Six Nations: Round 3 Preview

SCOTLAND V WALESFri 24 Feb 18:20, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld

This is a huge game for Scotland – a clash they will believe they can win and one which will have been a major focus right from the outset of the Championship.

Though the scoreline ran away with them in France last time out, there has been enough in the recent Scottish performances to suggest that it is a question of 'when' rather than 'if' they can win a test in the near future. They will certainly have to knuckle down in their defensive duties this weekend – they fell off simple tackles in France – and the spirit they showed against Ireland will need to return. Home advantage helps and Shade Munro has only had to make one change - flanker Jemma Forsyth moves from the bench into the number 6 jersey to replace Karen Dunbar, who has been ruled out of the remainder of tournament after picking up a knee injury.

And they are up against a Welsh side with something to prove after their drubbing at the hands of England last time out. There is no shame in losing to England who are fast becoming a juggernaut, but the manner of the defeat will be tough to swallow. Wales were poor defensively – even in the face of an outstanding English attack – and they are likely relieved that their next assignment is Scotland, even with their progress.

Wales have made several changes as a result. Olympics 7s player Jasmine Joyce will make her long awaited Wales XV competitive debut and the other changes see Rhiannon Parker come in at scrum-half, Rebecco de Filippo return at centre and Cerys Hale at loosehead prop. Joyce scored two tries in a non-cap match against Spain in January.

"Jasmine and Rhiannon are two talented individuals who have been in and around the squad for a while now, and we feel the way they've performed in the warm-up games and in training has earned them this opportunity," Wales Women boss Rowland Phillips said.

This is a genuine potential banana skin Wales. They will be expected to win – but I expect this one to be tight.

Scotland:Chloe Rollie (Murrayfield Wanderers), Megan Gaffney (Edinburgh University), Lisa Thomson (Edinburgh University), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers, capt), Rhona Lloyd (Edinburgh University), Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers/Edinburgh University); Tracey Balmer (Worcester), Lana Skeldon (Hillhead Jordanhill), Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill), Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers), Deborah McCormack (Aylesford Bulls), Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead Jordanhill), Louise McMillan (Hillhead Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill).Replacements: Lucy Park (Murrayfield Wanderers), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill), Katie Dougan (Edinburgh University), Sarah Bonar (Lichfield), Lyndsay O'Donnell (Worcester), Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield), Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lauren Harris (Melrose)

Wales:Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets), Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets)*, Kerin Lake (Ospreys), Rebecca de Filippo (Newport Gwent Dragons), Elen Evans (Scarlets), Elinor Snowsill (Newport Gwent Dragons), Rhiannon Parker (Cardiff Blues)*, Cerys Hale (Newport Gwent Dragons), Carys Phillips (c) (Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Rebecca Rowe (Newport Gwent Dragons), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets),Rachel Taylor (Scarlets), Sioned Harries (Scarlets)Replacements:Lowri Harries (Scarlets), Gwenllian Pyrs (Scarlets), Caryl Thomas (Scarlets), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Nia Elen Davies (Cardiff Blues), Sian Moore (Newport Gwent Dragons), Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys), Gemma Rowland (Newport Gwent Dragons)

ENGLAND V ITALYSat 25 Feb 13:00, Twickenham Stoop, London

The only question about the outcome of this game is just how much England will beat Italy by. Even though Simon Middleton has made eight changes to his team, England have been so good since they woke up at half time against France, that Italy will be lucky to get within 20 points.

In the raft of changes Richmond wing Kay Wilson comes in to earn her 40th England cap with Saracens' Sarah McKenna starting at full back. Richmond flanker Alex Matthews returns from injury for her first appearance this Six Nations following the England's decisive 0-63 win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park.Rachael Burford, Emily Scott, La Toya Mason, Justine Lucas and Vicky Fleetwood all start, with Amy Cokayne, Rochelle Clark, Izzy Noel-Smith, Natasha Hunt and Katy Mclean moving to the bench. Lydia Thompson and Danielle Waterman, two of the leading try scorers of the tournament so far, are both rested for the game. Italy's main hope is that the rejigged English side will be rusty.

The Italians are winless and even though they made Ireland work very hard for their win last weekend, they haven't shown near enough to suggest they will bother England too much. Manuela Furlan and Sara Barratin remain two of the best attacking threats in the tournament, but Italy play too much in fits and starts and they need to look beyond this game to begin to put together important form in a World Cup year.

