South Africa get solid World Cup preview this weekend

PREVIEW: While the Springbok Women are in action against Spain, South Africa will have a nice preview of what to expect at the Wrold Cup as Italy face France in the Six Nations.

The Springbok Women will take on France and Italy at the World Cup later this year in England.

However, on Saturday, Italy welcome a rampant Les Bleus to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi in Parma for round four of the 2025 Six Nations.

All you need to know about the @WomenBoks‘ first Test of the Year! #rugby #sports #WomenInRugby #WomenInSports
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France come into this match in red-hot form, having delivered three commanding performances in this year’s Championship.

Most recently, they dispatched a dogged Wales side in Brive, taking their points tally to 107 across three matches. Gaëlle Mignot and David Ortiz’s side will be looking to maintain that momentum and secure another emphatic win in Parma, setting up a mouth-watering showdown at the Allianz.

Italy, meanwhile, have endured a mixed campaign. After suffering heavy defeats to England and Ireland in the opening rounds, the Azzurre bounced back with a spirited performance and a deserved victory over Scotland. Under new head coach Fabio Roselli, they appear to be building something promising.

Italy have lost their last four home games in the Women’s Six Nations, their joint-worst such run ever. They also lost four on the trot in 2017–18, 2009–10, and 2007–08.

With passionate home support behind them in their penultimate match of the Championship, Italy will be determined to derail the French juggernaut and cause a major upset.

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In the other fixtures, England welcome Scotland to Welford Road in Leicester for the penultimate round on Saturday.

England have played just one Six Nations match at Welford Road, beating Ireland 69-0 there in 2022. They also played a Home Nations match there against Wales in 1996, with the hosts winning 56-3 back then.

On Sunday, Wales host Ireland at Rodney Parade, Newport, in their final home fixture of the 2025 Six Nations

Ireland have won 10 of their last 13 Six Nations matches against Wales, however that includes a run of seven straight victories between 2012 and 2018. Honours are even across the last six clashes, with both sides winning three apiece.

In their most recent meeting during the 2024 Championship, Ireland delivered an authoritative performance to defeat Wales 36-5 in Cork.

All the Round Three teams and predictions below …

Saturday, April 19

Italy v France
(Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma – Kick-off: 13.00; 12.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: France by eight points

Teams

Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13. Michela Sillari, 12 Sara Mannini, 11 Alyssa D’inca, 10 Veronica Madia , 9 Alia Antoinetta Bitonci, 8 Elisa Giordano, 7 Alissa Ranuccini, 6 Beatrice Veronese, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 3 Sara Seye, 2 Vittoria Vecchin, 1 Silvia Turani
Replacements: 16 Desiree Spinelli, 17 Emanuela Stecca, 18 Gaia Maris, 19 Sara Tounesi 20 Franscesca Sgorbini, 21 Sofia Stefan, 22 Beatrice Capomaggi, 23 Beatrice Rigoni.

France: 15 Morgane Bourgeois, 14 Joanna Grisez, 13 Marine Ménager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier, 11 Emilie Boulard, 10 Caroline Arbez, 9 Pauline Bourdon-Sansus, 8 Téani Feleu, 7 Séraphine Okemba, 6 Romane Manager, 5 Madoussou Fall-Raclot, 4 Manaé Feleu, 3 Assia Khalfaoui, 2 Manon Bigot, 1 Yllana Brosseau.
Replacements: 16 Élisa Riffoneau, 17 Ambre Mwayembe, 18 Clara Joyeux, 19 Charlotte Escudero, 20 Axelle Berthoumieu, 21 Léa Champon, 22 Alexandra Chambon, 23 Lina Queyroi.

Referee: Sara Cox (England)
Assistant Referees: Maria Latos (Germany) & Zoe Naude (South Africa)
TMO: Dan Jones (England)

England v Scotland
(Welford Road Stadium, Leicester – Kick-off: 17.45; 17.45 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: England by 12 points

Teams: 

England: 15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Megan Jones, 12 Jade Shekells, 11 Claudie Macdonald, 10 Holly Aitchison, 9 Lucy Packer, 8 Maddie Feaunati, 7 Marlie Packer, 6 Zoe Aldcroft, 5 Abbie Ward, 4 Rose Galligan, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 1 Kelsey Clifford.
Replacements: 16 May Campbell, 17 Hannah Botterman, 18 Maud Muir, 19 Morwenna Talling, 20 Alex Matthews, 21 Natasha Hunt, 22 Helena Rowland, 23 Emily Scarratt.

Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Emma Orr, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Helen Nelson, 9 Caity Mattinson, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Rachel McLachlan, 6 Eve Gallagher, 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Becky Boyd, 3 Elliann Clarke, 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Anne Young.
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Leah Bartlett, 18 Molly Poolman, 19 Adelle Ferrie, 20 Gemma Bell, , 21 Rhea Clarke, 22 Rachel Philipps, 23 Lucia Scott.

Referee: Clara Munarini (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Maria Heitor (Portugal) & Amber Stamp-Dunstan (Wales)
TMO: Matteo Liperini (Italy)

Sunday, April 20

Wales v Ireland
(Rodney Parade, Newport – Kick-off: 16.00; 16.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Ireland by 10 points

Teams

Wales: TBC

Ireland: TBC

Referee: Lauren Jenner (Italy)
Assistant Referees: Aurélie Groizeleau (France) & Maria Heitor (Portyugla)
TMO: Ian Tempest (England)

Source: @Womens6Nations