Matthews returns as England make three changes

Guinness Women's Six Nations: Ireland v England

Venue: Virgin Media Park, Cork Date: Saturday, 12 April Kick-off: 16:45 BST

Coverage: Watch live on BBC Two, iPlayer and online, listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra and BBC Sounds, live text and video highlights on BBC Sport website and app.

England head coach John Mitchell has made three changes to his starting XV to face Ireland in Cork in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday with World Cup-winning number eight Alex Matthews returning.

Last year's World Rugby women's player of the year nominee Matthews, 31, missed the opening two rounds through suspension and is joined by captain Zoe Aldcroft and Sadia Kabeya in the back row.

Props Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman also come into the starting line-up in the pack for Mackenzie Carson, who on Monday was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with an ankle injury, and Bristol Bears' Sarah Bern.

Former captain Marlie Packer again misses out on the matchday squad, with Maddie Feaunati named on the bench after starting the opening two rounds at number eight, winning player of the match against Italy before scoring twice against Wales.

"Alex [Matthews] is aware of how well Maddie is going but she is never one to be too proud of herself," England attack coach Lou Meadows told BBC Sport.

"Alex is a very good player but knows she doesn't own the shirt and will always have to fight for it.

"She doesn't rest and is an extremely focused individual and wants to be better all the time. She wants to grow that shirt to where it can be, competition to do that is great."

Packer, 35, started England's opening Six Nations win over Italy in York after being replaced as Red Roses captain in January by Aldcroft.

However, the Saracens flanker was left out of the matchday squad that hammered Wales at Principality Stadium in round two.

Captain Aldcroft has started all three games this championship at blind-side flanker, with Saturday being her eighth start in the back row after spending the majority of her 60-cap international career at lock.

England are seeking a seventh Six Nations title in a row before a home Rugby World Cup that starts in August.

Fly-half Zoe Harrison spent the majority of last year behind Holly Aitchison, but is retained from the victory over Wales after four try assists and an assured kicking performance.

Trailfinders Women wing Abby Dow scored two tries in Cardiff - both assisted by Harrison - and starts on what will be her 50th cap alongside regular back-three members Ellie Kildunne and Jess Breach.

"Abby Dow is a phenomenal athlete but also extremely smart," Meadows added.

"She is also extremely caring which people might not see from the pitch. Although she is an extremely talented individual, it is always about the team first and she works so hard on and off the pitch for everybody.

"Her speed is her super strength but she has an incredible skill-set that she has worked on really hard, especially her kicking game. I am super proud of her."

Centres Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones started four out of five games in last year's Grand Slam-winning campaign and again line up in the midfield together.

Ireland, who shocked New Zealand at WXV1 in October, come into the game off the back of a first away win in the Women's Six Nations since 2021.

Scott Bemand's side scored four tries to thrash Italy in Parma and make amends after failing to capitalise on opportunities in an opening-round defeat by France in Belfast.

Ireland suffered a record 88-10 Six Nations defeat by England in last year's championship but head coach Bemand said earlier this week that his side are now a considerably "better team".

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Kabeya, Matthews.

Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.

Ireland: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O'Brien, Lane; O'Dowd, Jones, Djougang; Tuite, Wall; Hogan, King, Wafer.

Replacements: Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Campbell, Moore, Reilly, Fowles, Elmes Kinlan.