NIAMH O’DOWD is keen for Ireland to finish their Women’s Six Nations campaign on a high.
Scott Bemand’s side face Scotland in Edinburgh this afternoon looking for a third away win on the spin.
They have already beaten Italy and Wales comfortably on their travels this year.
But the Scots will give them a different test as they prepare for this year’s World Cup.
O’Dowd said: “This weekend is a really good opportunity for us to hopefully finish the campaign with some momentum and then we’ll have a little break then.
“Last weekend, we put 40-odd points on Wales.
“And we were still like, no, there were definitely some areas where we could’ve sharpened up.
“Comparing it from years ago, there’s quite a vast difference.”
Ireland will be without No 8 Aoife Wafer today with a knee injury.
But there are starts for Aoife Corey, O’Dowd and Brittany Hogan — who deputises for Wafer.
Jane Clohessy — daughter of former men’s international Peter — has been named among the replacements.
IRELAND: Corey; Elmes Kinlan, Dalton, Breen, Costigan; O’Brien, Scuffil-McCabe; O’Dowd, Jones, Djougang; Campbell, Tuite; Wall, McMahon, Hogan.
Reps: Moloney, McGrath, Haney, Clohessy, Boles, Lane, Higgins, Flood.
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O’Dowd wants them to close out this year’s Six Nations on a real high