Six Nations: Round 4 news and previews

Niamh Briggs and Ireland face another must-win game in Wales to keep their Six Nations alive

Team news

England v Scotland (Northern Echo Arena, Darlington), 13th March(19:35 GMT) (Live on Sky Sports 3 in UK)

It is some 16 years since Scotland last beat England, and the more recent meetings between the two sides have been decidely one-sided affairs. However, with relatively stable Scotland team and a young England team with a single win over Italy in their opening three games, the result should not be quite as one-sided as previously.

That said, anything other than an England win would be an unparallelled shock. It is really a question of the margin of victory (keeping England below 40 points would be a sign of real improvement by the Scots) and whether Scotland can get on the scoreboard (they have not any points against England since 2009, and have not scored a try since 2008).

Englandinclude Lydia Thompson and Richmond's Fiona Pocock for the first time in this year's Six Nations. Thompson has not played for England since the Rugby World Cup pool game against Spain in August, where she picked up an injury that ruled her out of the tournament, while Pocock has been side-lined through injury since playing Ireland in the 2013 Six Nations - a game that had been her first return to the colours since the famous Nicole Beck tackle in the 2010 World Cup. They are two of five changes Acting Head Coach Nicola Ponsford has made to the starting line-up as she rotates her squad with Justine Lucas, Rowena Burnfield and Hannah Field in the starting in place of Laura Keates, Abigail Scott and Hannah Gallagher."It's great to welcome Lydia and Fiona back into the squad after their absence through injury,” said Ponsford. "Both are quality players who have proved themselves on the world stage at both the 2014 and 2010 Rugby World Cups. They are now ready to come back into the mix and I am really looking forward to seeing them back in an England shirt. We have made three other changes to the starting XV. Justine, Rowena and Hannah will benefit from more game time, they have been training really well and they deserve the opportunity to start. We are heading into the match very much focused on our performance. We were disappointed with the execution of our game plan against Ireland so we have been working hard on how we are going to deliver that against Scotland.”

Scotlandmake two changes to the team that met Italy two weeks ago. Moving from the bench to start on the right wing is Murrayfield Wanderers' Eilidh Sinclair while in the pack, while Richmond's Deborah McCormack also moves into the starting XV at lock.While defeated in the previous round, the Scots feel that they have seen steady improvement over this year's championship, with Hillhead Jordanhill no 8 Jade Konkel crossing for a try and Nuala Deans slotting a penalty against the Italians at Broadwood. Head coach Jules Maxton is looking for progress to continue. "We were disappointed not to run the Italians closer, "she said, 2though it's been good to see steady progress over the last few weeks and watch confidence grow within the team. We've been able to maintain the momentum of a largely similar team and hope this group of players will rise to the occasion in what is always a hard-fought fixture."England have had their challenges and will be looking to bounce back after a late defeat to Ireland last time out so we know we have to hit the ground running on Friday. We're really looking forward to running out at what is a new venue for us and being the second of our two nations' double-header are hoping for a good crowd to cheer on all our players.”

England:15 Fiona Pocock (Richmond); 14 Ruth Laybourn (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 13 Abigail Brown (Bristol); 12 Ceri Large (Worcester); 11Lydia Thompson (Worcester); 10 Katy Mclean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) Captain; 9 Bianca Blackburn (Worcester); 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester); 2 Victoria Fleetwood (Saracens); 3 Justine Lucas (Lichfield); 4 Tamara Taylor (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks) Vice-captain; 5 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond); 6 Alexandra Matthews (Richmond); 7 Hannah Field (Richmond); 8 Harriet Millar-Mills (Waterloo)

Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne (Lichfield); 17 Victoria Cornborough (Richmond); 18 Heather Kerr (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 19 Abbie Scott (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 20 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens); 21 Fiona Davidson (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks); 22 Amber Reed (Bristol); 23 Lauren Cattell (Saracens)

Scotland:15. Chloe Rollie (Melrose); 14. Eilidh Sinclair (Murrayfield Wanderers); 13. Hannah Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill); 12. Nuala Deans (Wasps); 11. Abi Evans (Northumbria University); 10. Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers); 9.   Sarah Law (Murrayfield Wanderers);  1.  Lisa Robertson (Murrayfield Wanderers); 2.  Lana Skeldon (Melrose); 3.  Tracy Balmer (Worcester); 4.  Deborah McCormack (Richmond); 5.  Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers); 6.  Rachael Cook (Murrayfield Wanderers); 7.  Karen Dunbar (RHC Cougars); 8.  Jade Konkel (Hillhead Jordanhill)

