Six Nations: Round 3 News

"La reine du placage" is back

Fixtures, results and match reports

IRELAND V ENGLAND (Friday, Ashbourne, 7.30)(Streamed live on IrishRugby.ie)

This promises to be a fascinating battle between two sides with plenty to prove to each other. On the one hand, Ireland are fuelled with the highest of motivations given their last game against England saw them dealt a pretty thorough once-over with England cruising through the World Cup semi-final in probably their best game of 2014.  Ireland won't have forgotten, even if the teams lining out this weekend look vastly different.

On the other hand England's defeat in Ashbourne still bears scars for the players who were involved in 2013 as Hannah Gallagher pointed out to usthis week.A loss would pretty much end a title charge for either side so this game will be well worth a watch.

England have made three changes to their side but the key story for their selection is the reinstatement of Katy Mclean as captain, who stays in the number 10 shirt, despite the looming third round of the World Sevens Series.

Ireland for their part make just one change to the team that lost out 5-10 to their French counterparts. Hannah Tyrrell, who missed out on the French game with concussion has completed the return to play protocols and will start on the wing. She is joined by Alison Miller on the opposite wing with the captain, Niamh Briggs, completing the back three.

ENGLAND:15 Lauren Cattell (Saracens); 14 Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 13 Abigail Brown (Bristol); 12 Ceri Large (Worcester); 11 Sydney Gregson (Bristol); 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) C; 9 Bianca Blackburn (Worcester); 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester); 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Saracens); 3 Laura Keates (Worcester); 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) VC; 5 Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond); 7 Hannah Gallagher ( Saracens); 8 Harriet Millar-Mills (Waterloo)Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield); 17 Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 18 Justine Lucas (Lichfield); 19 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond); 20 Hannah Field (Richmond); 21 Fiona Davidson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 22 Megan Goddard (Worcester); 23 Amber Reed (Bristol)

IRELAND:15 - Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/ Munster) (Capt); 14 - Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 13 - Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 12 - Katie Fitzhenry (Blackrock/ Leinster); 11 - Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht); 10 - Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 9 - Larissa Muldoon (Skewen RFC) ;1 - Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/ Connacht); 2 - Gillian Bourke (Olympico de Pozuelo RFC); 3 - Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 4 - Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 5 -Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 6 - Paula Fitzpatrick (St Marys/ Leinster); 7 - Claire Molloy (Bristol/ Connacht); 8 - Heather O'Brien (Highfield/ Munster)Replacements:16 - Sarah Mimnagh (Wasps/Exiles); 17 - Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemian/ Munster); 18 - Fiona O'Brien (Old Belvedere/ Leinster); 19 - Orla Fitzsimons (St Marys/ Leinster); 20 - Katie Norris (Blackrock / Leinster); 21 - Tania Rosser (Blackrock/ Leinster); 22 - Jackie Shiels (Richmond/ Exiles); 23 - Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht)

FRANCE V WALES (Friday, Stade de Sapiac, Montauban, 7.55 GMT, 8.55 CET)(Broadcast live in France by France4. Also available online atwww.france4.fr/direct. Viewers outside France may need to use a VPN)

The two remaining unbeaten teams go head-to-head, though even a win will no guarantee the title as France must still travel to England, while Wales also have to face Ireland. France make four changes to the team that travelled to Ireland, whereas Wales make just two.

On St David's Day back in 2009 Wales' last bid for a Grand Slam, following on from a win against England, came to grief in France (27-5) and, despite their huge improvement in the past year, its hard to not see a repeat result. Wales have not scored a point in the Six Nations in France since that 2009 game, and they also lost to the French 26-0 in the World Cup.

That said, this is not the French team of last August, and the result should be far closer than any game since 2008, when Wales last beat France (3-0 in Taff's Well). While the French pack remains as powerful as ever - as Ireland discovered - the backs, talented though they may be, betrayed a degree of naivety at Ashbourne.

