Head coach Adam Griggs has called for more from Ireland after naming an unchanged starting XV for his side’s crunch Women’s Six Nations game against France at Energia Park on Saturday.
The decision to retain the full starting line-up comes after a hugely impressive 45-0 win over Wales, in which Eimear Considine and Women’s Six Nations Player of Round 2 Beibhinn Parsons both scored a brace of tries.
And both will be key to Irish hopes of reaching a showdown with England in the final, with Considine and Parsons retained at full-back and wing respectively.
Lauren Delany lines up on the opposite flank with Sene Naoupu and Eve Higgins in the Ireland midfield – the former having dotted her herself in the victory last weekend.
Scrum-half Kathryn Dane continues her blossoming half-back partnership with Hannah Tyrrell, while Ciara Griffin once again captains the side from the back row.
She is joined there by Dorothy Wall and Claire Molloy, with a front row of Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney and Linda Djougang looking to provide strength at the scrum for the second successive week, while Aoife McDermott and Nichola Fryday complete the pack.
Elsewhere, Ireland Sevens international Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe, who has scored 98 tries in just 131 World Series matches, could make her debut off the bench.
Hooker Emma Hooban also comes into the 23 in the second change to the squad from the victory over Wales in Cardiff.
“We were happy with the result against Wales,” Griggs said.
“We set ourselves a goal of starting this competition off with a win so to achieve that in the manner we did was pleasing.
“Once we analysed the game and reviewed areas we know we can improve on, we turned our attention to this weekend’s game quickly.
“We know France will be another step up in terms of intensity and physicality and have quality players across the park. We have spoken a lot in this group about testing ourselves against world-class opposition.
“Ultimately, we have to stay focused on improving our own game with each performance, so to play the fourth-ranked team in the world will give us a great indication of where we are currently at.”
Ireland team to play France
15. Eimear Considine (Munster) 14. Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks) 13. Eve Higgins (Leinster) 12. Sene Naoupu (Leinster) 11. Beibhinn Parsons (Connacht) 10. Hannah Tyrrell (Leinster) 9. Kathryn Dane (Ulster) 1. Lindsay Peat (Leinster) 2. Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps) 3. Linda Djougang (Leinster) 4. Aoife McDermott (Leinster) 5. Nichola Fryday (Connacht) 6. Dorothy Wall (Munster) 7. Claire Molloy (Wasps) 8. Ciara Griffin (captain) (Munster)
Replacements
16. Emma Hooban (Leinster) 17. Katie O’Dwyer (Leinster) 18. Laura Feely (Connacht) 19. Brittany Hogan (Ulster) 20. Hannah O’Connor (Leinster) 21. Emily Lane (Munster) 22. Stacey Flood (Leinster) 23. Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe (Munster)
