Cliodhna Moloney to start as Ireland make one change for France game

Ireland Women's head coach Tom Tierney has made just one change to his side for Saturday night's Six Nations clash with France in Perpignan, with Railway Union hooker Cliodhna Moloney coming into the frontrow with Zoe Grattage moving to the bench.

Following an opening win over Wales at Donnybrook, Tierney is expecting a tough game at Stade Aimé Giral, although he believes a first win on French soil is possible.

“The French will present a very difficult test this weekend. They had an impressive win over Italy, so they’ll be coming into this game very confident.

“However we’re confident ourselves that if we look after the basics and put in a good performance we’ll put ourselves in a position to get our first win here against France.”

The game will be broadcast live on RTÉ 2 from 7.45pm, with kick-off at 8.0pm.

IRELAND (v France, Stade Aimé Giral, Perpignan, Saturday, 9pm local, 8pm Irish): Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt); Elise O'Byrne-White (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara/Leinster), Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht), Mairead Coyne (Galwegians/Connacht); Nikki Caughey (Railway Union/Ulster), Larissa Muldoon (Skewen/Exiles); Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht), Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ailís Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster); Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse), Claire Molloy (Bristol / Exiles), Heather O'Brien (Toulouse).

Replacements: Zoe Grattage (Tralee/Munster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster), Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster), Ciara Griffin (Tralee/Munster), Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht), Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exiles).