6 Nations: Round 1 Preview

Ireland v Scotland (Friday, January 31st, 7.30pm, Ashbourne RFC)Watch live on irishrugby.ie or listen to RTE Radio.

The Grand Slam holders take on last year's bottom side at home in this clash and it's a game Ireland will go into confident of winning.

Scotland have a new coaching team and new head coach Jules Maxton has named four new caps withDeborah McCormack, Lisa Robertson, Emma Wassel and Anna Stodter all in the squad while experience is provided through the likes of Lindsay Wheeler and new skipper Tracey Balmer. Returning as well are more experienced faces inRuth Slaven, Lisa Martin and Gillian Inglis and a good performance will be important to build confidence in this rebuilding Scotland side.

Ireland’steam for the opening game contains one new cap with Hannah Casey of Saracens ncluded but other than that there's afamiliar feel to the selection to face the Scots with players such as Fiona Coghlan, Nora Stapleton, Alison Miller and Lynne Cantwell all set to start. Niamh Briggs, feeling her way back from injury, is named on the bench.

Ireland are strong at home and love playing at Ashbourne in front of usually a good crowd.

They should be good enough to pick up their first win but Scotland are a team who will have plenty to prove and in likely bad weather this could be an arm wrestle up front.

Players to watch:Steph Johnston is an impressive back three player and Scotland will want to get the ball in her hands. Ireland lock Sophie Spence has been impressing and her carrying ability coud be key.

Ireland team to play Scotland:Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile), Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exile), Lynne Cantwell (Richmond /Exile), Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Alison Miller (Portlaoise RFC/UCC/Connacht) , Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Amy Davis (Blackrock /Ulster), Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster), Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Cooke/Ulster), Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Marie -Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster), Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster), Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht), Heather O' Brien (Highfield/Munster) 9Replacements: Gill Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster), Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster), Kerri -Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile), Orla Fitzsimmons (St. Mary's/Leinster), Paula Fitzpatrick (St. Mary's/Leinster), Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile), Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster), Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster)

Scotland team to play Ireland: Stephanie Johnston (Worcester), Katy Green (Darlington Mowden Park), Annabel Sergeant (Richmond), Gillian Inglis (Melrose), Megan Gaffney (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), Sarah Law ( Murrayfield Wanderers), Tracy Balmer (Worcester) (captain), Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Smith (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Jade Konkel (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Deborah McCormack (Richmond), Tess Forsberg (Richmond), Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), Lindsay Wheeler (Saracens)Replacements:Nikki McLeod (Stirling County), Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers), Heather Lockhart (Hillhead-Jordanhill), Emma Wassel –(Murrayfield Wanderers), Anna Stodter – Uncapped, Loughborough University, Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), Tanya Griffiths (RHC Cougars), Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers)

France v England (Saturday, February 1st, 7.55pm, GMTStade des Alpes, Grenoble)Live on Sky Sports 3 and France 4

England have named a very experienced side for this one with Katy Mclean back in as captain.Lichfield’s Emily Scarratt and Worcester’s Kat Merchant return from injury after they missed the autumn international series against France and Canada and though the likes of Heather Fisher and Nolli Waterman are not quite back yet, this is a side that should be strong enough to beat a French side who have been hit by tough injuries.

As the host nation of the World Cup though, France have to set a marker out in this game.

The French squad is unchanged from thatannounced two weeks agoand the team will be captained by Gaëlle Mignot, an experienced forward but a volatile player who will need to keep her temper under wraps to lead a side shorn of the experience of players  like Marie Alice Yahe, Caroline Ladagnous and others.

There are though plenty of players to excite in this French squad such as Jennifer Troncy and Elodie Poublan and at home France are always strong.  They have named a particularly strong backrow trio and that's an area which will be fascinating.

You would expect England though, with something of a point to prove after last season, to go and win here.

Players to watch:Though she is far from a new face, Emily Scarratt had a quiet year by her high standards in 2013 so expect her to be back with a bang. Jennifer Troncy is a scrumhalf to watch as she fills Yahe's boots in the opening rounds.

