Women’s Six Nations Round 5: Preview

Stade de la Rabine - where the 2016 Women's Six Nations will be decided.

Friday 18th March, 8pm GMT (9pm local) France v England, Stade de la Rabine, Vannes  (Broadcast: Sky Sports 3 (red button)/France 4)

This is simply a winner-takes-all Women’s Six Nations Cup Final the like of which we have only ever seen once before, back in 2004 when both teams came into the final game unbeaten before France took the honours 13-12.

This time France cannot win the Grand Slam, but a far better points difference means that if they win the game they still take the title. For England not only is the title up for contention, but also their first Grand Slam since 2012 - which was also the last time they beat France in France.

This will be the first women’s international to be played in Vannes – and the first time any French national team has played there (it was been used for the men’s U20 world championship in 2013, and two play-off games for the 2015a men’s World Cup). The small ground – on the Brittany coast north-west of Nantes - takes only 9,500 spectators and promises to be packed.

The only changes to the French squad are at scrum-half where both Laure Sansus and Yanna Rivoalen are unavailable, the former due to injury, the latter due to the requirements of her professional studies. Pauline Bourdon therefore comes in for her second cap, and her first appearance in the Six Nations. Caroline Boujard also returns having missed the trip to Scotland due to injury.England make one change following second row Abbie Scott’s knee injury in the game against Wales, bringing Harriet Millar-Mills back into the starting XV.

“We are competing in a Grand Slam match and this will be a championship decider," England coach Scott Bemand said. "We set a high bar for ourselves and we are where we wanted to be at this point in the tournament. Our ambition is to go to France and win. This is going to be a hard, physical game and in front of a home crowd, France will step up their physicality. We're ready for that but remember, they've got to deal with us.”

France:15 Laura Delas (Tarbes); 14 Camille Cabalou (Bayonne); 13 Lucille Godiveau (Bobigny);12 Elodie Poublan (Montpellier); 11 Julie Billes (Montpellier); 10 Camille Imart (Stade Toulousain); 9 Pauline Bourdon (Bayonne); 8 Safi N’diaye (Montpellier); 7 Laetitia Grand (Lons); 6 Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier); 5 Céline Ferer (Bayonne); 4 Audrey Forlani (Blagnac -Saint Orens);3 Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); 2 Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier); 1 Lise Arricastre (Lons);Replacements:16 Manon Bigot (Blagnac -Saint Orens); 17 Dhia Traore (Stade Toulousain); 18 Patricia Carricaburu (Lons); 19 Romane Menager (Lille-Métropole RC Villeneuvois);  20 Julie Annery (Bobigny); 21 Camille Boudaud (Stade Rennais Rugby); 22 Coralie Bertrand (Stade Toulousain); 24 Caroline Boujard (Montpellier);

England:15. Katie Mason (Bristol, 9 caps); 14. Lydia Thompson (Worcester, 21 caps); 13. Lauren Cattell (Saracens, 17 caps); 12. Ceri Large (Worcester, 46 caps); 11. Lotte Clapp (Saracens, 6 caps); 10. Amber Reed (Bristol, 28 caps); 9. La Toya Mason (Darlington Mowden Park, 53 caps); 1. Rochelle Clark (Worcester, 109 caps); 2. Emma Croker (Richmond, 62 caps); 3. Vickii Cornborough (Richmond, 13 caps); 4. Emily Braund (Lichfield, 22 caps); 5. Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park, 90 caps) ; 6. Harriet Millar-Mills (Lichfield, 30 caps); 7. Izzy Noel-Smith (Bristol, 16 caps); 8. Sarah Hunter (Bristol, 77 caps)

Replacements;16. Amy Cokayne (Lichfield, 12 caps); 17. Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park, 6 caps); 18. Bianca Dawson (Wasps, 4 caps); 19. Poppy Leitch (Bristol, 3 caps); 20. Poppy Cleall (Saracens, 3 caps); 21. Bianca Blackburn (Worcester, 12 caps); 22. Leanne Riley (Richmond, 7 caps) ; 23. Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park, 15 caps);

Sunday 20th March, 1pm, Ireland v Scotland, Donnybrook, Dublin (Stream: Irish Rugby TV)

Ireland return to Donnybrook aiming to confirm third position in this year’s Championship. This always looked a tough ask for the champions, with their Sevens players absent and games away to both France and England. They have yet to concede a try at their new home in Dublin 4, after two good wins over Wales and Italy, and they will be aiming to continue that form with the visit of Scotland.