Replacements; 16. Lindsey Smith (Hillhead Jordanhill); 17. Heather Lockhart (Hillhead Jordanhill); 18. Katie Dougan (RHC Cougars); 19. Fiona Sim (Saracens); 20. Lyndsay O'Donnell (Worcester); 21. Mhairi Grieve (RHC Cougars); 22. Claire Bain (RHC Cougars); 23. Jenny Maxwell (Lichfield)

Italy v France (Nuovi Impianti, Venice, 14thMarch)(17:00 GMT, 18:00 CET)(Streamed live by the Italian RFU)

The spectre of France's 13-12 defeat just two years ago hangs over a game that should be a routine win for the current champions as they continue their march to a second Grand Slam. However, that gamein Rovato (played as it was on a pitch that was close to being under water) shows that Italy can no longer be taken for granted. Against both Ireland and England they defended valiantly, and when they were allowed attack showed that they can be a real threat. With a settled team and a morale-boosting win in Scotland behind them (plus the return of Veronese) this is arguably the best side Italy have ever had.

However they are up against a French team that oozes confidence and belief. It is a remarkable, and largely unnoticed, fact thatFrance have lost just one of their last 15 encounters, 16-18 to Canada in Paris in the semi-final of last year’s World Cup, and have not been defeated in the Six Nations since a trip to Ireland in 2013 - and all this despite having most of their best backs away playing sevens. The under-20 programme has become a production line of fearless talent that does not know how to lose. For all the Italian improvements, repeat of 2013 seems very unlikely.

Theymake six changes in their squad for the game against Italy, compared with the one that beat Wales 28-7 in round three. With Marjorie Mayans and Shannon Izar resuming their sevens campaign in Atlanta two changes were expected, but Carla Neissen, Céline Ferer, Marine De Nadaï and Christelle Chobet also step down to make way for five potential new caps, while back row Sophie Pin is the latest player who failed to make the cut for the World Cup to get another chance under the new coaching regime.

Sevens specialist Lina Guerin gives Bobigny their first Six Nations cap this season after sevens squad rotation left her at home for this round of the WSWS, but the other four newcomers are all the latest graduates from France’s U20 programme. Fly-half Audrey Abadie appeared for the U20s in 2012 and will give France a goal kicking alternative to Tremouliere, back row Laetitia Bobo appeared in the 2014 squad, and second row Emilie Mathieu and prop Amaya Gonzalez are in the current U20 programme – and if Amaya’s name appears familiar, she is the daughter of new forwards coach Jean-Michel.

The second row in the starting XV will be interesting to see. Pauline Rayssac in particular has a great reputation for stealing ball in the line-out.

1. Lise Arricastre (Lons) ; 2. Gaëlle Mignot (Montpellier) - capitaine; 3. Julie Duval (Ovalie Caennaise); 4. Laëtitia Bobo (Montpellier) ; 5. Audrey Forlani (Blagnac - Saint Orens); 6. Pauline Rayssac (Montpellier) ; 7. Laëtitia Grand (Lons) ; 8. Safi N’diaye (Montpellier) ; 9. Yanna Rivoalen (Lille-Villeneuve d’Ascq); 10. Camille Cabalou (Bayonne) ; 11. Julie Billes (USAP) ; 12. Céline Heguy (Bayonne) ; 13. Elodie Poublan (Montpellier) ; 14. Caroline Boujard (USAP) ; 15. Jessy Tremouliere (Romagnat)

Replacements:16. Wendy Divoux (USAP) ; 17. Amaya Gonzalez (Bayonne) ; 18. Emilie Mathieu (Sassenage) ; 19. Sophie Pin (La Valette); 20. Coumba Tombe Diallo (Stade Bordelais); 21. Audrey Abadie (Blagnac - Saint Orens); 22. Lina Guerin (Bobigny) ; 23. Patricia Carricaburu (Lons)

Italyhave one one change with Maria Diletta Veronese returning to the squad having missed the game against Scotland.

Ilaria Arrighetti (Asr Monza 1949, 14 caps); Sara Barattin (Rugby Casale, 60 caps); Melissa Bettoni (Rennes, 23 caps); Lucia Cammarano (Asr Monza 1949, 6 caps); Maria Grazia Cioffi (Rugby Benevento, 37 caps); Awa Coulibaly (Rennes, 16 caps); Elisa Cucchiella (Belve Neroverdi, 50 caps); Michela Este (Benetton Treviso, 42 caps); Manuela Furlan (Benetton Treviso, 44 caps); Lucia Gai (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta, 35 caps); Silvia Gaudino (Asr Monza 1949, 64 caps) – Capitano; Elisa Giordano (Valsugana Padova, 9 caps); Maria Magatti (Asr Monza 1949, 8 caps); Alessia Pantarotto (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta, 11 caps); Beatrice Rigoni (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 9 caps); Valentina Ruzza (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 9 caps); Veronica Schiavon (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta, 73 caps); Flavia Severin (Benetton Treviso, 45 caps); Michela Sillari (Hbs Colorno, 23 caps); Sofia Stefan (Rennes, 20 caps); Alice Trevisan (Sitam Riviera Del Brenta, 27 caps); Maria Diletta Veronese (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 36 caps); Paola Zangirolami (Valsugana Rugby Padova, 60 caps).

