6 Nations: Round 3 Preview

England v Ireland, Twickenham StadiumSaturday 22nd February, 2014, KO 18.20The opening game of the weekend is set to be a belter. Ireland beat England for the first time in their history last season but they will find the going tougher this Saturday. England rarely lose at home at any venue and it will still hurt that they lost their unbeaten record to France at this very ground last year.

They shook off some of the disappointment of the loss by beating France at Twickenham in the November internationals and Street has been vocal about the team relishing a chance to take on Ireland there. But England were meant to come into this game unbeaten - it was a surprise they lost to France away - and in doing so they have shown some weakeness that Ireland will be sure to attempt to exploit.

Ireland too, despite being unbeaten and going for the Triple Crown this weekend, haven't had things all their own way. A superb win over Scotland was backed up by a much tougher victory over Wales, who will have given the Irish plenty of food for thought.

England's selection is interesting given the changes they made for Scotland. With Heather Fisher and Nolli Waterman as well as Micheala Staniford all away with the 7s side at the moment, there are still question marks in certain areas although although Street has plenty of depth in his squad. The selection of Hannah Gallagher in the starting XV ahead of Marlie Packer is particularly notable.

Ashleigh Baxter comes in on the wing for Hannah Casey and Gillian Bourke replaces Stacey-Lea Kennedy at hooker. Both Casey and Kennedy will start from the bench. The only other change to the match day 23 sees Laura Guest come into the replacements in place of Paula Fitzpatrick.Niamh Briggs and Larissa Muldoon who came into the side after the opening round are retained at full-back and scrum-half respectively.Philip Doyle, Ireland Women's Head Coach, commented, "The team showed great character to secure the win against Wales but they are in for a huge test this weekend facing England at Twickenham. England will be smarting from last year's defeat and are a quality side who have shown their power and skill already in this Championship.”

Ireland's side hasn't been tinkered with too much yet and it will have pleased Phillip Doyle to see the likes of Heather O'Brien ably filling the boots of Joy Neville. Ireland's backrow is in good shape.

England team v Ireland; 15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield) ; 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester); 13 Amber Reed (Bristol) ; 12 Rachel Burford (Thurrock) ; 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol) ; 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) C ; 9 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield) ; 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester) ; 2 Emma Croker (Richmond) ; 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol) ; 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond) ; 5 Joanne McGilchrist (Wasps) ; 6 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens) ; 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens) ; 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) VC

Replacements:; 16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield) ; 17 Laura Keates (Worcester) ; 18 Sasha Acheson (Bristol) ; 19 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) ; 20 Marlie Packer (Wasps) ; 21 La Toya Mason (Wasps) ; 22 Ceri Large (Worcester) ; 23 Lydia Thompson (Worcester)

Ireland:15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) 38 caps: 14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 10 caps: 13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond /Exile) 80 caps: 12. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 10 caps: 11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise RFC/UCC/Connacht) 16 caps: 10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 20 caps: 9. Larissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile) 17 caps:  caps: 8. Heather O' Brien (Highfield/Munster)11 caps: 7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht) 28 caps: 6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster) 12 caps: 5. Marie –Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 27 caps: 4. Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 12 caps: 3. Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 14 caps: 2. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster ) 38 caps: 1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster) 77 capt caps:

Replacements: 16. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Cooke/Ulster) 10 caps: 17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster) 3 caps: 18. Kerrie –Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile) 1 caps: 19. Laura Guest (Highfield/Munster) 31 caps: 20. Amy Davis (Blackrock /Ulster) 33 caps: 21. Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exiles) 2 caps: 22. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster) 48 caps: 23. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile) 9 caps

Wales v France, Talbot Athletic GroundSunday 23rd February, KO 14.00

We might be just two games in, but already the title is France's to lose.  Having defeated England at home, France will see this as their best chance in years to win the title but away from home they are always vulnerable and Wales haven't been far away in any of their games so far - in fact they have been agonisingly close in both losses and they will have nothing to lose this weekend.

With a strong set-piece, Wales won't fear the strength of the French pack but their challenge is to finish off the oportunities they have, something that has let them down in the opening games. Wales are creating plenty of chances but they are going to have to convert them if they are to have a chance of winning.

