Ireland co-captain Sam Monaghan returns for Six Nations finale as Lauren Delany is dropped

Monaghan’s return for this weekend’s game at Ravenhill in one of three changes to the team that started the 88-10 defeat to England last weekend. Full-back Lauren Delany has been dropped from the match-day squad after she started the four previous games with Méabh Deely selected at 15.

Enya Breen – who started against Italy and Wales – also returns to the team at centre with Aoife Dalton named among the replacements. The uncapped Katie Heffernan has been named on the bench with Hannah O’Connor – who started at lock for Monaghan last week – dropping out of the match-day squad.

Ireland go into the final round of games fifth in the table on six points, just behind fourth-place Italy on points difference. Scotland lie in third position on eight points after their first-ever win in Italy last weekend. Whichever team finishes third in the table will automatically qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup in England.

There’s set to be a record attendance for a Women’s Six Nations game in Ireland with 6,600 tickets already sold for Saturday’s game and this is set to break the previous mark of 6,605, which was set at the RDS for the game against Italy last month.

Scotland have made three changes to their team. Meryl Smith replaces the suspended Chloe Rollie at full-back, Coreen Grant comes in on the wing while Emma Wassell returns to the second row.

Ireland: M Deely; K Corrigan, E Higgins, E Breen, B Parsons; D O’Brien, A Reilly; L Djougang, N Jones, C Haney; D Wall, S Monaghan (co-capt); A Wafer, E McMahon (co-capt), B Hogan.

Reps: C Moloney, N O’Dowd, S McGrath, F Tuite, S Ikahihifo, M Scuffil-McCabe, A Dalton, K Heffernan

Scotland: M Smith; C Grant, E Orr, L Thomson, F McGhie; H Nelson, C Mattinson; M Wright, L Skeldon, C Belisle; E Wassell, L McMillan; R Malcolm (capt), A Stewart, E Gallagher.

Reps: E Martin, L Bartlett, E Clarke, E Donaldson, R McLachlan, M McDonald, C Bell, N Flynn