. Players are fighting for their shirt, and there's a massive goal at the end of this tournament of winning the Six Nations that everyone wants to be involved in.

Marlie Packer: "As players we're really excited for the weekend. We can only play what is in front of us and take away everything else that is going out outside of the game. They're going to bring it to us on Saturday. We're over in Ireland, in Cork and it's going to be a really exciting day. What I'm telling the team is that when we turn up we have to perform. There are other players who want our shirts so we have to work for it and turn up at the weekend."

PREVIOUS ENCOUNTERS

2022: England 69-0 Ireland

2020: England 27-0 Ireland

2019: Ireland 7-51 England

2018: England 37-15 Ireland

2018: England 33-11 Ireland

2017: Ireland 7-34 England

2016: Ireland 10-12 England

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STATS

England have won 18 of their previous 20 TikTok Women’s Six Nations matches against Ireland.

Ireland have lost all three of their games in this year’s TikTok Women’s Six Nations, however they have not lost their opening four matches of a campaign since 2005.

England’s Abigail Dow has made the most metres over the gain line of any player the TikTok Women’s Six Nations this year (415), while she’s also beaten the most defenders (24) and is one of just two players to have made more than five line breaks in the Championship (8), alongside teammate Jess Breach (7).

England have won each of their last 22 games in the TikTok Women’s Six Nations, the longest such run by any team in the Championship and have conceded just seven points or fewer in nine of their last 10 matches.