Round 2 of the Celtic Challenge will see Ireland meet Scotland and Wales, the Wolfhounds will travel to take on Edinburgh Rugby at the Hive Stadium, while the Clovers travel to the capital to meet Brython Thunder at Energia Park.
Edinburgh v Wolfhounds, Saturday 6th January, Hive Stadium, 2pm
After their impressive comeback victory over the Clovers last weekend in Musgrave Park, the Wolfhounds jet to Edinburgh for a top of the table meeting.
Edinburgh are fresh off the back of an historic opening match against the Glasgow Warriors last weekend and top the table as the only side to score a bonus point win thus far in the competition.
Hive Stadium served as the venue for the final game of last season’s Celtic Challenge with the Combined Provinces making it a clean sweep in the series as two late tries edged them past a strong Thistles side 33-26.
This meeting will be a new experience for both sides, while a lot of the Wolfhounds featured in that meeting last season, Panashe Muzambe, Natasha Logan and Alex Stewart are all that remain in the starting 15 from the meeting in February last. Poppy Fletcher and Freya Walker were held in reserve last term and will be the same this afternoon.
Change has come from last weekend’s triumph, a notable inclusion in their backs will be Emma Orr, the Scotland international missed last weekend’s fixture due to illness. Moving into the midfield to take the 13 jersey, Rachel Philipps moves to fullback where she will be joined in the back-three by Edinburgh University duo Hannah Walker and Cieron Bell, Bell made history last weekend scoring Edinburgh’s first ever try.
Orr will have Briar McNamara as the midfield partner, McNamara bagged a brace of tries and earned the player of the match accolade in the process and will be a serious threat in the Edinburgh attack. In the half-backs, captain Sarah Denholm is once again at fly-half alongside fellow Scotland international Jenny Maxwell at scrum-half.
The front-row shows two changes, with Panashe Muzambe starting at loosehead alongside Watsonian FC tighthead Molly Poolman. Saracens’ Nicola Haynes retains her starting berth at hooker. The rest of the pack is unchanged from round one, with Fiona McIntosh and Natasha Logan starting at lock.
Alex Stewart starts as vice-captain at openside flanker, alongside Corstorphine Cougars teammate Merryn Gunderson at number eight, with Hartpury University’s Gemma Bell at blindside flanker.
It will be a stern test for sure for Neil Alcorn’s side as they look to build on last weekend’s win and go unbeaten similar to the combined selection last term. More tested last time out in comparison to their hosts may give an advantage.
With backs to the walls trailing 10-0, they summoned a fighting spirit to overturn the deficit and come out 21-15 against the Clovers at Musgrave Park. On the losing front until after the hour mark, tries from Linda Djougang, Sarah Delaney and Eimear Corri made it a stunning climax to a hard fought contest on Leeside. Nikki Caughey added the important extras for all three tries as Neill Alcorn’s side recorded a five point win.
Never an easy game in any competition and this one will be the same. Edinburgh may be new on the scene but they still pack some serious pedigree and the Irish contingent will not want to be too complacent, especially with a host of players going to the wire with the thistles last year.
Alcorn has made three changes in personnel and two position switches from last week’s starters list. Ella Durkan comes into the side at 15, Natasja Behan moves from full back to number 14 as a result with Aimee Clarke moving to the opposite side this weekend to make up a new look back three.
The second change to the backline is at scrum-half, Katie Whelan replaces Erin McConnell. A third and final change in personnel will see try scorer Corri move into the second row as Keelin Brady drops out.
Aoife Dalton and Leah Tarpey continue to line out in midfield as does Dannah O’Brien at 10, Niamh Marley drops to the bench to join McConnell.
No change to the front row with Linda Djougang and Sarah Delaney who delivered important tries last weekend once again partnering Sophie Barrett. Fiona Tuite welcomed Corri to the second row as a substitute last weekend and will partner the Blackrock Lock in the engine room.
Aoife Wafer was a standout last weekend and keeps her spot in a back row comprised of the experienced pair of Hannah O’Connor and Brittany Hogan. Amongst the replacements Aoife Moore comes in for Isobel Cerk, while three of last weekend’s starters can bring plenty from the bench.
Clovers v Brython Thunder, Saturday 6th January, Energia Park, 2:30pm
Coming off the back of last weekend’s heart-breaking finish in Musgrave Park, this tie for the Clovers is very much a must win to build on for the remainder of the competition.
