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Parsons on the bench again as Ireland team unchanged v France

Beibhinn Parsons will once again play from the replacements bench
Beibhinn Parsons will once again play from the replacements bench

Ireland head coach Greg McWilliams has named an unchanged side for this Saturday's TikTok Women's Six Nations game against France in Toulouse (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

McWilliams sticks with the same starting team and replacements bench from last week's defeat to Wales at the RDS.

That means Beibhinn Parsons must be content with a place among the substitutes once again, with Lucy Mulhall and Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe starting on the wings.

Mulhall had been following the return-to-play protocols following a head injury assessment in last week's defeat, but has been declared fit to play.

Eimear Considine is once again the most experienced player at full-back, making her 25th Test appearance, while Stacey Flood and Eve Higgins continue in midfield, outside Aoibheann Reilly and Nicole Cronin in the half-backs.

Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Katie O'Dwyer retain their places in the front row, while captain Nichola Fryday and Sam Monaghan pack down behind them, with Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon and Brittany Hogan completing the side.

Christy Haney is in line to make her debut off the bench, with the tighthead prop having been an unused substitute in last week's meeting with the Welsh.

France, meanwhile, have made seven changes to the side that beat Italy 39-6.

Thomas Darracq, joint head coach, said: "We have a homogenous group of 36 players which allows us to make several alterations to the team to adapt to our opponent.

"We have also worked this week on some of the aspects that were missing on Sunday against Italy. On Saturday at the Stade Ernest Wallon, we will have to cope with the weather against a physically powerful Ireland team."


France: Émilie Boulard; Cyrielle Banet, Maëlle Filopon, Gabrielle Vernier, Mélissande Llorens; 10. Caroline Drouin, Laure Sansus; 1. Coco Lindelauf, Laure Touyé, Clara Joyeux; Madoussou Fall, Audrey Forlani; Axelle Berthomieu, Gaëlle Hermet (capt), Romane Ménager.

Replacements: Célia Domain, Annaëlle Deshayes, Assia Khalfaoui, Céline Ferer, Julie Annery, Alexandra Chambon, Jessy Trémoulière, Chloé Jacquet.

Ireland: Eimear Considine; Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood, Lucy Mulhall; Nicole Cronin, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Katie O'Dwyer, Nichola Fryday (capt), Sam Monaghan; Dorothy Wall, Edel McMahon, Brittany Hogan

Replacements: Emma Hooban, Chloe Pearse, Christy Hanley, Anna McGann, Hannah O'Connor, Kathryn Dane, Enya Breen, Beibhinn Parsons

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Watch Benetton v Connacht (Saturday 12pm), France v Ireland (Saturday 2.15pm) and Munster v Leinster (Saturday 7pm) live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player (also live on RTÉ Radio 1).

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