Ireland will start as favourites to register their first win of the 2024 Six Nations campaign against Italy at the RDS on Sunday afternoon (3pm, RTÉ 2).
Gloucester-Hartpury based Sam Monaghan returns to captain the side from the second-row following missing out last Saturday due to serving out her concussion protocols.
"Sam coming back in gives up a set-rock, more solidity there, she is a massive player for us both in leadership and at the line," says coach Scott Bemand.
"She has been working really hard and you can see the confidence the girls have in having her around the squad."
Dannah O’Brien comes in at out-half, having played the second-half last week in France.
"Dannah is a real talent, she is young but has had some good experiences. I would call her a game playing out-half, good at manipulating defences and hopefully she can put up a show.
Enya Breen makes her return to international action for the first time since picking up an injury in last year’s opening round of the Championship against Wales and partners Eve Higgins in the centre.
"Enya is a good triple-threat, carry, pass, kick, and is pretty key to getting our launches going, getting us into the game, she has a good kicking game too and that is really important."
Italy were poor last week, losing, unable to make any impact on England despite the Red Roses having a player sent off in the first quarter.
"We do not want to be frightened of going after wins, this is our first opportunity to win, it comes with pressure to win and we welcome that, we embrace that, we want to work towards that."
Ireland are on course for a record crowd, surpassing the one set in 2022, the last time the Irish women’s national team played in the RDS.
"We want to give something for people to shout about and get behind and we think there will some good performances emerging. Come on down and get behind it, come on down and be heard!"
Ireland Team (v Italy, Sunday 31 March, in RDS, kick off 3pm, RTE2): Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks); Katie Corrigan (Old Belvedere), Eve Higgins (Railway U), Enya Breen (Blackrock), Béibhinn Parsons (Blackrock College); Dannah O’Brien (Old Belvedere); Aoibheann Reilly (Blackrock); Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere), Neve Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Christy Haney (Blackrock), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock), Sam Monaghan (Gloucester-Hartpury) capt, Grace Moore (Saracens), Aoife Wafer (Blackrock), Brittany Hogan (Old Belvedere)
Subs; Sarah Delaney (Blackrock), Niamh O’Dowd (Old Belvedere), Sadhbh McGrath (Cooke), Fiona Tuite (Old Belvedere), Eimear Corri (Blackrock), Molly Scuffil-McCabe (Leinster), Nicole Fowley (Galwegians), Aoife Dalton (Old Belvedere)
*Stevie Mulrooney, who went viral recently with his performance of Ireland’s Call at the men’s international in Aviva will be singing the rugby anthem again before kick-off.
**Tickets available on the day, from the ticket office, inside Gate D on the Anglesea Road.
**Family tickets €50, family friendly activities taking place on the day, with gates opening from 1.30pm.
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