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Sam Monaghan missing as Ireland bring in Hannah O'Connor and Aoife Dalton for England test

Sam Monaghan has not recovered from the win over Wales
Sam Monaghan has not recovered from the win over Wales

Ireland have made two changes to their side to take on England with Hannah O'Connor and Aoife Dalton starting.

Co-captain Sam Monaghan makes way for O’Connor in the second row, while Dalton replaces Enya Breen, who drops to the bench, in the centre.

Scott Bemand's side earned their first win of the campaign last weekend with a 36-5 victory over Wales in Cork.

"She's just taking longer to recover from the effort she put in," defence coach Declan Danagher said of the decision not to play Monaghan, one of Ireland's most experienced players.

"It’s risk and reward. Probably due to the period she’d been out coming into the Six Nations, things like that, the physical and mental effort it takes to run a lineout.

"The medical team do an amazing job here but she’s just not hitting her markers to give us the opportunity to play her.

"She's taken it in her stride, she’s desperate to play but she’s prepared the team brilliantly today."

A crowd of over 40,000 is expected at Twickenham for the Guinness Women’s Six Nations round-four fixture (2.15pm).

The front row remains the same with Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney.

Dorothy Wall partners O’Connor in the second row while the back row remains unchanged, with flankers Aoife Wafer and captain Edel McMahon while Brittany Hogan is again named at number 8.

Aoibheann Reilly and Dannah O’Brien make up the half-back pairing.

England top the table with three wins from three

Dalton joins Eve Higgins to make up the centre partnership and the back three remains unchanged with Béibhinn Parsons, Katie Corrigan and Lauren Delany all set to start.

Newly-capped Shannon Ikahihifo, Clíodhna Moloney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath and Fiona Tuite are the forward replacements.

Méabh Deely is named alongside Molly Scuffil-McCabe and Enya Breen to cover the backline.

"We get another chance to perform as a group, in a great stadium with a big crowd," said Bemand.

"We are building some momentum in training and games. This is the kind of test we want, against the best out there. We want these occasions to be the norm and our players are excited by the opportunity in front of them.

"Judging by training intent and competition for selection, the players are ready.

"Hopefully we’ll see a wave of green around the stadium that will continue to get behind our group, each and every opportunity they have."

England, meanwhile, also make two changes to their side with captain Marlie Packer restored at flanker with Zoe Aldcroft going to the second row. Lark Atkin-Davies returns at hooker.

Ireland: Lauren Delany; Katie Corrigan, Eve Higgins, Aoife Dalton, Béibhinn Parsons; Dannah O'Brien, Aoibheann Reilly; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Dorothy Wall, Hannah O’Connor; Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon (capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Shannon Ikahihifo, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Enya Breen, Méabh Deely.

England: Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Holly Aitchison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir; Zoe Aldcroft, Rosie Galligan; Sadia Kabeya, Marlie Packer (capt), Alex Matthews.

Replacements: Connie Powell, Mackenzie Carson, Kelsey Clifford, Morwenna Talling, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Emily Scarratt, Sydney Gregson.

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Watch a URC double-header, Emirates Lions v Leinster and Vodacom Bulls v Munster, on Saturday from 1.30pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

Follow a live blog on England v Ireland in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday from 2.15pm. Listen to updates on Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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