Six Nations: Round 2 Preview

Italy v England

England visit the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, Parma (Saturday, KO 2pm BST and live on BBC iPlayer) – the game moved from Padova because the Parma facility (where Italy hosted their most recent training camp) offers better COVID security.

It should be a bigger test against higher ranked opposition after England’s last week’s 52-10 victory over Scotland.

This will be Italy’s first game of a year where World Cup qualification will be the major concern. They will meet Scotland later in the year and it will be interesting to compare their performance with Scotland’s last week. Italy will also face a similar challenge to that faced by many Scottish players last week in that most of their squad have had little or no competitive match experience for the past year. It was a "ring rustiness" that was noticable in last week's game, not least with the Molly Wright red card, which has resulted in a three game ban.

‎Andrea Di Giandomenico – in his 12thyear as Italian coach - has announced an experienced line-up with only two players with fewer than 10 caps in the starting line-up. The bench includes two potential debutants – Gaia Maris and Alyssa D'Inca' (rookie) – but also has the experience Bettoni, Locatelli and Rigoni. Manuela Furlan leads the side with Sara Barattin at scrumhalf for the 96thtime.

‎"We have a great desire to get back on the pitch and get back in the game. The Six Nations is one of the most important tourbaments in the world rugby and we will make our debut in the 2021 version against one of the fittest teams on the international rugby scene. The focus will be on our performance trying to play our best rugby", said Andrea Di Giandomenico.‎

And, in truth, it is the relative performances that everyone will be looking at as anything other than an England win would be extraordinary. Italy will be wanting to show that they can compete against the best in the world and again be one of the top three in the Six Nations, while England will be looking to improve on last week.

There was some criticism of England’s performance – despite the big win – with player-of-the-match Poppy Cleall saying after the game that they could do better, and this will be their chance to show that.

England’s discipline was a particular problem against Scotland – at one point in the second half they gave away nine penalties in a little over 10 minutes, and were reduced to 13 players. Coach Simon Middleton commented on this, saying “We’ve had a good week of training and have looked to address the discipline issues such as the penalty count. In the past we have prided ourselves on our discipline but defensively we are looking to play more on the edge and you can’t do that without walking a fine line, we have to make sure we are at the right side of it.

Sarah Hunter returns as captain for her 124th cap after a year away, and coach Middleton makes seven other changes, about which he went on to say: “This game in Italy also gives us an opportunity to look at some other combinations and we’ve decided to rotate the squad.

“This week we will be looking to maintain our performance levels for more of the game, the objective is to finish as strong as possible. Last week the finishers gave us a lift and allowed us to regain the momentum but we want to be on the front foot when they come on to allow them to focus on raising the bar as opposed to rescuing a situation. The biggest of games are generally decided in the latter stages so the depth of the squad and the impact of the finishers is likely to be the deciding factor. That’s their role, to get the job done in style and that’s what we will expect to see on Saturday.”

Italy:15 Ostuni Minuzzi Victory (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 Caps)‎; 14 Aura Muzzo (Arredissima Villorba, 14 Caps); 13 Michela Sillari (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 57 Caps); 12 Maria Magatti (CUS Milano, 33 Caps); ‎11 Manuela Furlan (Arredissima Villorba, 75 Caps) – Captain‎; 10 Veronica Madia (HBS Colorno, 19 Caps ); 9 Sara Barattin (Arredissima Villorba, 95 Caps); 8 Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 43 Caps); 7 Giada Franco (HBS Colorno, 17 Caps); 6 Ilaria Arrighetti (Stade Rennais, Francia, 45 Caps); 5 Giordana Duca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 18 Caps); ‎4 Valeria Fedrighi (Toulousain Stadium, Francia, 22 Caps)‎; 3 Lucia Gai (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 70 Caps); 2 Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Belve Neroverdi, 24 Caps); 1 Erika Skofca (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 2 Caps).Replacements:16 Melissa Bettoni (Stade Rennais, Francia, 58 Caps); ‎17 Gaia Maris (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 0 caps)‎; 18 Sara Tounesi (Asm Romagnat, Francia, 16 Caps); 19 Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949, 23 Caps); 20 Beatrice Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 4 Caps); 21 Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 43 Caps); 22 Sofia Stefan (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 56 Caps); ‎23 Alyssa D'inca' (Arredissima Villorba, 0 caps)‎

