Six Nations: Sam Monaghan returns to captain Ireland against Scotland

Sam Monaghan has recovered from the injury which ruled her out of a recent defeat to England to take up her role as co-captain ahead of Ireland’s Six Nations finale against Scotland.

The Gloucester secondrow is one of three changes to the Ireland XV, with Enya Breen swapping once again with Aoife Dalton at centre while Méabh Deely earns her first start of the campaign at fullback. Lauren Delany drops out of the 23.

On the bench, Railway wing Katie Heffernan is in line for her international debut after impressing for the Wolfhounds in the recent Celtic Challenge.

Alongside Monaghan, Edel McMahon continues as co-captain in a backrow also featuring Brittany Hogan and Aoife Wafer. Dorothy Wall continues as Monaghan’s secondrow partner as the usual frontrow trio of Linda Djougang, Neve Jones and Christy Haney remains in situ.

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Dannah O’Brien and Aoibheann Riley once again line out as the halfbacks with Eve Higgins continuing in her outside centre role alongside Breen. Beibhinn Parsons and Katie Corrigan round out the backthree alongside Deely.

On the bench, Clíodhna Moloney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite and Shannon Ikahihifo once again provide forward cover, with Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Dalton and Heffernan acting as the backline replacements.

Ireland: Méabh Deely; Katie Corrigan, Eve Higgins, Enya Breen, Béibhinn Parsons; Dannah O’Brien, Aoibheann Riley; Linda Djougang, Neve Jones, Christy Haney; Dorothy Wall, Sam Monaghan (co-capt); Aoife Wafer, Edel McMahon (co-capt), Brittany Hogan.

Replacements: Clíodhna Moloney, Niamh O’Dowd, Sadhbh McGrath, Fiona Tuite, Shannon Ikahihifo, Molly Scuffil-McCabe, Aoife Dalton, Katie Heffernan.

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