Six Nations: Round 5 news and previews

Italy v Wales, Stadio Plebiscito, Padua.(Saturday, 5.30pm GMT, 6.30 CET) (Live stream from FIR)

Both teams enter this game with a theoretical chance of winning the Six Nations - though in order to achive this would require a series of somewhat unlikely results, not the least of which being a substantial win for one team or the other. And that is not going to happen.

This will be close. Based on the opening two rounds of the championship, a Welsh win would have seemed on the cards, but that has all changed now. Italy have grown game on game culminating in last week's win against France - a win that was well deserved. Lead by the tournament's most experienced captain and coach, Italy have shown the merit of a settled team - not just throughout this year's tournament but compared to 2014 as well. Tactically they were near perfect against France, an opposition they knew having several players in their squad who play in the French Top 8.

While lifting the title is realistically off the table, the winner of this clash could realistically hope for third place - which would be Italy's best ever finish, and the continuation of the steady progress that has seen them move from the Wooden Spoon in 2009, to fifth from 2010 to 2013, and fourth in 2014. They have also never won three games in a season before, and if any extra spice were needed the two teams are also playing for qualification in the 2017 World Cup. Bouyed up with last week's win, and home advantage, Italy clearly start as favourites.

Wales have had a great tournament despite a remarkably youthful team and, even if they do ultimately come out of this tournament in fourth or even fifth place, it is clear that with the experience the future is very positive. This team will still be together in 2017. and most of them can look forward to 2021 as well.

Italy make only one change (Irene Colorno  fromCampanini Rugbytaking over from the injured Lucia Cammarano) butWales make nine (though five are just positional) to the team that lost to Ireland in Swansea last weekend. In the backs scrum half Keira Bevan and centre Kerin Lake will get their first starts of the campaign. Bevan swaps places with Amy Day who moves to the bench but Lake's inclusion ensures a reshuffle in the outside backs.Centre Adi Taviner moves to the left wing from outside centre with Laurie Harries replacing Dyddgu Hywel at full back with the latter missing out altogether from the match-day squad.Two changes to the pack also ensures a re-shuffle of the engine room. Prop Caryl Thomas is a straight swap for Jenny Davies but Rebecca Rowe's recall to the second row triggers three positional changes to the side which lost to Ireland on Sunday at St Helens. Captain Rachel Taylor moves back to the flank from second row with Sioned Harries moving from the side of the scrum to No.8 which sees Shona Powell Hughes revert to her more accustomed role of lock.Explaining the changes he has made, Wales head coach Rhys Edwards, said: "Italy are good up front and possess a set of forwards who can be destructive so we have to combat that with our own ball carriers. We've tinkered with the backline but when that combination has been on the field it's looked pretty dangerous. Kerin compliments Gemma [Rowland] well in midfield. We've eased Kerin into games and gradually given her more game time but she has earned her starting spot while the last game of the championship is an ideal time to give Keira an opportunity as well. We started the Six Nations well with two good wins. We have to re-discover that focus and belief – if we do that we should be able to get the job done.”

Italy:Ilaria Arrighetti (ASR Monza 1949, 14 caps); Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale, 61 caps); Melissa Bettoni (Rennes, 24 caps); Irene Campanini (Rugby Colorno, 4 caps); Maria Grazia Cioffi (Rugby Benevento, 37 caps); Awa Coulibaly (Rennes, 17 caps); Elisa Cucchiella (Belve NeroVerdi, 51 caps); Michela Este (Benetton Treviso, 43 caps); Manuela Furlan (Benetton Treviso, 45 caps); Lucia Gai (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 36 caps); Silvia Gaudino (ASR Monza 1949, 65 caps) – capitano; Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Padova, 10 caps); Maria Magatti (ASR Monza 1949, 9 caps); Alessia Pantarotto (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 11 caps); Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 10 caps); Valentina Ruzza (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 9 caps); Veronica Schiavon (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 74 caps); Flavia Severin (Benetton Treviso, 46 caps); Michela Sillari (HBS Colorno, 24 caps); Sofia Stefan (Rennes, 21 caps); Alice Trevisan (Sitam Riviera del Brenta, 28 caps); Maria Diletta Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 36 caps); Paola Zangirolami (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 60 caps)

Wales:15 Laurie Harries (Llandaff North/Blues); 14 Elen Evans (Waterloo/Scarlets); 13 Gemma Rowland (Wasps/Dragons); 12 Kerin Lake (Skewen/Ospreys); 11 Adi Taviner (Skewen/Ospreys); 10 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons); 9 Keira Bevan (Skewen/Ospreys);  ; 1 Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies/Scarlets); 2 Carys Phillips (Skewen/Ospreys); 3 Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North/Scarlets); 4 Rebecca Rowe (London Welsh/Dragons); 5 Shona Powell Hughes (Skewen/Ospreys); 6 Sian Williams (Worcester/Dragons); 7 Rachel Taylor (Bristol Ladies/Dragons - Capt); 8 Sioned Harries (Whitland/Scarlets)

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 Amy Day (Llandaff North/Dragons);  22 Hannah Jones (Penybanc/Scarlets); 23 Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic/Ospreys)

England v France, Twickenham.(Saturday, 7.20pm) (Live on BBC red button)

The big news forEnglandin this game is that Worcester prop Rochelle Clark will become England Women’s joint most capped player of all time. The 33-year-old, who made her England debut against Canada in 2003, will join former England hooker Amy Garnett in the history books as she earns her 100thcap for her country as England look to finish their Six Nations campaign on a high.