Scotland round off what has been a vastly improved Six Nations performance, even if it has not returned any wins so far. Massive improvements in defence have seen the number of points conceded this season halved from previous years.

Ireland have made seven personnel changes and two positional switches to their team. Captain Niamh Briggs reverts from centre to her usual position of full-back. She will have Liz Burke, who won her first Ireland cap last weekend, and Alison Miller alongside her on the wings. Ulster's Claire McLaughlin, who was another new cap against the Italians, will partner Sene Naoupu in the centre for her first international start.

Out-half Nora Stapleton and scrum half Larissa Muldoon form an experienced half-back partnership, with 71 caps between them. Up front, Ruth O'Reilly returns to her regular loosehead berth and joins Zoe Grattage and Ailis Egan in the front row. Ciara Cooney moves from the back row to partner Elaine Anthony in the second row. Ciara Griffin switches from openside to blindside flanker to allow Claire Molloy don the number 7 jersey and Paula Fitzpatrick, Ireland's second half try scorer against Italy, will start at number 8.

Coach Tom Tierney said: "Building strength in depth has been a key focus for us this campaign. Since we began the season back in November with our first ever autumn Test against England, there have been 14 new caps and that is very important for Women's rugby in Ireland. Overall we're pleased with how the Six Nations has progressed so far. While the results away to England and France were disappointing, we have won our two home games and will be hoping to make it three this weekend."

All 23 players retain their positions for Scotland. Coach Shade Munro said: "We had a really good first half against France, we certainly took it to them. One of our goals was to compete physically with them for 80 minutes and we achieved the goals we had individually and collectively set as a team, which was really pleasing. The effort is there and I'm really proud of the progress the squad has made during this Six Nations campaign. We can compete with these teams – the potential is definitely there. This final game against Ireland is another chance for us to improve and work on the things we can control. The players are looking forward to getting out there and enjoying the match, while also doing the thistle proud.”

Scotland:15 Chloe Rollie* (Murrayfield Wanderers); 14 Megan Gaffney (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 13 Lisa Thomson* (Melrose RFC / Edinburgh University); 12 Lisa Martin* (Murrayfield Wanderers) CAPTAIN; 11 Rhona Lloyd (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University); ; 10 Sarah Law* (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University); 9 Jenny Maxwell (Leeds Beckett University / Lichfield RFC); ; 1 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 2 Lana Skeldon* (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 3 Lindsey Smith (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 4 Emma Wassell* (Murrayfield Wanderers); 5 Deborah McCormack (Richmond RFC); 6 Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill); 7 Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars / Edinburgh University); 8 Jade Konkel* (Hillhead/Jordanhill)Replacements; 16 Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers); 17 Lisa Robertson* (Murrayfield Wanderers); 18 Tracy Balmer (Worcester RFC); 19 Fiona Sim (Saracens RFC); 20 Anna Stodter (Saracens RFC); 21 Helen Nelson (Murrayfield Wanderers / Edinburgh University); 22 Lauren Harris (Melrose RFC); 23 Eilidh Sinclair* (Murrayfield Wanderers); ;* BT Sport Scottish Rugby Academy Stage 2 players 2015/16;

Ireland:15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) (capt) 14. Liz Burke (UL Bohemians/Munster) 13. Claire McLaughlin (Queen's University/Ulster) 12. Sene Naoupu (Galwegians/Connacht) 11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Connacht)10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 9. Larissa Muldoon (Skewen) 1. Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians/Connacht) 2. Zoe Grattage (Tralee/Munster) 3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 4. Elaine Anthony (Highfield/Munster) 5. Ciara Cooney (Railway Union/Leinster) 6. Ciara Griffin (Tralee/Munster) 7. Claire Molloy (Bristol) 8. Paula Fitzpatrick (Toulouse)Replacements:16. Cliodhna Moloney (Railway Union/Leinster) 17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster) 18. Fiona Reidy (UL Bohemians/Munster) 19. Orla Fitzsimons (St. Mary's/Leinster) 20. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster)21. Mary Healy (Galwegians/Connacht) 22. Aine Donnelly (Cill Dara/Leinster) 23. Kim Flood (Railway Union/Leinster)

Sunday 20th March, 2pm, Wales v Italy, Aberavon RFC, Port Talbot (Stream: S4C website)

Wales and Italy play-off for fourth place in Aberavon, which will perhaps be a disappointing end for both. Wales had at least a mathematical chance of winning the title a week ago, while after their third place in 2015 this result might be seen as a slip back for Italy.

