Ireland coach Simon Broughton made six changes to the team to play England this Tuesday from the side that hammered Spain over the weekend at the FIRA Women's European Championships.

Broughton has brought six players off the bench into the team to contest the semi-finals of the Tier A section of the competition which features the top sides in Europe.

Leinster lock Geri Healy will captain Ireland for the first time as squad captain Fiona Coghlan is on the bench.

In the front row Marie Barrett and Gillian Bourke have been picked to start while Caroline Mahon and Sinead Ryan are also named in the pack.

Out wide there are also changes with Lynne Cantwell, who won her 50th cap against Spain over the weekend, named to start along with Jackie Shiels who is named at fullback.

England come into the game on the back of an 80-3 win over Sweden and they have made 11 changes to their side with a strong team named.

Ireland last played England in March in the final round of the 6 Nations where they put in a brave showing to make the grand-slam winners work hard for victory. England won 17-7 on that occasion.

Geri Healy said she honoured to lead the team out.

"It's my first time captaining Ireland and I'm thrilled and still shocked really to get the chance to do it. We are expecting a battle with England but I think they realised when we played them in March that we aren't a side who will roll-over and the gap between them and us is definitely closing. The standard has been rising all the time in Ireland and it's evident in how much improvement there has been in the national aide."

The captaincy marks a stellar year for the second-row who was part of the Blackrock team who beat UL-Bohs in the AIL Division One final a few weeks ago.

Ireland team to play England, FIRA-AER Women's European Championships Semi-Finals, Tuesday May 21, Drachten, Amsterdam

Jackie Shiels (Richmond), Jeanette Feighery (UL Bohemians), Grace Davitt (Blackrock), Shannon Houston (Blackrock), Lynne Cantwell (UL Bohemians), Jo O'Sullivan (Richmond), Tania Rosser (Blackrock), Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians), Jess Limbert (Cooke), Marie Barrett (Highfield), Caroline Mahon (UL Bohemians), Germaine Healy (Blackrock) (captain), Eimear O'Sullivan (Highfield), Sinead Ryan (Blackrock), Joy Neville (UL Bohemians)

Replacements:

Emer McManamly (Blackrock), Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians), Orla Brennan (Blackrock), Debbie Clarke (Blackrock), Louise Austin (Blackrock), Kate O'Loughlin (Clonmel), Amy Davis (Cooke), Louise Beamish (UL Bohemians), Niamh Briggs (Clonmel), Carol Staunton (St Marys), Helen Brosnan (Highfield)