The French women secured an emphatic 53-3 win at home to Scotland last week with centre Elodie Poublan scoring five tries.

Doyle said: “We have a brand new squad this season and we capped a lot of new players last weekend.

“We have a very short turnaround time this week and we felt the need for continuity and to bed in the combinations.

“The French are a big challenge and it will be a stern test for some of the new girls but we are looking forward to playing in Ashbourne as we have been getting great support there in recent seasons.”

15 - Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)
14 - Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians/Munster)
13 - Lynne Cantwell (Richmond/Exile)
12 - Geraldine Rea (Highfield/Munster)
11 - Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemians/Munster)
10 - Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
9 - Amy Davis (Blackrock/Leinster)
1 - Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) Captain
2 - Gillian Bourke (Bristol/Munster)
3 - Lauren Day (Waterloo/Ulster)
4 - Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster)
5 - Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster)
6 - Carol Staunton (Galwegians/Connacht)
7 - Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)
8 - Joy Neville (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Replacements:

16 - Stacey Kennedy (City of Derry/Ulster)
17 - Emer McManamly (Blackrock/Leinster)
18 - Deirdre O’Brien (Blackrock/Leinster)
19 - Heather O’Brien (Highfield/Munster)
20 - Larissa Muldoon (UWIC/Exile)
21 - Gill Nolan (St. Mary’s/Leinster)
22 - Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Leinster)