WithManon André suspendedclubmate Audrey Forlani comes into the team, while prop Elodie Portaries (who did not seem fully fit for the Ireland game) is replaced by Patricia Carriccaburu, from Lons. The two back changes are rather more interesting as centre Cécilia Saubusse and wing Laura Delas are replaced by "la reine du placage" ("queen of the tackle") Marjorie Mayans, and Lille wing (and our international young player of 2014) Sha'nnon Izar.

The inclusion of these two sevens squad players is interesting as France's main target undoubtedly remains the Olympic qualification, but with two WSWS fourth places under their belts they have clearly relaxed their original division between the two formats. Even so, Mayans' starting place on the bench hints at her inclusion being held in reserve in case the first choice back line fails to deliver (as the lynchpin of the sevens team it is understandable if the coaches wish to limit her playing time).

Cardiff Blues teenager Robyn Wilkins earns her first start of the Six Nations campaign as one of two changes for Wales.The midfielder replaces Gemma Rowland who moves down to the replacements bench while Shona Powell Hughes returns at No 8 which means a reshuffle in the pack.Captain Rachel Taylor moves back to the second row with Jenny Hawkins joining Rowland on the bench with Sioned Harries switching from No 8 to the flank to accommodate Powell-Hughes’ return. Expecting a stern battle against the championship contenders, Wales head coach Rhys Edwards has stacked the replacements bench with five forwards and just three backs.

FRANCE:15: Jessy Tremoulière (Romagnat), 14 Sha'nnon Izar (Lille), 13 Elodie Poublan (Montpellier), 12 Céline Héguy (Bayonne), 11 Julie Billes (Perpignan),  10 Camille Cabalou (Bayonne), 9 Yanna Rivoalen (Lille), 8 Safi N’Diaye (Montpellier), 7 Laëtitia Grand (Lons), 6 Coumba Tombe Diallo (Stade Bordelais), 5 Céline Ferer (Bayonne),  4 Marine De Nadaï (Montpellier), 3 Christelle Chobet (Perpignan), 2 Gaëlle Mignot (cap) (Montpellier), 1 Lise Arricastre (Lons)Replacements: 16 Wendy Divoux (Perpignan), 17 Julie Duval (Caen), 18 Audrey Forlani (BSORF), 19 Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier), 20 Marjorie Mayans (BSORF), 21 Carla Neissen (BSORF), 22 Caroline Boujard (Perpignan), 23 Patricia Carricaburu (Lons)

WALES:15 Dyddgu Hywell (Pontyclun/Scarlets), 14 Elen Evans (Waterloo/Scarlets), 13 Adi Taviner (Skewen/Ospreys), 12 Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North/Blues), 11 Laurie Harries (Llandaff North/Blues), 10 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons) 9 Amy Day (Llandaff North/Dragons);, 1 Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies/Scarlets), 2 Carys Phillips (Skewen/Ospreys), 3 Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North/Scarlets), 4 Rebecca Rowe (London Welsh/Dragons), 5 Rachel Taylor (Bristol Ladies/Dragons) 6 Sian Williams (Worcester/Dragons), 7 Sioned Harries (Whitland/Scarlets), 8 Shona Powell Hughes (Skewen/Ospreys)Replacements:16 Amy Lawrence (Skewen/Ospreys) 17 Jenny Davies (Caernarfon/Blues) 18 Amy Evans (Skewen/Ospreys) 19 Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North/Blues) 20 Melissa Clay (Pencoed/Ospreys) 21 Keira Bevan (Skewen/Ospreys) 22 Gemma Rowland (Wasps/Dragons) 23 Kerin Lake (Skewen/Ospreys)

SCOTLAND V ITALY (Sunday, Broadwood Stadium, 1pm)No streaming or live broadcasts planned

Sunday's game in Cumbernauld carries far more importance than being just a likely Wooden Spoon decider. With Italy and Scotland the most likely teams to be competing for the fifth and final Six Nations place in the 2017 World Cup, this (and next year's) game between the two sides is probably the most important fixture of the season for both teams.

