Preview: 6 Nations Round 2

With Wales and France losing their first games in week one of the womens 6 Nations, realistically only Ireland now stand in the way of England retaining the title. However in order to maintain that challenge they now have to do the almost impossible and win in France on Friday night - a feat they have never achieved.

When losing 10-8 to Scotland last weekend in a surprise first round result, the French showed again how fragile they are when playing away, but at home it is a different matter. In the entire history of this competition they have only ever lost four times - and three of those defeats were to England. Ireland have never come close, though in 2008 the margin was only nine points (26-17).

Ireland did beat the French last year on home soil on a 7-5 scoreline but to repeat the feat away from home will be a massive challenge for the girls in green.

- First played: 1993- Overall: Played 16, France 14, Ireland 1, Draws 1- Six Nations: Played 8, France 7, Ireland - Only Irish win: Ireland 7, France 5 (2009)- Largest French win: Ireland 0, France 53 (2001)

An English win on Saturday in Italy is about as close to a certainty that it is possible to get in sport the second ranked team in the world against the nation that finished third behind Sweden and Spain in the World Cup qualifier last year.

Remarkably this will only be Englands second trip to Italy - two years ago they ran out 76-6 winners in Rome - and the reality is that the hosts will be mainly hoping to avoid any more embarrassment.

Englands win over Wales continued vital momentum for the team who came into the 6 Nations on the back of victory over the World Champions New Zealand back in November and though Gary Street has made a raft of changes, England will be far too strong.

Italy will be targeting games against Wales, Scotland and France for their first win of the year and keeping England below 50 would be a triumph.

- First played: 1991- Overall: Played 7, all won by England- Largest England win: Italy 6, England 76 (2008)- Best Italian performance: England 25, Italy 9 (Llanharan, 1991 World Cup)

In theory Scotland could be the third challenger to England, after their dramatic win last weekend but in practice Scottish performances do not inspire a great deal of confidence.

Since Wales rejected their Welsh clubs only selection policy in 2006, Scotland have lost every meeting with the margin growing year by year, from 5-0 in 2006 at Pontypridd to 31-10 at Lasswade last season.

Arresting that trend would be a truly positive outcome for the Scots and coming in on the back of the French win, while Wales attempt to recover from a 31-0 drubbing by England, maybe that they might just manage that. But a win against Europes number 2 seems a tall order.

- First played: 1993- Overall: Played 21, Scottish wins 12, Wales 9- Six Nations: Played 16, Scotland 9, Wales 7- In Wales: Played 8, Scottish wins 5, Wales 3- Last Scottish win: Scotland 22, Wales 5 (2005)- Largest Scottish win: Wales 3, Scotland 31 (2002)-Largest Welsh win: Scotland 0, Wales 23 (1993)