McMahon starts as Bemand names Ireland side for Italy clash
Ireland's Edel McMahon and Amee-Leigh Costigan. Pic: Ben Brady/Inpho
Ireland captain Edel McMahon returns to the starting line-up for Sunday’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations clash against Italy in Parma as Scott Bemand’s side look to rebound from last Saturday’s opening-round home loss to France.
There are three changes to the team which started the 27-15 defeat in Belfast, with flanker McMahon and lock Fiona Tuite the new faces in the forward pack as Brittany Hogan and Dorothy Wall swaps places with bench roles at Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi.
Emily Lane also moves to the replacements to make way at scrum-half for Aoibheann Reilly, who returns to the number nine jersey after making her comeback off the bench last weekend at Kingspan Stadium following an ACL injury.
McMahon leads the side from blindside flanker, with Erin King at openside and No.8 Aoife Wafer completing the back row, having been named last weekend’s Guinness Women’s Six Nations Player of the Round following her double try-scoring efforts against the French.
S Flood; A McGann, A Dalton, E Higgins, A-L Costigan; D O'Brien, A Reilly; N O’Dowd, N Jones, L Djougang; R Campbell, F Tuite; E McMahon (capt), E King, A Wafer.
C Moloney, S McCarthy, C Haney, G Moore, D Wall, B Hogan, E Lane, E Breen.