Scotland head coach Jules Maxton has made five changes to the starting line-up XV from the team that started well against Wales in round two, before fading in the second half. In the backs sees scrum half Sarah Law is moved up from the bench, but the bulk of the changes are in the pack. Prop Lisa Robertson, lock Christianne Fahey and blindside Rachael Cook all move from the bench to the starting lineup, with Karen Dunbar switching from the number 6 jersey to openside. The one change to the overall squad sees young prop Katie Dougan come invited to step up from the under-20s team following their comprehensive win over the RAF on 15 February.

Looking back on round two, Maxton said: “We were really disappointed with the result against Wales two weeks ago, given that we were within three points going into the final 20 minutes, and will be looking to put in a much more sustained performance this weekend. I feel we have been improving, as a squad, but let ourselves down last time out. The scoreline didn’t reflect the good work done earlier in the match, when I felt we were well in contention."

As for the Italians, "We played them earlier in the season, in a capped friendly, and although they edged the win we’ll be looking to build on that performance this weekend. It will be great to be back at Broadwood Stadium, our base for these three home fixtures, and we’re looking forward to a big, vocal crowd cheering on the team.”

There are two changes to the Italian squad from the team that played against England in round two. Nineteen year-old centreFederica Cipolla is due to make her second appearence, and experienced prop Lucia Gai also joins the squad, replacing Maria Diletta Veronese and Irene Campanini respectively who both started on the bench last weekend.In Italy's last seven tests their two victories have both been achieved against Scotland: 45-5in round 3 last season and 27-3 in a friendly in Avezzano last November.

Scotland

15 Chloe Rollie (Melrose); 14 Hannah Sloan (Stewarty); 13 Hannah Smith Hillhead (Jordanhill); 12 Nuala Deans (WASPS); 11 Abi Evans (Northumbria University); 10 Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers); 9 Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers); 1 Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers); 2 Lana Skeldon (Melrose); 3 Tracy Balmer (Worcester); 4 Christianne Fahey (Murrayfield Wanderers); 5 Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers); 6 Rachael Cook (Murrayfield Wanderers); 7 Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars); 8 Jade Konkel (Hillhead JordanhillSubstitutes: 16 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill); 17 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill); 18 Katie Dougan (RHC Cougars); 19 Deborah McCormack (Richmond); 20 Lyndsay O’ Donnell (Worcester); 21 Mhairi Grieve (RHC Cougars); 22 Claire Bain (RHC Cougars); 23 Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers);

Italy

15 Manuela FURLAN (Benetton Treviso, 43 caps); 14 Maria Grazia CIOFFI (Rugby Benevento, 36 caps); 13 Michela SILLARI (HBS Colorno, 22 caps); 12 Beatrice RIGONI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 8 caps); 11 Maria MAGATTI (ASR Monza 1949, 7 caps); 10 Veronica SCHIAVON (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 72 caps); 9 Sara BARATTIN (Rugby Casale, 59 caps); 8 Silvia GAUDINO (ASR Monza 1949, 63 caps) – capitano; 7 Elisa GIORDANO (Valsugana Padova, 8 caps); 6 Michela ESTE (Benetton Treviso, 41 caps); 5 Alice TREVISAN (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 26 caps); 4 Flavia SEVERIN (Benetton Treviso, 44 caps); 3 Lucia GAY (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 34 caps); 2 Melissa BETTONI (Rennes, 22 caps); 1 Elisa CUCCHIELLA (Belve NeroVerdi, 49 caps

Replacements:16 Lucia CAMMARANO (ASR Monza 1949, 5 caps); 17 Awa COULIBALY (Rennes, 15 caps); 18 Ilaria ARRIGHETTI (ASR Monza 1949, 13 caps); 19 Alessia PANTAROTTO (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 10 caps); 20 Valentina RUZZA (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 8 caps); 21 Paola ZANGIROLAMI (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 59 caps); 22 Sofia STEFAN (Rennes, 19 caps); 23 Federica CIPOLLA (Umbria Rugby Ragzze, 1 cap)