Preview: Women's 6N, Round 3
England, like France, have two wins but Ireland, the reigning champions, are not out of the picture if they get a little help from their friends. If they knocked England over they would still have some hope. Lose, and Ireland's hope of retaining their title would be forlorn.
It could be a great occasion for the women – at Twickenham – the real Twickenham – just after the men's match. It is expected to be close to freezing by then but the excitement will doubtless be a good heater.
France on the other hand would expect to beat Wales, even in Wales. They play at The Gnoll in Neath and Italy meet Scotland in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon in Bologna.
Round 1 Results
Ireland vs Wales, 21-3.
England vs Scotland, 32-0
France vs Italy, 39-0
Round 2 Results
France vs Ireland, 18-6
England vs Italy, 33-24
Wales vs Scotland, 23-10
England vs Ireland
England have made just one change as 60-times capped Emma Croker comes off the bench to hook for the starting team and Amy Cokayne drops to the bench. Tamara Taylor comes onto the bench. If she gets into the match she will earn her 89th cap.
Ireland have two changes to the starting XV. One is the return of experienced flyhalf Nora Stapleton for her first start in this year's Six Nations. The other is a second cap, first start to flank Ciara Griffin as Heather O'Brien drops to the bench. In addition prop Fiona Hayes comes onto the bench.
Teams
England: 15 Katie Mason, 14 Ruth Laybourn, 13 Lauren Cattell, 12 Ceri Large, 11 Lotte Clapp, 10 Amber Reed, 9 La Toya Mason, 8 Sarah Hunter, 7 Izzy Noel-Smith, 6 Harriet Millar-Mills, 5 Emily Braund, 4 Abbie Scott, 3 Vickii Cornborough, 2 Emma Croker, 1 Rochelle Clark
Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Heather Kerr, 18 Bee Dawson, 19 Tamara Taylor, 20 Poppy Leitch, 21 Bianca Blackburn, 22 Ruth Laybourn, 23 Leanne Riley
Ireland: 15 Niamh Briggs (captain), 14 Elise O'Byrne White, 13 Aine Donnelly, 12 Sene Naoupu, 11 Mairead Coyne, 10 Nora Stapleton, 9 Larissa Muldoon, 8 Paula Fitzpatrick, 7 Claire Molloy, 6 Ciara Griffin, 5 Sophie Spence, 4 Marie Louise Reilly, 3 Ailis Egan, 2 Cliodhna Moloney, 1 Ruth O'Reilly.
Replacements: 16 Zoe Grattage, 17 Fiona Hayes, 18 Fiona Reidy, 19 Ciara Cooney, 20 Heather O'Brien, 21 Mary Healy, 22 Nikki Caughey, 23 Jackie Shiels
Date: Saturday, 28 February 2016
Kick-off: 19.15
Venue: Twickenham
Referee: Alhambra Nievas (Spain)
Assessor: Robert Davies (Wales)
Wales vs France
Pleased with the performance against Ireland, France have made no changes for this important match in West Wales. Expecting a tough battle up front. Wales have bolstered their pack with the return of Catrin Edwards, Shona Powell-Hughes and Rachel Taylor. In addition coach Rhys Edwards has picked a forward dominated bench – six forwards to two backs.
The only change in the backs is that Bethan Dainton and Adi Taviner swap places.
Teams
Wales: 15 Dyddgu Hywel, 14 Bethan Dainton, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Robyn Wilkins, 11 Elen Evans, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Sioned Harries, 7 Sian Williams, 6 Rachel Taylor (captain), 5 Rebecca Rowe, 4 Shona Powell-Hughes, 3 Megan York, 2 Carys Phillips, 1 Catrin Edwards.
Replacements: 16 Amy Price, 17 Cerys Hale, 18 Amy Evans, 19 Siwan Lillicrap, 20 Alisha Butchers, 21 Jenny Hawkins, 22 Kerin Lake, 23 Adi Taviner
France: 15 Julie Billes, 14 Caroline Boujard, 13 Lucille Godiveau, 12 Elodie Poublan, 11 Laura Delas, 10 Audrey Abadie, 9 Yanna Rivoalen, 8 Safi N’Diaye, 7 Pauline Rayssac, 6 Laetitia Grand, 5 Audrey Forlani, 4 Celine Ferer, 3 Julie Duval, 2 Gaëlle Mignot (captain), 1 Lise Arricastre
Replacements: 16 Agathe Sochat, 17 Arkya Ait lahbib, 18 Romane Menager, 19 Julie (Annery, 20 Laure Sansus, 21 Camille Imart, 22 Bertrand, 23 Patricia Carricaburu
Date: Sunday, 28 February 2016, kick-off
Kick-off: 14.00
Venue: The Gnoll, Neath
Referee: Rose LaBrèche (Canada)
Assessor: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
Italy vs Scotland
Scotland have changed two, one forced. Wing Lauren Harris is injured and replaced by newcomer Elidh Sinclair while Jennifer Maxwell will start at scrumhalf.
Italy, too, have changed two with the return of Maria Magatti to the right win in the place of Michela Sillari and Michela Este's promotion from the bench in the place of Ilaria Arrigheti who is on the bench.
Teams
Italy: 15 Manuela Furlan, 14 Maria Magatti , 13 Maria Grazia Cioffi, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Sofia Stefan, 10 Veronica Schiavon, 9 Sara Barattin (captain), 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Isabella Locatelli, 6 Michela Este, 5 Alice Trevisan, 4 Elisa Pillotti, 3 Melissa Bettoni, 2 Lucia Cammarano, 1 Elisa Cucchiella
Replacements: 16 Lucia Gai, 17 Gaia Giacomolli, 18 Diletta Nicoletti, 19 Valentina Ruzza, 20 Ilaria Arrigheti, 21 Silvia Folli (s), 22 Paola Zangirolami, 23 Veronica Madia
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Eilidh Sinclair, 13 Megan Gaffney, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Rhona Lloyd, 10 Lisa Martin (captain), 9 Jennifer Maxwell, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Karen Dunbar, 6 Jemma Forsyth, 5 Deborah McCormack, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Lindsey Smith, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Tracy Balmer
Replacements: 16 Sarah Quick, 17 Debbie Falconer, 18 Heather Lockhart, 19 Fiona Sim, 20 Anna Stodter, 21 Sarah Law, 22 Claire Bain, 23 Abigail Evans
Date: Sunday, 28 February 2016
Kick-off: 14.30
Venue: Stadio Arcoveggio, Bologna
Referee: Marie Lematte (France)
Assistant referees: Maria Beatrice (Italy), Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assessor: Kat Todd (USA)
