Coach Philip Doyle responds by making four changes to his side.

Prop Ailis Egan starts her first match of the Championship ahead of Lauren Day while Laura Guest is shunted into the back-row to accommodate the return of lock Heather O’Brien who will partner Marie Louise Reilly in the boiler room.

Larissa Muldoon gets her reward for some impressive performances off the bench with a first start of the Championship at scrum-half.

And Coghlan believes the prospect of playing the champions elect will bring out the best in her troops.

She said: "Next up in Ashbourne we face England. We know they are the clear favourites and justifiably so. We will have to play from the first whistle to the last.

"I have to admit I love playing against England, they are one of the best teams in the world and you want to measure yourself against them.”

15 - Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian - Munster)
14 - Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemian - Munster)
13 - Lynne Cantwell (Richmond - Exile)
12 - Geraldine Rea (Highfield - Munster)
11 - Mairead Kelly (UL Bohemian - Munster)
10 - Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
9 - Larissa Muldoon (UWIC - Exile)
1 - Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemian - Leinster)
2 - Gillian Bourke (Bristol - Munster)
3 - Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
4 - Heather O'Brien (Highfield - Munster)
5 - Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere - Leinster)
6 - Laura Guest (Highfield - Munster)
7 - Claire Molloy (Bristol - Connacht)
8 - Joy Neville (UL Bohemian - Munster)

Replacements:
16 - Stacey Kennedy (City of Derry - Ulster)
17 - Lauren Day (Waterloo - Ulster)
18 - Dee O'Brien (Blackrock - Leinster)
19 - Carol Staunton (Galwegians - Connacht)
20 - Amy Davis (Blackrock - Leinster)
21 - Gillian Nolan (St Marys - Leinster)
22 - Jackie Shiels (Richmond - Leinster)