England:15. Ellie Kildunne (Wasps FC Ladies, 12 caps); 14. Jess Breach (Harlequins Women, 16 caps); 13. Emily Scarratt (VC; Loughborough Lightning, 93 caps); 12. Megan Jones (Wasps FC Ladies, 11 caps); 11. Abby Dow (Wasps FC Ladies, 15 caps); 10. Helena Rowland (Loughborough Lightning, 4 caps); 9. Leanne Riley (Harlequins Women, 41 caps);  1. Vickii Cornborough (Harlequins Women 57 caps); 2. Amy Cokayne (Harlequins Women, 54 caps); 3. Shaunagh Brown (Harlequins Women, 21 caps); 4. Zoe Aldcroft (Gloucester-Hartpury Women, 21 caps); 5. Cath O’Donnell (Loughborough Lightning, 16 caps); 6. Alex Matthews (Worcester Warriors Women, 40 caps); 7. Vicky Fleetwood (Saracens Women, 77 caps); 8. Sarah Hunter (C; Loughborough Lightning, 123 caps)Replacements:16. Lark Davies (Loughborough Lightning, 29 caps); 17. Hannah Botterman (Saracens Women, 20 caps); 18. Bryony Cleall (Saracens Women, 2 caps); 19. Harriet Millar-Mills (Wasps FC Ladies, 59 caps); 20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens Women, 44 caps); 21. Claudia MacDonald (Wasps FC Ladies, 13 caps); 22. Zoe Harrison (Saracens Women, 27 caps); 23. Sarah McKenna (Saracens Women, 33 caps)

Wales v Ireland

Ireland travel to Wales (Cardiff Arms Park, Saturday 10 April 5pm BBC Two Wales, BBC iPlayer and RTE) for their first game in six months.

The Irish have been talking up their chances this week, reflecting on a year of no rugby but also praising their union for affording them more time together through intense training camps.

Adam Griggs has named a strong looking starting team, with Sevens international Eve Higgins the only uncapped starter in the centre.

The 21-year-old Higgins, capped 20 times for Ireland Sevens, partners Sene Naoupu in midfield, while the half-back pairing of Hannah Tyrrell and Kathryn Dane are retained having impressed against Italy a few months ago.

Ireland have not had a settled half-back combination in a while, so how the partnership fares will be one to watch.

Ireland’s backrow looks particularly strong, with Ciara Griffin, Dorothy Wall and Claire Molloy named.

However the Irish bench is very light on experience. Laura Feely has 16 caps but the rest have just a handful bar the two newcomers, Stacey Flood and Emily Lane who have none.

Griggs said his side were confident. “We have had a great deal of time to prepare together and this group of players have earned the responsibility to bring the high standards we have set ourselves throughout training into this first game.”

Wales coach Warren Abrahams has made four changes to his side. Cara Hope and Cerys Hale come into the front row and Natalia John starts at lock. There is one change behind the scrum with Courtney Keight starting on the left wing in place of Jasmine Joyce who is away with GB Sevens.

Robyn Wilkins wins her 50thcap at the still unfamiliar position of fullback.

Wales:Robyn Wilkins (Gloucester-Hartpury),  Lisa Neumann (Sale Sharks), Hannah Jones (vice-capt, Gloucester-Hartpury), Kerin Lake (Gloucester-Hartpury), Courtney Keight (Bristol Bears), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Bears), Jess Roberts (Sale Sharks), Cara Hope (Gloucester-Hartpury), Kelsey Jones (Gloucester-Hartpury), Cerys Hale (Gloucester-Hartpury), Natalia John (Bristol Bears), Gwen Crabb (Gloucester-Hartpury0, Georgia Evans (Saracens), Manon Johnes (Bristol Bears) Siwan Lillicrap (capt, Bristol Bears)Replacements:Molly Kelly (Sale Sharks) Caryl Thomas (Worcester Warriors) Donna Rose (Saracens)Teleri Wyn Davies (Sale Sharks) Bethan Dainton (Harlequins) Megan Davies (Exeter Chiefs) Niamh Terry (Exeter Chiefs) Caitlin Lewis (Cardiff Met)

Ireland:Eimear Considine (UL Bohemian/Munster), Lauren Delany (Sale Sharks/IQ Rugby), Eve Higgins (Railway Union/Leinster) Sene Naoupu (Old Belvedere/ Leinster), Beibhinn Parsons (Ballinasloe/Blackrock College/Connacht), Hannah Tyrrell (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Kathryn Dane (Old Belvedere/Ulster), Lindsay Peat (Railway Union/Leinster), Cliodhna Moloney (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Linda Djougang (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Aoife McDermott (Railway Union/Leinster), Nichola Fryday (Blackrock College/Connacht), Dorothy Wall (Blackrock College/ Munster), Claire Molloy (Wasps/IQ Rugby), Ciara Griffin (Captain)(UL Bohemian/Munster)Replacements:Neve Jones (Malone/Ulster), Katie O’Dwyer (Railway Union/Leinster), Laura Feely (Blackrock College/Connacht), Brittany Hogan (DCU/Old Belvedere/Ulster), Hannah O’Connor (Blackrock College/Leinster), Emily Lane (Blackrock College/Munster), Stacey Flood (Railway Union/Leinster), Enya Breen (UL Bohemian/Munster)