Six Nations Women, Round Five - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: England looks to make history with their 14th Grand Slam and 16th title since 2002, while France hopes to spoil the party at Twickenham.

England are the defending champions and have undeniably been the strongest team in the competition’s history to date, winning 14 of the past 23 Women’s Six Nations editions (since 2002).

England holds a significant advantage in recent meetings, having won the last six Championship clashes between the two sides. One more victory would equal their longest-ever winning run against them in the tournament (seven from 2006–2012).

France’s last victory over England in the tournament came in 2018, a narrow 18–17 win in Grenoble.

The Red Roses enter the final round in formidable form, having extended their Six Nations winning streak to 33 matches with a commanding 59–7 victory over Scotland.

Under head coach John Mitchell, England have displayed depth and versatility, with standout performances from players such as Claudia MacDonald, who earned Player of the Match honours against Scotland.

England’s dominance is further reflected in their tournament statistics: 213 points scored and just 29 conceded across four matches, with 33 tries recorded.

Introducing the 11 #RedRoses who have been nominated for the #GuinnessW6N Team of the Championship 👏

🗳️ You know what to do: https://t.co/nSwkxxvu4y pic.twitter.com/EawelxlwWS

— Red Roses (@RedRosesRugby) April 22, 2025

England head coach John Mitchell has named an experienced matchday 23 to take on France in the Grand Slam.

Zoe Aldcroft will once again captain the Red Roses from blindside flanker, leading a starting XV packed with experience and firepower for what promises to be an epic finale in Twickenham.

Natasha Hunt and Zoe Harrison are named as the half-back pair, combining for 135 caps between them, with Harrison returning to the starting XV, replacing Holly Aitchison, who has been moved to the bench.

In midfield, Tatyana Heard and Megan Jones link up in a powerful centre pairing, while Emma Sing gets the nod at full-back, replacing the injured 2024 Player of the Championship, Ellie Kildunne. She joins the electric wings Abby Dow and Claudia MacDonald, who both picked up a brace of tries against Scotland in round four, in a dangerous back three.

Les Bleues have also maintained an unbeaten record in the tournament, most recently defeating Italy 34–21 to set up this Grand Slam decider. France has combined a potent attacking game with solid defensive organisation as they look to reclaim the title they last held in 2018.

France has made two changes to their forward pack for Saturday’s Grand Slam showdown against England, following the withdrawals of Romane Ménager and Séraphine Okemba.

There’s a potential debut on the cards for 20-year-old Taïna Maka, who has been drafted into the squad following the injuries to Ménager and Okemba. Comfortable at both lock and flanker, Maka could make her first international appearance if called upon.

Léa Champon will earn her first start of the 2025 Six Nations at openside flanker, while Charlotte Escudero returns to the blindside having made way for Ménager against Italy. It will be just the second Test start of Champon’s international career, her first coming against Australia in October 2023.

*Buoyed by last weekend’s victory over Wales in Newport, Ireland head to Edinburgh for Round Five looking to sign off their campaign with a third away win.

Bemand has handed opportunities to two uncapped players, with Munster duo Aoife Corey and Jane Clohessy both included in the matchday 23. Corey is set to make her debut from the start at fullback. Clohessy, daughter of former Ireland international Peter Clohessy, is named among the replacements and could earn her first cap from the bench.

Corey is joined in the back three by Amee-Leigh Costigan and Vicky Elmes Kinlan, the latter earning her first Championship start after impressive cameos against England and Wales.

The midfield remains unchanged, with Enya Breen and Aoife Dalton continuing their partnership in the centres. Dannah O’Brien and Molly Scuffil-McCabe are once again entrusted with steering the ship from flyhalf and scrumhalf, respectively.

In the forwards, Niamh O’Dowd returns from injury to start in the front row alongside Neve Jones and Linda Djougang. Ruth Campbell and Fiona Tuite form the second-row pairing, while Dorothy Wall shifts to blindside flanker in a back row completed by captain Sam Monaghan and number eight Brittany Hogan.

Ireland’s bench includes Cliodhna Moloney, Sadhbh McGrath, Christy Haney, the uncapped Clohessy, and Claire Boles covering the forwards. Emily Lane, Eve Higgins, and Stacey Flood provide the backline reinforcements.

Injury has ruled out Aoife Wafer for selection this week, after the back row sustained a knee injury in last weekend’s win at Rodney Parade.

Scotland Women head coach Bryan Easson has made three changes to his starting XV for this Saturday’s clash with Ireland.