France welcome back their squad captain Marie Alice Yahe, who they have hardly missed with the two wins so far, but she's a key figure in the squad and will likely feature this weekend. For Wales it's been good to see youngster and kicker Robyn Wilkins slot in with ease and it will be fascinating to see how a powerful Welsh midfield copes with a centre pairing of equal strength this weekend.

Wales:1 Jenny Davies (Waterloo); 2 Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic); 3 Catrin Edwards (Bristol Ladies); 4 Nia Davies (Cardiff Met); 5 Shona Powell Hughes (Neath Athletic); 6 Catrina Nicholas (Llandaff North); 7 Sioned Harries (Llandaff North); 8 Rachel Taylor (Captain) (Bristol Ladies); 9 Amy Day (Llandaff North); 10 Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Ladies); 11 Philippa Tuttiett (Bristol Ladies); 12 Rebecca de Filippo (Bristol Ladies); 13 Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North); 14 Elen Evans (Waterloo); 15 Dyddgu Hywel (Bristol Ladies)

Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips (Bristol Ladies); 17 Megan York (Blaenau Gwent); 18 Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies); 19 Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North); 20 Sian Williams (Worcester); 21 Sian Moore (Bristol Ladies); 22 Laurie Harries (Llandaff North); 23 Elli Norkett (Neath Athletic)

France1. Hélène Ezanno (Lille); 2... Gaëlle Mignot (Capt) (Montpellier); 3. Elodie Portaries (Montpellier); 4. Sandra Rabier (Ovalie Caennaise); 5. Assa Koita (Bobigny); 6. Koumiba Djossouvi (Montpellier); 7. Coumba Diallo (Bobigny); 8. Safi N’diaye (Montpellier); 9. Jennifer Troncy (Montpellier); 10. Sandrine Agricole (Rennes); 11. Camille Grassineau (Bordeaux); 12. Elodie Poublan (Montpellier); 13. Shanon Izar (Lille); 14. Marion Lievre (Bobigny); 15. Christelle Leduff (USAP)

Replacements:16. Laetitia Salles (La Valette); 17. Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); 18. Lise Arricastre (Lons); 19. Marine De Nadai (Montpellier); 20. Manon Andre (Saint Orens); 21. Marjorie Mayans (Saint Orens); 22. Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat); 23. Marie-Alice Yahe (USAP)

Italy v Scotland, Stadio Parco UrbanoSunday 23rd February, KO 14.30

For Italy this represents a chance to take out their second win of the campaign while Scotland will be eyeing this as probably their best bet of scoring points and grabbing anything  from the tournament at all.

At home, Italy always fancy their chances and they will go into the game with confidence having already hit the road and won this season.

Last year though, Scotland came very near to beating Italy, losing just 8-0, and despite their drubbing against England there were signs that the likes of Annabel Sergeant and Steph Johnson are both genuine attacking threats out wide and if they can get more time on the ball, Scotland will stand a far better chance of getting some scores on the board.

For Italy scrumhalf Sara Barattin has been a real handful for sides already this season and after defeat to France they'll be hoping for a quick bounce back.

Italyfrom:Ilaria Arrighetti (Asd R. Monza 1949); Debora Ballarini (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta); Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale)
; Melissa Bettoni (Rugby Red Blu Asd); Monica Bruno (Cus Torino Rugby); Chiara Buongiorno (Asd R. Monza 1949)
 ; Lucia Cammarano (Asd R. Monza 1949)
; Irene Campanini (Rugby Colorno); Maria Grazia Cioffi (Us Rugby Benevento)
; Awa Coulibaly (Rennes, Fed. Francese); Michela Este (Benetton Treviso); Marta Ferrari (Rennes, Fed. Francese); Manuela Furlan (Benetton Treviso)
; Silvia Gaudino (Asd R. Monza 1949) ; Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Rugby Padova)
; Maria Magatti (Asd R. Monza 1949)
; Cristina Molic (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Alessia Pantarotto (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova) ; Veronica Schiavon (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)
; Michela Sillari (Rugby Colorno)
; Sofia Stefan (Rennes, Fed. Francese); Alice Trevisan (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta)