Coming into the tournament, Ireland had thought they would be fighting for 2021 World Cup qualification. But this pressure has been relieved after changes to the qualification process were announced.

Beating England on home turf is surely enough motivation for the hosts, though.

Ireland, ranked 10th in the world, finished third behind France and the Red Roses last year.

Adam Griggs' side suffered three defeats, losing to winners France, England and Scotland, with Ireland’s victories coming against Italy and Wales.

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Speaking of England's sevens side...

There were some unexpected visitors when they tried to send a good luck message to their 15-a-side sisters.

Emily Scarratt is one of several England players to have switched from sevens to 15-a-side and starts against Ireland after recovering from a hamstring injury.

Prop Sarah Bern returns after nearly a year out with injury, while Saracens pair Bryony Cleall and Rosie Galligan could win their first caps off the bench.

Jess Breach and Natasha Hunt, who like Scarratt switched from sevens to 15-a-side in December, are on the wing and bench respectively.

Sarah Hunter captains the team from number eight, with fellow 2014 World Cup winner Katy Daley-McLean at fly-half.

England team: McKenna; Breach, Scarratt, Heard, Smith; Daley-Mclean, Riley; Botterman, Davies, Bern, O'Donnell, P Cleall, Beckett, Packer, Hunter.

Replacements: Cokayne, B Cleall, Brown, Galligan, Burnfield, Hunt, Harrison, Scott.

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Munster's Ciara Griffin captains Ireland from number eight and is joined by Juliet Short and Claire Molloy in the back row.

Uncapped trio Linda Djougang, Anne Marie O'Hora and Ulster's Kathryn Dane could make their Ireland debuts as they are named among the replacements.

Leah Lyons is named at hooker, with Laura Feely and Fiona Reidy making up the front row.

Aoife McDermott and Nichola Fryday are named in the second row and Claire McLaughlin, the other Ulster player in the squad, is on the bench.

Lauren Delaney will play at full back while Eimear Considine and Megan Williams will be on the wings. Sene Naoupu and Michelle Claffey make up the centre partnership, with Nicole Fowley and Ailsa Hughes combining at half-back.

Ireland team: Delany; Considine, Naoupu, Claffey, Williams; Fowley, Hughes; Feely, Lyons, Reidy, McDermott, Fryday, Short, Molloy, Griffin.

Replacements: Hooban, Djougang, O’Hora, Caplice, McLaughlin, Dane, Murphy, Miller.

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First up in this year's competition, Ireland women welcome England women to Donnybrook's Energia Park.

Ireland captain Ciara Griffin described the atmosphere at the venue on match days as "lovely" earlier this week.

Not sure how lovely it will be for the visiting England players today though...

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I think we can all agree, January was a bit rubbish.

It's VERY cold, almost always dark and illnesses have been bouncing back and forth in offices across the land.

But we've all made it. It's finally February and February means one thing: the return of the Six Nations.

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