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Amee-Leigh Costigan captains Ireland as Scott Bemand makes three changes for visit of England

Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain Ireland against England
Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain Ireland against England

Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain Ireland, as Scott Bemand makes three changes to his side for Saturday's Guinness Women's Six Nations meeting with England in Cork (live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player).

All three changes are a reverse of those made ahead of the win against Italy, as Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan and Emily Lane return to the starting team.

Regular captain Edel McMahon, and centre Enya Breen both miss out due to injury.

Wall, who impressed as a replacement in the 54-12 win against Italy, replaces Ruth Campbell who drops top the bench, and she joins Fiona Tuite in the second row, providing support for the regular front row trio of Niamh O'Dowd, Linda Djougang and Neve Jones.

Hogan comes back in at blindside flanker in place of McMahon, while Aoife Wafer and Erin King complete the pack.

Lane also returns to the side at scrum-half, partnering Dannah O'Brien in the half-backs, with Aoife Dalton and Eve Higgins starting together for the third game in a row in the centre.

The back three is also unchanged, with Stacey Flood at full-back, and Anna McGann and Costigan on the wings.

The 5:3 bench split sees two players come in for their first appearance of this year's championship, with Nicole Fowley providing out-half support, and Vicky Elmes Kinlan winning her second cap, on what will be her Six Nations debut.

Meanwhile, Alex Matthews returns for England after serving a two-game ban following a red card in Gloucester-Hartpury's Premiership final win against Saracens last month.

Matthews comes in as one of three changes to the side that defeated Wales 67-12 last time out, replacing Maddie Feaunati at number 8.

Props Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman complete the changes with Muir in for Sarah Bern who drops to the bench, while Botterman takes the place of Mackenzie Carson.

A week after back-three companion Ellie Kildunne won her 50th cap, wing Abby Dow will reach the same landmark armed with a strike rate of 43 tries in 49 games.


Ireland: Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan (capt); Dannah O'Brien, Emily Lane; Niamh O'Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang; Fiona Tuite, Dorothy Wall; Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Aoife Wafer.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Christy Haney, Ruth Campbell, Grace Moore, Aoibheann Reilly, Nicole Fowley, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.

England: Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Meg Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward; Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews.

Replacements: Amy Cokayne, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Hollie Aitchison, Helena Rowland.

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Watch Leinster v Glasgow Warriors in the Investec Champions Cup on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app, and listen to live commentary on RTE Radio 1

Watch Ireland v England in the Guinness Women's Six Nations on Saturday from 4pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player. Follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app. Listen to Saturday Sport on RTÉ Radio 1

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