Six Nations: Round 4 Preview

This weekend France can take a step closer to the Grand Slam as they travel to bottom side Scotland while Ireland are looking to get back on track in their first ever appearance at the Aviva Stadium when they take on Italy. England are back at the Twickenham Stoop, the venue of the 2010 World Cup Final, as they face a Welsh side also searching for their opening win.

England v Wales, Friday 7th March KO 19.30Twickenham StoopEngland will go into this one as hot favourites despite not firing on all cylinders yet this year.

Bouyed by their win over Ireland, albeit with a tighter result than they might have liked, England have recovered sufficiently from their opening day loss to France to go into Friday night with confidence.

With Maggie Alphonsi and Emily Scarratt both starting to come into their own again, England are building form and will be looking to cut loose on home soil.

Wales are in a different mindset - now desperate to avoid going into the final game with Scotland battling it out to in the bottom places, but they were outclassed by France last time out and this is a difficult game to follow-up that home loss with.

There have been some bright sparks for Wales - not least two closely run opening games and the introduction of some bright young talents, but it might be little consolation if they lose on Friday night.

England:15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 14 Katherine Merchant (Worcester), 13 Amber Reed (Bristol), 12 Rachael Burford (Thurrock), 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol), 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) C, 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester), 2 Emma Croker (Richmond), 3 Sophie Hemming (Bristol), 4 Rebecca Essex (Richmond), 5 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 6 Marlie Packer (Wasps), 7 Margaret Alphonsi (Saracens), 8 Sarah Hunter (Lichfield) VCReplacements:16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), 17 Sasha Acheson (Bristol), 18 Laura Keates (Worcester), 19 Joanne McGilchrist (Wasps), 20 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), 21 Natasha Hunt (Lichfield), 22 Ceri Large (Worcester), 23 Natasha Brennan (Richmond)

Wales:Elen Evans (Waterloo); Ffion Bowen (Maesteg Celtic), Robyn Wilkins (Llandaff North), Rebecca de Filippo (Bristol Ladies), Philippa Tuttiett (Bristol Ladies); Elinor Snowsill (Bristol Ladies), Amy Day (Llandaff North); Jenny Davies (Waterloo), Lowri Harries (Neath Athletic), Catrin Edwards (Bristol Ladies), Rachel Taylor (capt; Bristol) Ladies), Shona Powell Hughes Harries (Neath Athletic), Catrina Nicholas (Llandaff North), Sioned Harries (Llandaff North), Nia Davies (Cardiff Met).Replacements: Carys Phillips (Bristol Ladies), Megan York (Blaenau Gwent), Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies), Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North), Sian Williams (Worcester Ladies), Sian Moore (Bristol Ladies), Laurie Harries (Llandaff North), Elli Norkett (Neath Athletic).

Ireland v Italy, Saturday 8th March, KO 17.00Aviva Stadium

Ireland's first ever appearance at the national stadium is by no means going to be easy with Italy already having two wins under their belts this season and growing in confidence.

There was little to choose between these two sides last season, although weather conditions didn't help, and Italy are going into this on the back of a fine win over Scotland where they showcased some high quality finishing skills with scrumhalf Sara Barattin showing top form and setting the pace for some lively backline play.

Italian manager Maria Cristina Tonna  described the win against Scotland as "the perfect match, with the team focused for all 80 minutes. Ireland and Italy have many similarities in style of play, it will be a really great game!"

Italy's squad includes only one change from the Scotland game - propMaria Diletta Veronese rotating into the squad in place of Chiara Buongiorno.

Ireland will be pleased that Niamh Briggs and Jen Murphy are fit - both came off injured against England - and hope that their abrasive game up front will come to the fore again. The Irish have been very good this year without hitting the heights just yet of last season, but they are still in the running for the title and will be highly motivated in Dublin.

Ireland team: 15. Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians/Munster) 14. Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins/Ulster) 13. Lynne Cantwell (Richmond /Exile) 12. Grace Davitt (Cooke/Ulster) 11. Alison Miller (Portlaoise RFC/UCC/Connacht) 10. Nora Stapleton (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 9. Amy Davis (Blackrock/Ulster) 8. Heather O' Brien (Highfield/Munster) 7. Claire Molloy (Bristol/Connacht)  6. Siobhan Fleming (Tralee/Munster) 5 Marie –Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 5 Sophie Spence (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 3. Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians/Munster) 2. Stacey-Lea Kennedy (Cooke/Ulster) 1. Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians/Leinster)Replacements16. Ailis Egan (Old Belveder/Leinster) 17. Fiona Hayes (UL Bohemians/Munster) 18. Kerrie –Ann Craddock (Saracens/Exile) 19. Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's/Leinster) 420. Larrissa Muldoon (Bristol/Exile) 21. Hannah Casey (Saracens/Exiles) 22. Jenny Murphy (Old Belvedere/Leinster) 23. Jackie Shiels (Richmond/Exile)

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); 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)
; Maria Diletta Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova)

Scotland v France, Sunday 9th March, KO 14.00Howthornden

France look too powerful at the moment to be caught in this tournament - despite their slippery last tie with Ireland - and they should be too good here against a Scotland side still searching for a win.

Scotland will have been pleased to score their first 6 Nations try in a couple of years in their last outing with Italy, but they have been way too far off the pace to come close to any of their opponents this season. There are some incredibly tough lessons being dealt out to an inexperienced Scotland set-up and it's doubtful it will get any easier this weekend.

Rather, Jules Maxton's side will be targeting their final game with Wales where they might see themselves get some change.

Up front France are a force this season and that power has been the basis of all of their wins so far where their Montepellier inspired pack have led the way - the brilliant Gaëlle Mignot leading by example.

Behind the scrum though there has been much to admire with Sandrine Agricole pulling the strings inside powerful centre combinations. A Grand Slam in a World Cup year beckons. They have also benefited from being able to select almost unchanged squads for each game - the only change this weekend being the return of Laetitia Grand in place of Manon Andre.

Scotland's wingerAnnabel Sergeanthas called for a change in mindset in her side but it is unlikely to be enough against a French side on a roll.

Francefrom: Sandrine Agricole (Rennes) ; Lise Arricastre (Lons) ; Marine Denadai (Montpellier) ; Coumba Tombe Diallo (Bobigny) ; Koumiba Djossouvi (Montpellier) ; Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); Hélène Ezanno (Lille) ; Laetitia Grand (Lons) ; Camille Grassineau (Bordeaux) ; Shannon Izar (Lille) ; Assa Koita (Bobigny) ; Christelle Leduff (USAP) ; Marion Lievre (Bobigny) ; Marjorie Mayans (Saint Orens); Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier) ; Safi N’diaye (Montpellier) ; Elodie Portaries (Montpellier) ; Elodie Poublan (Montpellier) ; Sandra Rabier (Ovalie Caennaise); Laetitia Salles (La Valette); Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat) ; Jennyfer Troncy (Montpellier) ; Marie Alice Yahe (USAP)

Image thanks to Rugby Matters