6 Nations: Round 1 team news

All the team news as we get it for Round 1 of the Women's Six Nations.

Published by Alison Donnelly, January 29th, 2019

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6 Nations: Round 1 team news

Ireland v England, Energia Park, Dublin. Friday 1 February, 5pm KO (RTÉ/Sky Sports)

England return to the ground where they win the SIx Nations two years ago, and bring a very strong team to Dublin in a game where they will start as favourites.In the Irish team, Munster's Ciara Griffin will captain the side from number eight as Ireland aim to build on last year's third-place finish.

There are three uncapped players named among the replacements hoping to get their first international run-out: Linda Djougang, Anne Marie O'Hora and Kathryn Dane. Veteran winger Alison Miller is back on the bench, almost a year after suffering a compound ankle fracture last season, and her return is a boost as she adds serious nous and finishing ability. In the backrow Claire Molloy's experience will be vital as she and Griffin will need to apply serious pressure to England's experienced fly-half Katy Daley-Mclean.The hosts are up against a very strong England side which is boosted by the return of key players such as Sarah Bern, back after a year out, and Emily Scarratt, back in the 15s game after returning from 7s. Poppy Cleall starts in the second row and her twin sister and Saracens team-mate Bryony will be looking for her first international cap having been named on the bench. Also on the bench is Natasha Hunt, who will add pace and experience and hooker Amy Cokayne is also named, having missed the autumn due to RAF commitments.Match Facts:• 48.1% of Ireland’s points in 2018 were scored in the last 20 minutes of a game; the highest among all teams in the same period.• Ireland had the highest conversion success rate of any team in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations tournament - making 80% of their total conversion attempts.• England averaged a try every 13.8 minutes in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations with a total of 29 across the five games.• England were the only team in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations to have won 100% of their own scrums and retained the highest percentage of their own lineouts (88.9%) in the tournament.

England team:Sarah McKenna, Jess Breach, Emily Scarratt, Tatyana Heard, Kelly Smith, Katy Daley-Mclean, Leanne Riley; Hannah Botterman, Lark Davies, Sarah Bern, Catherine O'Donnell, Poppy Cleall, Sarah Beckett, Marlie Packer, Sarah Hunter (c).Replacements:Amy Cokayne, Bryony Cleall, Shaunagh Brown, Rosie Galligan, Rowena Burnfield, Natasha Hunt, Zoe Harrison, Emily Scott.

Ireland team:Lauren Delany, Eimear Considine, Sene Naoupu,  Michelle Claffey,  Megan Williams,  Nicole Fowley, Ailsa Hughes, Laura Feely, Leah Lyons, Fiona Reidy, Aoife McDermott,  Nichola Fryday, Juliet Short,  Claire Molloy,  Ciara GriffinReplacements:Emma Hooban,  Linda Djougang, Anne Marie O'Hora, Anna Caplice, Claire McLaughlin,  Kathryn Dane  Ellen Murphy, Alison MillerScotland v Italy, Scotstoun Stadium, Glasgow. Friday 1 February, 7.35pm KO (BBC Alba)

Italy come into the Championship quietly confident, with two big Autumn wins against Scotland and South Africa boosting them to the position of the third best ranked team in Europe. Manuela Furlan will captain her country for the first time, with the experienced fullback leading a settled looking team.

Veronica Madia is at fly-half to partner the experienced Sara Barattin while the familiar duo of Beatrice Rigoni and Michela Sillari are in the centres.

Belve Neo Verdi’s Elena Serilli could make her international debut if she comes off the bench.

Furlan said: “We’re expecting a different game to the one in November. Scotland, following that result in Calvisano, will be even stronger having had the chance to work on the errors committed. Playing away is always very hard; last time (in Scotland) we lost so for that reason we will do everything in our power to make life difficult for our opponents and bring home a result.”

Scotland make three changes to the starting XV, which last took the field against Spain in January in Madrid.  Shade Munro recalls Sarah Bonar and Rachel Malcolm after injury, while Liz Musgrove also returns having missed Autumn games due to coaching commitments in Hong Kong.Also returning to the squad are Sarah Law and Rhona Lloyd who also add good nous to the team.Match Facts:• Scotland conceded the fewest number of penalties for foul play infringements (2) in the 2018 Women’s Six Nations tournament.• Scotland's Chloe Rollie had an impactful 2018 Women's Six Nations performance with 3 tries (4th overall in the tournament), 6 linebreaks (4th overall), 148 running meters (5th overall), 15 points scored (6th overall) and 419 kicking meters (6th overall).• Four of Italy's seven tries in the 2018 Women's Six Nations tournament originated from a lineout.• Italy had the lowest number of mauls of any team in 2018 Women's Six Nations and secured less than 70% of them. • Italy (1,260) were the only team in 2018 Women's Six Nations to have made more than 1,000 tackles. •Scotland team:15. Chloe Rollie, Liz Musgrove,  Hannah Smith, Lisa Thomson, Annabel Sergeant, Helen Nelson, Mhairi Grieve, Lisa Cockburn, Lana Skeldon, Megan Kennedy, Emma Wassell,  Sarah Bonar,  Rachel Malcolm, Rachel McLachlan, Siobhan CattiganReplacements: Jodie Rettie, Katie Dougan, Mairi Forsyth, Sophie Anderson, Nicola Howat, Sarah Law, Lisa Martin, Rhona Lloyd

