Six Nations: Prep steps up ahead of tournament opener

ENGLAND

The team to beat in this year's tournament. The reigning champions, who have now been fully professional for a year, had a very strong 2019, with 11 wins in 13 games.

They have to start the tournament the hard way though, when they travel to Pau to face France, but win that, and it's impossible to see beyond them for the title.

Blessed with pace and talent all over the field, England are obviously a superb all round team, who can mix power and grunt up front with flair and speed throughthe middle - although the losses to New Zealand and France last year are a reminder that they are not the finished article.Just 18 months or so out from the next World Cup, they will be seeking to make the improvements needed so that they go there with a rounded squad capable of taking the title away from New Zealand in the own back yard.With that in mind, Simon Middleton's selections in key positions where England have huge experience but perhaps need more depth, like fly-half and fullback, will be worth a watch over this tournament and given the full year of professionalism behind them - something that was in its infancy at the start of last year's campaign, their strength and conditioning, particularly late in games, should be telling.

With Jess Breach scoring tries for fun at Harlequins and World Player of the Year Emily Scarratt pulling the strings in the middle, England have the potential to really punish teams who can't live with the pace they can put on the game. They are without Marlie Packer for the tournament, who is injured, and they have Harriet Millar-Mills back in the fold after a lengthy spell out, but otherwise this England squad looks in great shape.

ENGLAND SQUAD

Forwards:Zoe Aldcroft, Sarah Beckett, Sarah Bern, Hannah Botterman, Shaunagh Brown, Rowena Burnfield, Bryony Cleall, Poppy Cleall, Amy Cockayne, Vickii Cornborough, Lark Davies, Vicky Fleetwood, Amelia Harper, Sarah Hunter, Heather Kerr, Harriet Millar-Mills, Abbie Scott, Morwenna Talling.Backs:Jess Breach, Katy Daly-McLean, Abby Dow, Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt, Claudia Macdonald, Sarah McKenna, Amber Reed, Leanne Riley, Emily Scarratt, Emily Scott, Kelly Smith, Lydia Thompson, Millie Wood.

FRANCE

From losing to Italy, to beating New Zealand, France gave their fans the full mixed bag of emotions in 2019 and will be hoping for much more consistency in 2020.

Hosting England first could be a blessing for Annick Hayraud's team, with the two losses to England in the Autumn freshest motivation in their minds and knowing they have a good record at home against the champions. The loss at Exeter will have stung in particular, with France looking good for the win only to leak a try in the last minutes of the match.

FRANCE SQUADJulie Annery, Lise Arricastre, Cyrielle Banet, Rose Bernadou, Camille Boudard, Caroline Boujard, Pauline Bourdon, Marie- Aurélie Castel, Lenaig Corson, Annaëlle Deshaye, Coumba Diallo, Madoussou Fall, Celine Ferer, Audrey Forlani,  Emiline Gros, Gaelle Hermet, Camille Imart, Clara Joyeux, Nassira Konde, Marine Menager, Romane Menager, Safi N'Diaye, Morgane Peyronnet, Laure Sansus, Agathe Sochat, Carolien Thomas, Laure Touye, Maïlys Traore, Jessu Tremouliere, Gabrielle Vernier.

ITALY

After their outstanding 6 Nations last year, finishing in the top two for the first time ever, Italy went on to have a more disappointing Autumn, and will be without the experienced Manuela Furlan, who has also been their captain.

Elisa Giordano will take over the captaincy in her place and head coach Andrea Di Giandomenico has named a 30-strong squad, which includes the previously uncapped duo of Silvia Arpano and Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi.

An away clash with Wales provides the opening test for Italy on Sunday, February 2 and Di Giandomenico believes his squad are primed to make an impact in this year’s Championship.

“We have a group made up of experienced and young players who want to establish themselves in the Italian and international rugby scene,” he said.

“We work constantly to improve and to be ready for the first game against Wales. We have several players with good leadership who are able to support the team.”

Sara Barratin could end this year surpassing the 100 cap mark - the brilliant scrum-half goes into the year on 91. Expect her to play every game in this tournament and to have a huge infuence.

ITALY SQUAD

FORWARDS;Silvia Arpano, Lucia Gai, Michela Merlo,  Erika Skofka, Silvia Turani, Giulia Cerato, Melissa Bettoni, Giordana Duca,  Valeria Fedrighi, Valentina Ruzza, Sara Tounesi, Ilaria Arrighetti, Lucia Cammarano, Giada Franco,  Elisa Giordano, Francesca Sberna, Francesca Sgorbini

BACKS:Sara Barattin, Sofia Stefan,  Micol Cavina, Veronica Madia, Laura Paganini, Beatrice Capomaggi, Beatrice Rigoni, Michela Sillari,  Maria Magatti,  Benedetta Mancini, Aura Muzzo, Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, Camilla Sarasso

WALES

There has been some upheaval in the Welsh camp off the field in recent months with Rowland Phillips taking some time away from his role as head coach and then curiously two of Wales most capped players Carys Phillips and Sioned Harries, who each have over 50 caps, failing to make the squad. Whatever is going on, the new look coaching outfit will hope it doesn't impact on the field as Wales have been on the up.Former Worcester prop Chris Horsman alongside Geraint Lewis and Gareth Wyatt have taken over and after a good Autumn with wins over both Ireland and Scotland, Horsman believe his side go into the Championship with great confidence. Wales also played Ireland in a training game in a warm-up,   losing  22-12.