Defeat for both sides last weekend to kickstart the campaign and with lessons hopefully learned in the training sessions which followed, this is an important eight pointer for both.
The Clovers had a really tight contest and had to utilise their forwards heavily to get scores and try and work on their attacking game plan. Thunder were left exposed last weekend in their 20-5 defeat to Gwalia Lightning, the Clovers have gifted backs that will love space to move in Energia Park.
One change is an enforced one in the backline for the Clovers, Nicole Cronin went off injured last weekend and Ailsa Hughes is in at 9 from the off, UL Bohemian and Munster scrum-half Abbie Salter-Townshend joins the squad and is amongst the replacements.
A notable loss aside from Cronin is Dorothy Wall who does not make the match day squad, Faith Oviawe moves to the second row this weekend and coming in on the flank wearing 7 is Ivana Kiripati from Connacht. The Tuam-Oughterard player will be out to impress with her first start this weekend. Jane Neill joins the panel in a second change to the bench to offer cover in the forward line.
Aoife Corey will remain in the back three at 15 with Alana McInerney and Clare Gorman operating on the wings. Michelle O’Driscoll and Kayla Waldron continue to be the midfield partnership, while Méabh Deely will welcome the experienced Hughes to the half-backs from the off this weekend.
Beth Buttimer struck for a try last weekend operating in a strong lineout, packing down with Niamh O’Dowd and Sadhbh McGrath the front row remains unchanged. Ruth Campbell will join Oviawe in the second row looking to continue on from their dominant set piece from last weekend.
Kiripati is very much a newcomer on the international scene in the back three but will have Brinna Heylmann and Shannon Tuohey for company that offer plenty to the side. Clara Barrett remains amongst the replacements and will look to come on and continue her scoring exploits, while Kate Flannery, Lily Brady, Róisín Ormond, Eilís Cahill and Claire Bennett all offer plenty on the bench.
In both meetings with Welsh Development sides last year the contests were very much hard fought and the Thunder will come to Dublin looking to right the wrongs from their opening day defeat at Rodney Parade.
Weather certainly put a dampener on proceedings to a Welsh double header on new years day, the Thunder were second best in a physical match up against Gwalia Lightning. Only registering a sole score coming from a moment of brilliance, a quick tap-penalty by scrum-half Meg Davies caught the home side napping.
The Thunder side, similar to that of the Irish Clovers, features Wales Test stars, Wales U20s internationals and some new faces viewed as players who have the potential to play professional and international rugby for their country.
Davies featured last year in the competition but will drop to the bench this weekend, Amy Williams is another from last year’s campaign that features on the replacements, Niamh Terry starts at out-half, having previously lined out for Wales in the Women’s Six Nations brings experience to the starters.
Captain Alex Callender and Natalia John join Terry on a list of three who have previously donned the Welsh jersey during a Six Nations campaign. Rosie Carr and Katie Carr also bring experience from last year, with Charlie Mundy another who matched up against the Irish last year.
Thunder looking to cause a rumble in Energia Park make five changes from last weekend’s outing, Ellie May Tromans is selected at full back, while Mollie Wilkinson replaces Wales Test star Hannah Bluck at centre who misses the tie with an ankle injury, Seren Singleton starts at scrum half ahead of Welsh international Davies. The pack will have two changes with Katie Mackay coming in for Charlie Mundy in the second row and Shona Wakley selected at Number 8 for Sioned Harries.
Tromans will partner Danai Mugabe and Elenor Hing in the back three, while change at midfield will see Wilkinson slot in beside Meg Webb the vice captain. Terry and Singleton will make up a new look half-back line as the Thunder look to new faces to make the difference this weekend.
Chloe Thomas-Bradley will pack down with the Carr’s in the unchanged front row, the experienced Natalia John will welcome Mackay to the engine room this weekend as a replacement for Mundy, Finley Jones, Alex Callender and Wakley complete the line up.
Amy Morgan, Madi Johns, Cadi Lois Davies, Charlie Mundy, Georgia Morgan, Meg Davies, Lowri Williams and Amy Williams are all there to be called upon by head coach Ashely Beck for the contest in the capital.
Both games are available to watch for free on RugbyPass TV
Diarmuid Kearney
Diarmuid Kearney is a freelance Sports Journalist based in Co Kerry. He has more than 5 years experience covering domestic and international soccer for different media organisations, while also working for local and national print and digital organisations covering GAA.