France team v England:1. EZANNO Hélène (Lille) ; 2. MIGNOT Gaëlle (Capt) (Montpellier); 3. PORTARIES Elodie (Montpellier) ; 4. DENADAI Marine (Montpellier) ; 5. KOITA Assa (Bobigny) ; 6. DJOSSOUVI Koumiba (Montpellier) ; 7. DIALLO Coumba Tombe (Bobigny) ; 8. N’DIAYE Safi (Montpellier) ; 9. TRONCY Jennifer (Montpellier) ; 10. AGRICOLE Sandrine (Rennes) ; 11. GRASSINEAU Camille (Bordeaux) ; 12. MAYANS Marjorie (Saint Orens) ; 13. IZAR Shanon (Lille) ; 14. LIEVRE Marion (Bobigny); 15. TREMOULIERE Jessy (Romagnat)

Substitutions:16. SALLES Laetitia (La Valette) ; 17. DUVAL Julie (Ovalie Caennaise) ; 18. ARRICASTRE Lise (Lons) ; 19. RABIER Sandra (Ovalie Caennaise); 20. GRAND Laetitia (Lons) ; 21. POUBLAN Elodie (Montpellier) ; 22. LEDUFF Christelle (USAP) ; 23. RIVOALEN Yanna (Lille)

Substitutions:Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), Claire Purdy (Wasps), Laura Keates (Worcester), Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), Rebecca Essex (Richmond), La Toya Mason (Wasps) , Ceri Large (Worcester), Amber Reed (Bristol)

Wales v Italy (Sunday, February 2nd, 1pm, Talbot Athletic Ground)

Wales Women's head coach Rhys Edwards has named three uncapped players in his squad for this one as he continues to back young and emerging players.

Wing Laurie Harries and centre Robyn Wilkins will make their international debuts alongside Llandaff North colleague Jenny Hawkins who will pack down in the second row. Bristol scrum half Sian Moore is also yet to play Test match rugby, but she will start from the bench as Amy Day's understudy while Maesteg Celtic wing Ffion Bowen has seen a rapid rise

With squad captain Rachel Taylor injured, prop Catrin Edwards will skipper a Wales side where No8 Catrina Nicholas will be playing her 50th international and where Jenny Davies already has 60 caps.

Italy have announce their squad for the first two games, against Wales and France. Front row Lucia Cammarano will play against Italy, while Irene Campanini will play against France - otherwise the squads are the same for both games.Among the twenty-four players in the two squads are five debutants:

Chiara Buongiorno (23) (wing), Lucia Cammarano (22) (prop), Irene Campanini (25) (prop); Maria Magatti (21) (centre); and Valsugana Padova (18) (wing/centre).

Players to watch:Dyddgu Hywel is a player who ahs been catching the eye so the young fullback will certainly be worth watching. Sara Barattin is a superb scrumhalf and if Italy can get go forward she will be a threat around the fringes.

Wales team to play Italy:Dyddgu Hywel (Bristol Ladies), Philippa Tuttiet (Bristol Ladies), Elen Evans (Waterloo), Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North), Laurie Harries (Llandaff North), Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Ladies), Amy Day (Llandaff North);, Megan York (Blaenau Gwent), Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic), Catrin Edwards - CAPT (Bristol Ladies), Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North), Nia Davies (Cardiff Met), Sian Williams (Worcester), Sioned Harries (Llandaff North), Catrina Nicholas (Llandaff North)Substitutes:Carys Phillips (Bristol Ladies), Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies), Delyth Davies (Cardiff Met), Shona Powell Hughes (Neath Athletic), Sian Moore (Bristol Ladies),  Rebecca De Filippo (Bristol Ladies), Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic).

Italy squad v Wales: Ilaria Arrighetti (Asd R. Monza 1949); Debora Ballarini (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta); Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale)
; Melissa Bettoni (Rugby Red Blu Asd); Chiara Buongiorno (Asd R. Monza 1949)
 E; Lucia Cammarano (Asd R. Monza 1949)
E; Maria Grazia Cioffi (Us Rugby Benevento)
; Awa Coulibaly (Rennes); Michela Este (Benetton Treviso); Marta Ferrari (Rennes); Manuela Furlan (Benetton Treviso)
; Silvia Gaudino (Asd R. Monza 1949) ; Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
; Maria Magatti (Asd R. Monza 1949)
E; Cristina Molic (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Alessia Pantarotto (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova) E; Veronica Schiavon (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Michela Sillari (Rugby Colorno)
; Sofia Stefan (Rennes); Alice Trevisan (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Maria Diletta Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
; Sara Zanon (Benetton Treviso)