However the bonus is that this tournament has seen both confirm their qualification for next year’s World Cup.

Wales coach Rhys Edwards has made four changes and two positional switches for Sunday's Six Nations finale against Italy at the Talbot Athletic Ground (KO 2pm). Adi Taviner and Kerin Lake replace Dyddgu Hywel and Elinor Snowsill in the backs while Amy Evans and Siwan Lillicrap come in for Catrin Edwards and Rebecca Rowe in the forwards. There could be one further change with Edwards giving Sioned Harries more time to recover from illness after the No. 8 missed the clash against England.

Lake's inclusion gives Edwards another chance to look at Robyn Wilkins at fly half with Snowsill dropping down to the bench while Meg York switches from tighthead prop to loose head to accommodate Evans who has impressed when given an opportunity during the campaign.

"Elinor has good experience at 10 and has matured in her role this year. It's important that we look at strength in depth and provide Robyn with opportunities to develop as an international outside half," said Edwards. "We'll be looking to really attack Italy and keep the ball alive and go through the phases. I'm really pleased with the progress we have made over the last four games. We have shown some excellent attacking intent, and some ruthless defence. We were unlucky not to win last week against England. We have one more opportunity to go out and put on a good show in front of another big home crowd."

Italy make only one change with the inclusion of the second row Sara Tounesi, from Cremona Rugby,

Wales:15 Adi Taviner (Ospreys/ Skewen);  14 Bethan Dainton (Dragons / Bristol);  13 Hannah Jones (Scarlets / Penybanc);  12 Kerin Lake (Ospreys/ Skewen);  11 Elen Evans (Scarlets / Caernarfon);  10 Robyn Wilkins (Ospreys / Llandaff North);  9 Keira Bevan (Ospreys / Skewen);;  1 Megan York (Dragons / Ynysddu);  2 Carys Phillips (Ospreys / Skewen);  3 Amy Evans (Ospreys / Skewen);  4 Shona Powell-Hughes (Ospreys / Skewen);  5 Siwan Lillicrap (Ospreys/ Skewen);  6 Rachel Taylor (Dragons / Caernarfon - Captain);  7 Sian Williams (Dragons / Worcester);  8 Sioned Harries (Scarlets / Whitland) / Alisha Butchers (Scarlets / Pen y Banc)Replacements:;  16 Amy Price (Ospreys / Skewen);  17 Cerys Hale (Dragons / Pontyclun);  18 Catrin Edwards (Scarlets / Llandaff North);  19 Rebecca Rowe (Dragons / Richmond);  20 Sioned Harries (Scarlets / Whitland) / Alisha Butchers (Scarlets / Pen y Banc);  21 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons / Bristol);  22 Gemma Rowland (Dragons / Wasps);  23 Dyddgu Hywel (Scarlets / Pontyclun)

Italy:15 Manuela Furlan (Benetton Treviso, 50 caps); 14 Maria Magatti (Rugby Monza 1949, 14 caps); 13 Michela Sillari (Rugby Colorno, 28 caps); 12 Paola Zangirolami (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 66 caps); 11 Sofia Stefan (Rennes, Francia, 26 caps); 10 Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 15 caps); 9  Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale, 66 caps) - Capitano; 8  Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 15 caps); 7  Isabella Locatelli (Rugby Monza 1949, 5 caps); 6  Michela Este (Benetton Rugby Treviso, 48 caps); 5  Alice Trevisan (Rugby Riviera Del Brenta, 33 caps); 4  Elisa Pillotti (Rugby Parabiago, 4 caps); 3  Melissa Bettoni (Rennes, Francia, 30 caps); 2  Lucia Cammarano (Rugby Monza 1949, 12 caps); 1  Elisa Cucchiella (Belve Neroverdi, 56 caps);Replacements:16 Lucia Gai (Rugby Riviera Del Brenta, 41 caps); 17 Diletta Nicoletti (Rugby Bologna 1928, 2 caps); 18 Sara Tounesi ( Rugby Cremona, 0 cap); 19 Valentina Ruzza (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 12 caps); 20 Ilaria Arrighetti (Rennes, Francia, 20 caps); 21 Silvia Folli (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 1 cap); 22 Mariagrazia Cioffi (Rugby Benevento, 41 caps); 23 Veronica Madia (Rugby Colorno, 1 cap); ;