England:15 Sarah McKenna (Saracens, 10 caps), 14 Amy Wilson Hardy (Bristol, 5 caps) , 13 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield, 63 caps), 12 Rachael Burford (Aylesford Bulls, 62 caps), 11 Kay Wilson (Richmond, 39 caps)10 Emily Scott (Saracens, 18 caps), 9 La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 61 caps), 1 Justine Lucas (Lichfield, 16 caps), 2 Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens, 56 caps), 3 Laura Keates (Worcester Valkyries, 58 caps), 4 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 40 caps), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 100 caps), 6 Alex Matthews (Richmond, 26 caps), 7 Marlie Packer (Bristol, 42 caps), 8 Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 87 caps) (c)Replacements:16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 22 caps), 17 Rochelle Clark (Worcester Valkyries, 119 caps), 18 Sarah Bern (Bristol, 6 caps), 19 Poppy Cleall (Bristol, 9 caps), 20 Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 26 caps)21 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield, 35 caps), 22 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks, 82 caps), 23 Amber Reed (Bristol, 34 caps).

IRELAND WOMEN v FRANCE WOMEN

Sun 26 Feb 12:45  Donnybrook, Dublin

This should be the game of the round with unbeaten Ireland taking on a France side who are evolving their style to match their physicality with a more subtle attacking game.

Despite the maximum points so far, Ireland have failed to dazzle and there is controversy at home about the decision to take three players out of their backline to focus on 7s. The noise is understandable – Ireland are at home in a World Cup year and this could derail the build-up and their title chances, but there is sense to it too when you consider Ireland’s small playing pool.

One core team on the World Series will be automatically relegated this time and Ireland always faced the possibility of dropping through the trapdoor – in the end it is, and was always going to be, them, Spain or Brazil. With no chance of getting back before 2018/19, this would leave them like the Dutch with a 7s programme and no-one to play, and possibly a cut in funding that would be challenging to claw back.

Given the choice of losing a 6 Nations game  or ensuring a whole year at least of participation in the World Series over teams lacking players due to the 6 Nations and getting a favourable draw for the next round – you can see the logic. Nonetheless they will badly miss Hannah Tyrrell, Alison Miller and Sene Naoupu.

France meanwhile, apart from their second half collapse at Twickenham, have been showing greater attacking intent than they have for some time. Jade le Pesq has made the move to scrum-half well and their power game up front remains in tact. Against an Irish team showing several changes, they will travel with confidence

Ireland's changes include bringing in Sophie Spence to the pack but it's the new-look backline that is raising eyebrows. Mary Healy wearing the number 9 jersey and in the centres, Claire McLaughlin comes into the side, beside Jenny Murphy. The back three sees Mairead Coyne at full-back and she will have Eimear Considine and Kim Flood, who was part of the Ireland 7s side in Dubai and Sydney coming into the team, having won the last of her two 15s caps last season against Scotland.France make two changes. Camille Cabalou, a substitute against Scotland, takes the place of Christelle Le Duff at fly-half and Camille Grassineau takes that of Elodie Guiglion in the wing, who is with the French 7s side.

On the bench, Laëtitia Grand takes the place of Julie Annery and Lucille Godiveau that of Camille Cabalou."It is important to be able to continue working on the long term," says Captain Gaëlle Mignot."We are fortunate to have since this year extended time together this year to prepare  for the matches and the coaching staff trusted us after the defeat in England and the group responded. "France (1-22):Lise Arricastre, Julie Duval, Lenaïg Corson, Audrey Forlani, Marjorie Mayans, Romane Ménager, Safi N'Diaye, Jade Le Pesq, Camille Cabalou, Shannon Izar, Elodie Poublan, Caroline Ladagnous, Camille Grassineau, Jessy Trémoulière.Replacements: Caroline Thomas, Annaëlle Deshaye, Céline Férer, Laëtitia Grand, Yanna Rivoalen, Lucille Godiveau, Marine Ménager and Patricia Carricaburu.

Ireland: 1. Lindsay Peat (Railway Union / Leinster)2. Leah Lyons (Highfield / Munster)3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere / Leinster)4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere / Leinster)5. Marie-Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere / Leinster)6. Ciara Griffin (UL Bohemians / Munster)7. Claire Molloy (Bristol / Connacht)8. Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's College / Leinster) Captain9. Mary Healy (Galwegians / Connacht)10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere / Leinster)11. Eimear Considine (UL Bohemians / Munster)12. Claire Mc Laughlin (Cooke / Ulster)13. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere / Leinster)14. Kim Flood (Railway Union / Leinster)15. Mairead Coyne (Galwegians / Connacht)Replacements: 16. Ciara O Connor (Galwegians / Connacht)17. Ilse Van Staden (Cooke / Ulster)18. Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians / Connacht)19. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union / Leinster)20. Nichola Fryday (Tullamore / Connacht)21. Larissa Muldoon (Railway Union)22. Nikki Caughey (Railway Union / Ulster)23. Louise Galvin (UL Bohemians / Munster)* *denotes uncapped player