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Hannah Tyrrell handed debut for Ireland against Italy

Niamh Briggs will captain the Irish team
Niamh Briggs will captain the Irish team

New Ireland women's coach Tom Tierney has announced his first RBS 6 Nations team for the 2015 Championship opener against Italy in Florence on Friday night, with Leinster's Hannah Tyrrell handed a debut. 
 
Fellow newcomers Sarah Mimnagh, Fiona O'Brien, Katie Norris, Katie Fitzhenry and Sene Naoupu have been named on the bench.

Tyrrell will start on the wing for the 2013 Grand Slam winners. 
 
Up front, Gillian Bourke is named at hooker and will be joined by Ruth O'Reilly and Ailis Egan in the front row.

A familiar look second row sees Marie Louise Reilly and Sophie Spence take position. Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy and Heather O'Brien complete the pack.

Larissa Muldoon is named at scrum-half and will be partnered at 10 by Nora Stapleton. Jackie Sheils and Jenny Murphy make up the centre partnership, with Alison Miller joining Tyrrell on the wing. The side will be captained by full-back Niamh Briggs.
 
Tierney said: "There is a natural changeover with the number of players retiring after last season, but there is a core group of senior players that are very experienced and talented.

"We also have a number of younger players who are very talented and have a lot of promise so it's a good mix.
 
"It's going to be a very tough game over in Italy, we are under no illusions, but we are going over there very confident that we will be competitive."

The match will be streamed live on RTÉ.ie via the Italian Rugby Federation's Youtube channel. 

Ireland team to play Italy at the Stadio Mario Lodigiani: N Briggs, H Tyrrell, J Murphy, J Shiels, A Miller, N Stapleton, L Muldoon, R O'Reilly, G Bourke, A Egan, M Louise Reilly, S Spence, P Fitzpatrick, C Molloy, H O'Brien. 
 
Subs: S Mimnagh, F Hayes, F O'Brien, O Fitzsimons, K Norris, T Rosser, K Fitzhenry, S Naoupu. 

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