Nicola Ponsford has resisted the possible temptation to call up players from the sevens squd and has made just four changes (one positional). Bristol’s Amber Reed comes in off the bench to start in the centre, while Abbie Scott and Hannah Gallagher also return to the starting line-up in the pack. Richmond’s Alex Matthews moves to Number 8 from flanker for this game.

“I would like to pay tribute to Rochelle,” said Ponsford. “It is an absolutely fantastic milestone to achieve 100 caps, especially in such an attritional position as prop. “Ever since she got her first cap back in 2003 she has always been 100 percent committed to playing for England. She has an unrivalled passion and desire to set the standards for other players to follow. Her work ethic and work rate, particularly in defence is massive, and she has contributed to many of England’s past successes, including our World Cup win in 2014. She is a world class prop who has dominated a number of props over the years and I can see no reason why she won’t continue to do so. Rochelle’s ambition is to play at the next Rugby World Cup in 2017 and currently I can see no reason why she won’t be there.”

Ponsford added: “There were a lot of positives to take from the Scotland win. We were disappointed that we made too many penalties but the attacking platform was much better and there was a better balance between the forwards and backs. That attacking platform is the building block we need to keep working on while focusing on a good defensive effort. If we can bring these two elements together we can cement a more rounded performance. France will certainly be hurting from their defeat to Italy at the weekend. They will have learned some important lessons but what Italy have shown is that if you take the game to the opposition any team in this Six Nations is beatable. Our focus will be to concentrate on our performance on Saturday and making sure we finish our Six Nations campaign on a high. The changes we have made to the pack will help us deliver the physicality we need up front against France while the inclusion of Amber Reed at centre will give us more experience in the midfield. ”

Francewere quick announce their squad, making four changes from the team that lost to Italy.Laetitia Bobo, Lina Guerin and Emilie Mathieu (who came into the squad for their first caps last weekend) all step down again, along with fly-half Camille Cabalou, who has played superbly throughout her first Six Nations but is presumably missing through injury. In their place come Manon Andre (returning after suspension) and three players from the sevens squad - Marjorie Mayans, Sha'nnon Izar (who both played against Wales) and world cup scrumhalf Jennyfer Troncy. The result is a significantly less experimental and much more experienced line up, perhaps the only surprise being the retention of U20 prop Gonzalez, despite (or even because of) not being used against Italy last week - and despite Christelle Chobet now being available as her suspension is over.

The performance against Italy notwithstanding, France will start as favourities. While home advantage is a significant balancing factor - France have a justifed reputation for not travelling - their recent record at Twickenham has been good one and the younger players in the squad (those who have played with the U20s at least) know of nothing but success against England teams. The inclusion of Mayans and Izar, the return of Andre, and the availability of Troncy makes this, on paper, the strongest team fielded by France in the entire tournament. It could have been stronger yet, with players such as Le Duff and Ladagnous available, but coaches Gonzalez and Laurent have kept faith with the core of the team that was so successful in the opening three rounds of the competition.

England could have likewise called up some or all of their professional sevens squad for this game but with just their pride to play for they have stayed with the core of the team that has seen them through what was always going to be a difficult campaign. This is a team taking the first few steps of a three year plan taking them to the defence of their World Cup, and as they demonstrated last August, having a squad with a depth of experience is essential. And, while defeat would probably see them finish fourth (which their worst ever Six Nations finish), all of that will be forgotten if they raise the World Cup again in 2017.

Which is not to say that England cannot win the game. Ultimately the key to the game will lie in the battle of the forwards, and England - with Clark to the forefront - are quite capable of giving as good as they receive. Italy neutalised this weapon very effectively last week, not least by avoiding needless penalties. England will have to do the same particularly as Tremouliere is one of the strongest and most accurate place kickers in this year's Six Nations, and will relish the sheltered conditions of Twickenham Stadium.

