Reilly stays in irish team while shiels drops to the bench

Marie Louise Reilly has retained her place on the Irish team for the Women's Six Nations encounter against France at Ashbourne on Friday night, 7.30, however Jackie Shiels will start the game as a replacement. 

Both Royal County players made their contributions towards helping Ireland carve out an impressive 30-5 victory over Italy in the opening game of the campaign last Friday night.

Reilly and Shiels were also part of the Irish squad that reached the semi-final of the Women's Rugby World Cup in France last summer. 

Shiels, who works as a teacher in London, will be disappointed not to be in the starting 15 for Friday night's encounter that is sure to attract a big crowd to the Meath venue. 

With another home game against England looming in a few weeks time Shiels will be hoping to see some action against the French and impress new Irish coach Tom Tierney.

Shiels' place on the team has been taken by Katie Fitzhenry who starts as one of the centres.   

Reilly continues to produce big performances from her lock forward postion. Two years ago she was very impressive as the girls in green defeated the French at Ashbourne on the way to a Grand Slam. Can lightning strike twice?

The game will be streamed live, via the IRFU, on the RTÉ Sport website.

Ireland - Niamh Briggs (captain), Hannah Tyrrell, Jenny Murphy, Katie Fitzhenry, Alison Miller; Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon; Ruth O'Reilly, Gillian Bourke, Ailis Egan; Sophie Spence, Marie Louise Reilly; Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy, Heather O'Brien.

Replacements - Sarah Mimnagh, Fiona Hayes, Fiona O'Brien, Orla Fitzsimons, Katie Norris, Tania Rosser, Jackie Shiels, Sene Naoupu.