“We are pleased with the progress made during the autumn campaign, both in terms of creating fitness benchmarks and raising our performance standards. We made clear improvements in November and the togetherness shown was obvious throughout the month,” the former men’s Worcester Warrior prop said.

“Everyone named has earned their place in the squad but they have a chance now to step up and raise their performance standards to the next level.

Siwan Lillicrap will continue as captain of the Welsh side, who will be looking to improve on their two victories in last year’s competition this time around.

WALES SQUAD:

Forwards:Alisha Butchers, Alex Callender, Gwen Crabb, Georgia Evans, Abbie Fleming, Cerys Hale, Lleucu George, Cara Hope, Natalia John, Manon Johnes, Kelsey Jones, Molly Kelly, Sarah Lawrence, Bethan Lewis, Ruth Lewis, Siwan Lillicrap, Robyn Lock, Gwenllian PyrsBacks:Keira Bevan, Hannah Bluck, Hannah Jones, Jasmine Joyce, Courtney Keight, Kerin Lake, Caitlin Lewis, Ffion Lewis, Lisa Neumann, Kayleigh Powell, Paige Randall, Lauren Smyth, Elinor Snowsill, Niamh Terry, Megan Webb, Robyn WilkinsIRELAND

Ireland had a poor 2019 tournament, managing just one win to finish ffith and secure their worst 6 Nations table position in 13 years.

In the Autumn they then lost to Wales again, so it will be some source of relief to coach Adam Griggs that his side beat the same opposition in a training game last weekend and surely pleasing too that the fixtures are kind to his team - with two home games against Scotland and Wales to kick things off.Ireland name five uncapped players in their overall squad: Claire Keohane, Dorothy Wall, Grace Miller, Katie O’Dwyer and Shannon Tuohey while former Sevens player Aoife Doyle makes her return to the set-up after last appearing in the 2015 Women’s Six Nations where she got three caps coming off the bench.

Irish Sevens Internationals, Katie Fitzhenry, Hannah Tyrrell, Claire Boles, Laura Sheehan and Dorothy Wall have also been named in the squad. Griggs cut the squad to 26 for the Wales game and will surely look to use more new faces this year to help build depth in the lead up to World Cup qualification pathways.

IRELAND SQUAD:Forwards:Judy Bobbett,  Claire Boles,  Anna Caplice,  Ciara Cooney, Victoria Dabanovich O’Mahony, Linda Djougang, Laura Feeley, Nichola Fryday, Ciara Griffin, Leah Lyons, Anne Marie O’Hora, Aoife McDermott, Claire McLaughlin,  Edel McMahon, Cliodhna Moloney, Niamh Ni Dhroma, Hannah O’Connor, Katie O’Dwyer,  Lindsay Peat Dorothy WallBacks:Enya Breen. Michelle Claffey, Eimear Considine, Nicole Cronin, Kathryn Dane, Lauren Delany, Aoife Doyle, Katie Fitzhenry, Ailsa Hughes,  Claire Keohane,  Grace Miller, Larissa Muldoon, Ellen Murphy,  Sene Naoupu , Beibhinn Parsons,  Laura Sheehan, Shannon Touhey,  Hannah TyrrellSCOTLAND

Scotland delivered a boost to their 2020 prospects with a fine win over Spain earlier this month- a team who are likely to be one of their key opponents in the World Cup qualifiers to come later this year.The Scots failed to win a game in last year's 6 Nations, though ought to have beaten Wales having conceded a last ditch score. A series victory in South Africa in the summer will have counted as a positive while they went on to lose two Autumn games - to Wales and then to Japan, the latter again via a last minute try, to end 2019 disappointingly.

The team are in reality still building under coach Philip Doyle and they will largely be focused on the challenge to come later in 2020 of the World Cup qualifiers.If fit, Scotland have the spine of what looks like a side capable of faring much better this season with Lana Skeldon at hooker and Jade Konkel at No 8 and the likes of Hannah Smith and Lisa Thomson in the centre. Chloe Rollie, if injury free, is also a significant threat for the Scots out wide.

There are five new faces in the squad and Doyle has professed delight too that captain Rachel Malcolm has returned from injury.SCOTLAND SQUADForwards:Leah Bartlett; Christine Belisle, Sarah Bonar, Lisa Cockburn, Siobhan Cattigan, Mairi Forsyth, Evie Gallagher, Jade Konkel, Rachel Malcolm, , Rachel McLachlan , Louise McMillanPanashe Muzambe , Jodie Rettie , Lana Skeldon , Emma Wassell, Molly WrightBacks: Isla Alejandro, Sarah Denholm, Megan Gaffney, Coreen Grant, Sarah Law , Rachel Law, Rhona Lloyd, Mairi McDonald, Helen Nelson, Chloe Rollie, Annabel Sergeant, Rachel Shankland, Hannah Smith , Lisa Thomson, Evie Tonkin, Alex Wallace