Leia Brebner-Holden and Rachel Malcolm return to the line-up after missing last weekend’s game against England due to concussion.

In the front row, Leah Bartlett is promoted to starting loosehead, linking up with Lana Skeldon at hooker and Elliann Clarke at tighthead. A reshuffle in the pack sees Jade Konkel move into the second row to partner the consistently impressive Sarah Bonar, while Malcolm slots back into her usual position on the blindside flank.

Rachel McLachlan continues at openside, with Evie Gallagher shifting to number eight to complete a dynamic and well-balanced back row.

The backline sees just one change, with Brebner-Holden returning at scrum-half. Helen Nelson remains at flyhalf, while Lisa Thomson and Emma Orr once again combine in midfield. The back three remains unchanged, featuring Rhona Lloyd and Francesca McGhie on the wings and Chloe Rollie at fullback.

*Italy will welcome Wales to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma for a rearranged Sunday finale of the Six Nations.

This will be a crucial match for Wales as they look to claim their first win of this year’s Championship and avoid the dreaded Wooden Spoon for a second consecutive year.

Italy and Wales have developed a competitive rivalry in the Women’s Six Nations.

In their last three encounters, Wales have secured two victories, including a dramatic 22–20 win in Cardiff in 2024, where Sisilia Tuipulotu’s late try and Lleucu George’s conversion clinched the match.

Wales’ last trip to Italy saw them claim a 36-10 win in round five in 2023 – their biggest home or away win (26 points) in the Championship.

All the Round Five teams and predictions below…

Saturday, April 26

Teams

Scotland v Ireland
(Edinburgh Stadium, Edinburgh, – Kick-off: 15.30, 14.15 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365: Ireland by 12 points

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Leia Brebner-Holden, 8 Evie Gallagher, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Jade Konkel, 3 Elliann Clarke, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Anne Young, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Becky Boyd, 20 Gemma Bell, 21 Rhea Clarke, 22 Evie Wills, 23 Lucia Scott

Ireland: 15 Aoife Corey, 14 Vicky Elmes Kinlan, 13 Aoife Dalton, 12 Enya Breen,
11 Amee-Leigh Costigan, 10 Dannah O’Brien, 9 Molly Scuffil-McCabe, 8 Brittany Hogan, 7 Edel McMahon, 6 Dorothy Wall, 5 Fiona Tuite, 4 Ruth Campbell, 3 Linda Djougang, 2 Neve Jones, 1 Niamh O’Dowd
Replacements: 16 Cliodhna Moloney, 17 Sadhbh McGrath, 18 Christy Haney, 19 Jane Clohessy, 20 Claire Boles, 21 Emily Lane, 22 Eve Higgins, 23 Stacey Flood

Referee: Natarsha Ganley (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Holly Wood (England), Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)

England v France
(Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham – Kick-off: 17.45; 18.45 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365: England by 14 points

England: 15 Emma Sing, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Tatyana Heard,
11 Claudia MacDonald, 10 Zoe Harrison, 9 Natasha Hunt, 8 Alex Matthews, 7 Maddie Feaunati, 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Morwenna Talling, 3 Maud Muir, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 1 Hannah Botterman
Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Kelsey Clifford, 18 Sarah Bern, 19 Rosie Galligan, 20 Abi Burton, 21 Lucy Packer, 22 Holly Aitchison, 23 Helena Rowland

France: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Joanna Grisez, GRISEZ, 13 Marine Menager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Kelly Arbey, 10 Carla Arbez, 9 Pauline bourdon Sansus, 8 Téani Feleu, 7 Léa Champon, 6 Charlotte Escudero, 5 Madoussou Fall-Raclot, 4 Manae Feleu, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 2 Manon Bigot,1 Yllana Brosseau
Replacements: 16 Élisa Riffonneau, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Rose Bernadou, 19 Kiara Zago, 20 Axelle Berthoumieu, 21 Taïna Maka, 22 Alexandra Champion, 23 Lina Queyroi

Referee: Maggie Cogger-Orr (New Zealand)
Assistant Referees: Lauren Jenner (New Zealand), Maria Heitor (Portugal)
TMO: Quinton Immelman (South Africa)

Sunday, April 27

Italy v Wales
(Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 12.30; 11.30 Wales time, 13.30 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365: Italy by seven points

Teams

Italy: TBC

Wales: TBC

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Maria Latos (Germany), Maria Latos (France)
TMO: Andrew McMenemy (Scotland)

Source: @SixNationsRugby