Italy team:Manuela Furlan, Aura Muzzo, Michela Sillari, Beatrice Rigoni, Sofia Stefan, Veronica Madia, Sara Barattin, Gaia Giacomoli, Melissa Bettoni, Lucia Gai, Valentina Ruzza, Giordana Duca, Ilaria Arrighetti, Giada Franco, Elisa GiordanoReplacements:Silvia Turani, Elena Serilli, Sara Tounesi, Valeria Fedrighi, Lucia Cammarano, Francesca Sberna, Jessica Busato, Camilla Sarasso

France v Wales, GGL (Altrad) Stadium, Montpellier. Saturday 2 February,  8pm KO (France Televisions / S4C)Annick Hayraud’s side begin their title defence in Montpellier, with flanker Gaëlle Hermet leading the side once again. The current Grand Slam holders name Camille Imart at fly-half and she is partnered in the half-backs by Pauline Bourdon - with Caroline Drouin on 7s duty.  Caroline Boujard is at fullback with Jessy Tremouliere also out.

The French pack looks very strong with Romane Ménager and Céline Ferer in the back row alongside Hermet, with Safi N’Diaye and Lénaïg Corson named as the locks.

The starting XV is completed by front row Clara Joyeux, starting at tighthead following the retirement of Julie Duval, Caroline Thomas and Lise Arricastre.There are two changes to the Wales team and two positional from their most recent test against Canada.  Scarlets pair Hannah Jones and Alisha Butchers return to the side, Jones will partner Alicia McComish in the centre while Butchers returns from injury to start on the blindside flank.There is a reshuffle in the back row with Beth Lewis starting at No 8 in place of injured Sioned Harries and Manon Johnes starting on the openside. Uncapped Scarlets flanker Alex Callender could make her Wales debut if she comes off the bench on Saturday.Wales Women v France. Saturday 2 February 9pm (local time). Live on S4C 8pm GMT:Lauren Smyth (Ospreys); Jasmine Joyce (Scarlets), Hannah Jones (Scarlets), Alicia McComish (Dragons), Lisa Neumann (RGC); Robyn Wilkins (Blues), Keira Bevan (Ospreys); Caryl Thomas (Dragons), Carys Phillips (capt, Ospreys), Amy Evans (Ospreys), Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys), Mel Clay (Ospreys), Alisha Butchers (Scarlets) Manon Johnes (Blues), Bethan Lewis (Dragons)Replacements:Kelsey Jones (Ospreys), Cara Hope (Ospreys), Cerys Hale (Dragons), Natalia John (Ospreys), Alex Callender (*Scarlets) , Ffion Lewis (Scarlets); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears) Jess Kavanagh (RGC)*uncapped player

Match Facts:• France had the lowest penalty kick at goal success rate (40%) of any team in the 2018 Women's Six Nations.• France made the most dominant tackles (18) in the 2018 Women's Six Nations, with four French players listed in the top five for the 2018 season; Ferer (12 - second), Hermet and N'Diaye (11 - joint-third) and Sochat (9 - fifth).• Wales maintained the most possession in the 2018 Women's Six Nations tournament (58%) spending on average 46.1 minutes in attack compared to just 36 minutes for France.• Wales had the lowest winning percentage for their own lineouts (77.4%) among teams in the 2018 Women's Six Nations.France team:Caroline Boujard, Ian Jason, Marine Menager, Gabrielle Vernier, Léa Murie, Camille Imart, Pauline Bourdon, Lise Arricastre, Caroline Thomas. Clara Joyeux, Lénaïg Corson,  Safi N’Diaye, Gaëlle Hermet, Céline Ferer, Romane MenagerReplacements:Laure Touye, Dhia Maylis Traore, Sabina Argagnon, Audrey Forlani, Fiona Lecat, Yanna Rivoalen, Morgane Peyronnet, Doriane Constanty

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