England; 15 Fiona Pocock (Richmond) ; 14 Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) ; 13 Amber Reed (Bristol) ; 12 Ceri Large (Worcester) ; 11 Lydia Thompson (Worcester) ; 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) (C) ; 9 Bianca Blackburn (Worcester) ; 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester) ; 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Saracens) ; 3 Justine Lucas (Lichfield) ; 4 Tamara Taylor (VC) (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) ; 5 Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) ; 6 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens) ; 7 Hannah Field (Richmond) ; 8 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond)

Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield) ; 17 Victoria Cornborough (Richmond) ; 18 Laura Keates (Worcester) ; 19 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond) ; 20 Harriet Millar-Mills (Waterloo) ; 21 Fiona Davidson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) ; 22 Abigail Brown (Bristol) ; 23 Katie Mason (Bristol); ;

France:From15. Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat); 14. Céline Heguy (Bayonne); 13. Shannon Izar (Lille –Villeneuve d’Ascq); 12. Elodie Poublan (Montpellier); 11. Julie Billes (USAP); 10. Audrey Abadie (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 9. Yanna Rivoalen (Lille –Villeneuve d’Ascq); 8. Safi N’diaye (Montpellier); 7. Laetitia Grand (Lons); 6. Coumba Tombe Diallo (Stade Bordelais); 5. Audrey Forlani (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 4. Manon Andre (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 3. Patricia Carricaburu (Lons);  2. Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier); 1. Lise Arricastre (Lons)

Replacements:16. Wendy Divoux (USAP); 17. Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); 18. Sophie Pin (La Valette); 19. Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier); 20. Jennyfer Troncy (Montpellier); 21. Marjorie Mayans (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 22. Caroline Boujard (USAP); 23. Amaya Gonzalez (Bayonne).

Scotland v Ireland, Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld(Sunday, 1pm) (Live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player)

It is fitting that this most unpredictable Six Nations should reach its climax with the final game. Ireland go into the match with the huge advantage of knowing exactly what they have to do - which is basically better France's performance against England by 21 points to take the title (should France win at Twickenham) or simply beat Scotland (if they don't) - a result that will also give Ireland their second Triple Crown in three years regardless.

An Ireland win at least seems to be a pretty safe bet. This fixture has been a barometer of Irish growth and development since their first game in 1993, which was against Scotland. The first 14 matches up to 2006 resulted in wins for the Scots, but since then Ireland have won all nine meetings with the margin of victory growing to last year's 59-0 winat Ashbourne.

Given improving Scots confidence - especially after their performance against England last year - its unlikely that the win will be that large this time, and if France set Ireland a target of 30 or more it could become very interesting indeed. As both Italy and England discovered, Scotland will keep trying to the end and a late score will always be possible. In addition Scotland will be far more used to playing on the Broadwood Stadium's 3G synthetic pitch - the only non-grass surface used in this year's Six Nations.

For theScots the game will be all about building on their performances so far, which have generally seen deficits reduced and more points on the board (if not yet that first elusive win since 2010). The pack for Sunday remains unchanged, but there are changes to the backs. Melrose's Chloe Rollie retain her place at fullback, having made her Scotland debut in the opener against France and kept the 15 jersey throughout this campaign. Fellow new cap this season, Nuala Deans - who scored a penalty last week - moves from inside centre to right wing.

Gillian Inglis returns from injury and is named at outside centre, Hannah Smith moves to inside centre and last week's try scorer, Eilidh Sinclair, moves across to start at left wing. Hooker Sarah Quick coming on to the bench, the remaining replacements are as last week.Head coach Jules Maxton said: "We're steadily improving with every game but we need to cut out the basic skills' mistakes and defensive errors from last Friday's match, going into this game. I was pleased with some of our work in the contact area last weekend but it's all about consistency and we've been working hard, this week, on the areas that let us down against England. It's good to be back home and have more of our own support there. We're looking to show more progress, build on our performance against England and finish on a high."

Ireland are unchanged.

Speaking of the task ahead, Tierney said "It's been a huge three months, a lot of change and getting to know new ways, thankfully the quality of the players have shone through in the results and fingers crossed Scotland will be another win. We are going to be mentally ready to take Scotland on its merits, we have to win the game first before we are in a position to chance points. We are going to concentrate on our basics, in both defence and attack. We are going to keep doing what we have been doing throughout the 6 nations.”

Scotland:15. Chloe Rollie (Melrose); 14. Nuala Deans (Wasps); 13. Gillian Inglis (Melrose); 12. Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill); 11. Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers); 10. Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers);  9. Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers);  ; 1. Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers); 2. Lana Skeldon (Melrose); 3. Tracy Balmer (Worcester); 4. Deborah McCormack (Richmond); 5. Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers); 6. Rachael Cook (Murrayfield Wanderers); 7. Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars); 8. Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill)

Replacements:16. Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers); 17. Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill); 18. Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill); 19. Fiona Sim (Saracens); 20. Lyndsay O' Donnell (Worcester); 21. Mhairi Grieve (RHC Cougars); 22. Claire Bain (RHC Cougars); 23. Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield)

Ireland:15 – Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemian/ Munster) (Capt);14 – Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/ Leinster);13 – Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/ Leinster);12 – Jackie Shiels (Richmond/ Exiles);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 – Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht);23 – Aoife Doyle (Shannon/ Munster)