Wales v Ireland (St Helens, Swansea), 15th March(12:00 GMT)(Streamed live on S4C)

Two teams going for the Triple Crown - and with a good chance of sneaking the Six Nations title as well - come together in Swansea in Saturday. On paper there is little to choose between them. Both have beaten England, but both have lost to France and Wales' slight advantage in the overall table is mainly due having played their third game against Scotland, rather than Italy.

Ireland have history on their side, but that seems to be counting for little with a young Welsh team that has grown on the experience of the world cup to become their most effective team since 2009. These games are always close - Ireland's 36-0 win in 2012 seems something of an aberation - and this game will almost certainly fit that pattern. On paper Ireland seem narrow favourities, coming into the game off the back of the win against England while Wales are recovering from defeat to France, but on paper England should have had no real problems in the last game at Swansea.

To add to the occasion Rachel Taylor earns her 50th cap when she leadsWalesout against Ireland at St Helen's on Sunday in a side showing three changes to the starting XV which lost to France. Gemma Rowlands returns to centre in place of Robyn Wilkins which means the backline will be exactly the same which appeared against England. In the pack experienced campaigner Jenny Davies comes in at loosehead prop for Caryl Thomas while Jenny Hawkins gets the nod ahead of Rebecca Rowe in the second row.

Head coach Rhys Edwards is confident his side can bounce back in the best possible manner so long as discipline is maintained as two yellow cards cost his side dearly against France. "I was really pleased how we performed in the first half against France. We finished strongly and had an opportunity to go in at 8-3 which would have been a true reflection of the half but things turned very quickly with the yellow card right on half time and then three or four minutes after the break we lost another player which made it difficult for ourselves.

"Saying that, France are the Six Nations champions and I thought at times, especially when it was 15 against 15, we were very competitive. Ireland won't be much different to France - they have a big pack and they will try to take the game to us up front. We know it is going to be a physical battle again but we have the players capable of stopping that,” he added.

IrishHead Coach, Tom Tierney has made a one change to the team that overcame England, 11-8 in the last round of the tournament.Katie Fitzhenry has been ruled out of the game due to an ankle injury she picked up in training at the weekend. Jackie Sheils is named in the centre with Aoife Doyle named on the bench.Tierney said, "It was great to get a win against England a fortnight ago, and has left us in a good position for the final two rounds of the championship, but we are always looking for improvements. We are not underestimating Wales, they are a strong side and we have no doubt they will bring their all with them for the home crowd. If we do the small things right we will be in good shape.”

Wales:15 Dyddgu Hywel (Pontyclun/Scarlets); 14 Elen Evans (Waterloo/Scarlets); 13 Adi Taviner (Skewen/Ospreys); 12 Gemma Rowland (Wasps/Dragons); 11 Laurie Harries (Llandaff North/Blues); 10 Elinor Snowsill (Dragons); 9 Amy Day (Llandaff North/Dragons);; 1 Jenny Davies (Caernarfon/Blues); 2 Carys Phillips (Bath Ladies/Scarlets); 3 Catrin Edwards (Llandaff North/Scarlets); 4 Jenny Hawkins (Llandaff North/Blues); 5 Rachel Taylor (Bristol Ladies/Dragons - Capt); 6 Sian Williams (Worcester/Dragons); 7 Sioned Harries (Whitland/Scarlets); 8 Shona Powell Hughes (Skewen/Ospreys)Replacements; 16 Amy Lawrence (Skewen/Ospreys); 17 Caryl Thomas (Bath Ladies/Scarlets); 18 Amy Evans (Skewen/Ospreys); 19 Rebecca Rowe (London Welsh/Dragons); 20 Melissa Clay (Pencoed/Ospreys); 21 Keira Bevan (Skewen/Ospreys); 22 Kerin Lake (Skewen/Ospreys); 23 Hannah Jones (Penybanc/Scarlets)

Ireland:Niamh Briggs, Hannah Tyrrell, Jenny Murphy, Jackie Shiels, Alison Miller, Nora Stapleton, Larissa Muldoon; Ruth O'Reilly, Gillian Bourke, Ailis Egan, Sophie Spence, Marie Louise Reilly, Paula Fitzpatrick, Claire Molloy, Heather O'Brien.Replacements: Sarah Mimnagh, Fiona Hayes, Fiona O'Brien, Orla Fitzsimons, Katie Norris, Tania Rosser, Aoife Doyle, Sene Naoupu.