Six Nations 2013: Round one. Team news.

The 2013 Six Nations begins today with Italy v France in Rovato, and England v Scotland at Esher. The tournament continues tomorrow with Wales playing Ireland at Aberavon. News and scores will appear here - but in the meanwhile the latest team news.

France vs Italy, Rovato, 2.30pm CET (1.30pm GMT)

The withdrawl of Aurélie Bailon from the French squad at the start of the week was a blow to French preparations as her partnership with scrumhalf and captain Marie-Alice Yahe has been the cornerstone of improvements in French performances in the past 18 months. Sandrine Agricole has been added to  the squad as a result, when the original intention had been to rest her until the game with England. She begins on the bench and may not be used unless plans go significantly awry. Bailon's position on the field is taken by Jessy Tremouliere, who is a reliable kicker, but rarely plays at 10 and is more used to full-back or centre.

Italy are confident and at full strength, and expect a tough battle. The game itself is reported to be a near sell-out, with very few tickets left on Friday morning. Captain Silvia Gaudino wins her 50th cap.

Italy:1. Melissa Bettoni ; 2. Sara Zanon;  3. Lucia Jha;  4. Cristina Molic;  5. Alice Trevisan;  6. Michela Este;  7. Silvia Gaudino - capt;  8. Flavia Severin;  9. Sara Barattin; 10. Veronica Schiavon;  11. Dorothy Veronese;  12. Paola Zangirolami;  13. Maria Grazia Cioffi;  14. Michela Sillari; 15. Manuela Furlan;

Replacements: 16. Debora Ballarini;  17. Awa Coulibaly 18. Marta Ferrari;  19. Cecilia Zublena;  20. Ilaria Arrighetti;  21. Vanessa Chindamo;  22. Michela Tondinelli;  23. Chiara Castellarin.

France:1. Hélène Ezanno (Rennes); 2. Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier); 3. Lise Arricastre (Lons); 4. Sandra Rabier (Ovalie Caennaise); 5. Marine Denadai (Montpellier) ; 6. Coumba Tombe Diallo  (Bobigny) ; 7. Laetitia Grand (Lons); 8. Safi N’diaye (Montpellier); 9. Marie-Alice Yahe (USAP) – capt; 10. Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat); 11. Caroline Ladagnous (Lons); 12. Elodie Poublan (Montpellier); 13. Marjorie Mayans (Saint Orens); 14. Jade Le Pesc  (Rennes); 15. Audrey Parra (Montpellier).

Replacements :  16. Laetitia Salles (La Valette); 17. Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); 18. Elodie Portaries (Montpellier); 19. Lenaig Corson (Rennes); 20. Manon Andre (Saint Orens); 21. Sandrine Agricole (Rennes); 22. Lucille Godiveau (Rennes); 23. Elodie Guiglion (USAP).

England v Scotland, Esher, 2.00pm GMT (3.00 CET)

No changes to the England team published earlier in the week, but a last minute change for Scotland sees Sarah Dixon out. Annabel Sergeant moves to 13, Lauren Harris 14, and Laura Stevens coming in on bench. Bridget Millar-Mills - sister of England's Harriet Millar-Mills - debuts for Scotland, as far as we know the first time sisters have played against each other in a full international.

England:1 Kate Newton (Bristol); 2 Emma Croker (Richmond); 3 Roz Crowley (Lichfield); 4 Tamara Taylor (Lichfield); 5 Emily Braund (Lichfield); 6 Joanna McGilchrist (Wasps); 7 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens); 8 Sarah Hunter - capt (Lichfield); 15 Lauren Cattell (Saracens); 14 Lydia Thompson (Worcester); 13 Abigail Chamberlain (Richmond); 12 Amber Reed (Bristol); 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol); 10 Ceri Large (Worcester); 9 Georgina Gulliver (Lichfield).

Replacements:; 16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield); 17 Laura Keates (Worcester); 18 Rochelle Clark (Worcester); 19 Rebecca Essex (Richmond); 20 Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield); 21 La Toya Mason (Wasps); 22 Sally Tuson (Bristol); 23 Fiona Pocock (Richmond);

Scotland:1. Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill); 2 Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers); 3. Tracey Balmer (Worcester RFC); 4. Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond); 5. Bridget Millar-Mills (Worcester RFC) ; 6. Mary Lafaiki (Hillhead Jordanhill); 7. Tess Forsberg (Richmond); 8. Susie Brown (c) (Richmond); 9. Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars); 10. Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars); 11. Megan Gaffney (Hillhead Jordanhill); 12. Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle); 13.Annabel Sergeant (Richmond); 14. Lauren Harris (Melrose);15. Steph Johnston (RHC Cougars).

Replacements: 16. Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers); 17. Suzanne McKerlie-Hex Murrayfield Wanderers); 18. Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill); 19. Becca Parker (Hillhead Jordanhill); 20. Jade Konkel ( Hillhead Jordanhill); 21. Sarah Law ( Murrayfield Wanderers); 22. Leanne Neary (Murrayfield Wanderers); 23 Laura Stevens.

Tomorrow: Wales v Ireland, Aberavon RFC, Port Talbot. 1.30pm GMT (2.30 CET)

Wales have gone for an experienced starting XV, with all of their five new caps starting on the bench. Ireland also start with their strongest available side.

Wales:1 Megan York (Blaenau Gwent); 2 Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic); 3 Catrin Edwards (Cardiff Quins); 4 Gemma Hallett (Pontyclun); 5 Shona Powell Hughes (Neath Athletic); 6 Catrina Nicholas (Cardiff Quins); 7 Sioned Harries (Cardiff Quins); 8 Rachel Taylor (Bristol) - capt; 9 Amy Day (Unattached); 10 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol); 11 Philippa Tuttiet (Cardiff Quins); 12 Rebecca de Filippo (Cardiff Quins); 13 Elen Evans (Waterloo); 14 Caryl James (Cardiff Quins); 15 Rosie Fletcher (Neath Athletic)

Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips (Cardiff Met); 17 Bethan Howell(Seven Sisters); 18 Jenny Davies (Waterloo); 19 Nia Davies (Cardiff Met); 20 Vicky Owens (Pontyclun); 21 Laura Prosser (Pontyclun); 22 Dyddgu Hywel (Caernarfon); 23 Rafiuke Taylor (Sea View)

Ireland:1. Fiona Coghlan (Leinster) - capt; 2. Gillian Bourke (Munster); 3. Ailis Egan (Leinster); 4. Sophie Spence (Exiles); 5. Marie Louise Reilly (Leinster); 6. Laura Guest (Munster); 7. Claire Molloy (Exiles); 8. Joy Neville (Munster); 9. Lariss Muldoon (Exiles); 10. Lynne Cantwell (Exiles); 11. Alison Miller (Connacht); 12. Jenny Murphy (Leinster); 13. Grace Davitt (Ulster); 14. Niamh Kavanagh (Munster); 15. Niamh Briggs (Munster).

Replacements: 16. Stacey-Lee Kennedy (Ulster); 17. Fiona Hayes (Munster); 18. Lauren Day (Exiles); 19. Heather O'Brien (Munster); 20. Siobhan Fleming (Munster); 21. Amy Davis (Ulster); 22. Nora Stapleton (Leinster); 23. Ashleigh Baxter (Ulster).