6N Women: England Approach Grand Slam
In the 25th edition of the Women’s Six Nations, England, the title-holders, look set fair for their 16th championship victory with a Grand Slam a distinct possibility.
England, who may just be the best women’s team in the world, are well clear of second-place France and this week face Wales, languishing low down on the log.
France, too, are favourites to beat Scotland.
Sadly the match between Ireland and Italy has been postponed because of the scares created by the corona virus.
Late news is the postponement of the match between Scotland and France because a Scottish player was found to have the corona virus.
Log after Round 3
1. England – 14 points
2. France – 11 point
3. Ireland – 9 points
4. Italy – 4 points
5. Wales – 1 point
6. Scotland – 1 point
Results Round 1
Ireland vs Scotland, 18-14
Italy vs Wales, 19-15
England vs France, 19-13
Results Round 2
France vs Italy, 45-10
Ireland vs Wales, 31-12
England vs Scotland, 53-0
Results, Round 3
France vs Wales, 50-0
England vs Ireland, 27-0
Italy vs Scotland, postponed.
Round 4 Matches
England vs Wales
Wales have made just two changes to the team hammered by France but England, who thumped Ireland, have several changes.
Wales have two back from injury – lock Natalia John and centre Hannah Jones.
Captain Sarah Hunter drops to the bench with her 122 caps and Emily Scarratt, capped 88 times, is the captain. Jess Breach’s injured ankle rules her out of this match and the last one as well. Sarah McKenna moves from fullback to left wing and Emil Scott comes off the bench to fullback. In Emily Scott’s place on the wing, 17-year-old Mia Venner of Hartpury comes onto the bench, the only uncapped player in the team.
Teams
England: 15 Emily Scott, 14 Lydia Thompson, 13 Emily Scarratt (captain), 12 Amber Reed, 11 Sarah McKenna, 10 Katy Daley-Mclean, 9 Leanne Riley, 8 Sarah Beckett, 7 Vicky Fleetwood, 6 Harriet Millar-Mills, 5 Zoe Aldcroft, 4 Poppy Cleall, 3 Shaunagh Brown, 2 Amy Cokayne, 1 Vickii Cornborough
Replacements: 16 Heather Kerr, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Sarah Hunter, 20 Amelia Harper, 21 Natasha Hunt, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Mia Venner
Wales: 15 Kayleigh Powell, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Caitlin Lewis, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Siwan Lillicrap (captain), 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Natalia John, 4 Georgia Evans, 3 Cerys Hale, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs
Replacements: 16 Molly Kelly, 17 Cara Hope, 18 Ruth Lewis, 19 Gwen Crabb, 20 Robyn Lock, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Hannah Bluck, 23 Lauren Smyth
Date: Saturday, 7 March 2020
Kick-off: 12.05 GMT
Venue: The Stoop, Twickenham, England
Expected weather conditions: Overcast and chilly – a high of 12° and a low of 9°
Referee: Amber McLachlan (Australia)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Beatrice Benvenuti (Italy)
Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)
Timekeeper: Bob Ockenden (England)
Assessor: Gareth Thomas (Wales)
Scotland vs France
POSTPONED
Scotland have chosen exactly the same team as the one chosen to play against Italy in the Round 3 match which was postponed.
France has made six changes to the team that thumped Wales in Round 3. Canille Boudaud comes back from injury and into inside centre, Jessy Trémoulière and Caroline Boujard change places. Camille Imart comes into flyhalf to complete the backline changes. Camille Diallo is injured, her place taken by Céline Ferer while Lénaig Corson starts at lock and Lise Arricastre at loosehead.
Teams
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Hannah Smith, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Megan Gaffney, 10 Helen Nelson, 9. Mairi McDonald, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Rachel McLachlan , 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Mairi Forsyth , 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Molly Wright, 17 Panashe Muzambe, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Siobhan Cattigan, 20 Louise McMillan, 21 Rachel Law, 22 Sarah Law,
23 Evie Tonkin
France: 15 Caroline Boujard, 14 Cyrielle Banet, 13 Coralie Bertrand, 12 Camille Boudaud, 11 Marine Ménager, 10 Camille Imart, 9 Laure Sansus, 8 Gaëlle Hermet, 7 Céline Ferer, 6 Julie Annery, 5 Safi N’Diaye, 4 Lénaig Corson, 3 Clara Joyeux, 2 Agathe Sochat, 1 Lise Arricastre
Replacements: 16 Laure Touyé, 17 Maïlys Traoré, 18 Yllana Brosseau, 19 Audrey Forlani, 20 Emeline Gros, 21 Pauline Bourdon, 22 Morgane Peyronnet, 23 Jessy Trémoulière
Date: Saturday, 7 March 2020
Kick-off: 19.45
Venue: Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow, Scotland
Expected weather conditions: Rain with a high of 11°, dropping to 5°
Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant referees: Nikki O’Donnell (England), Clare Daniels (England)
Television match official: Alan Falzone (Italy)
Ireland vs Italy at Energia Park, Donnybrook, Dublin, Ireland
Postponed
Referee: Rebecca Mahoney (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Hollie Davidson (Scotland), Francesca Martin (Wales)
Television match official: Ian Davies (Wales)
Citing commissioner: John Byett (England)
