After their big wins in Round 1, England and France are expected to win well this weekend and look likely to decide the championship when they meet.
Fixtures, Round 2
France vs Ireland
Wales vs Scotland
England vs Italy
Results, Round 1
England vs Scotland, 47-0
France vs Italy, 32-0
Ireland vs Wales, abandoned
France vs Ireland
France had a huge win last weekend and Ireland had half a game before it was called off with Ireland leading Wales 10-6.
Ireland's coach, Philip Doyle. Doyle has named the same side that started against Wales last weekend. Doyle said “Thankfully after last week’s performance, even if it was only forty minutes long, we are able to name an unchanged XV and bench for this week’s game.
“France away is always a hard place to go and get a win but the ladies are in a good space at the moment and will take that into the weekend.”
“I am in no doubt that the ladies will put in a performance and raise their game in order to get where they want to be”
The teams
France: 15 Jessy Tremouliere, 14 Laura Delas, 13 Marjorie Mayans, 12 Sandrine Agricole, 11 Caroline Ladagnous, 10 Aurélie Bailon, 9 Marie Alice Yahe (captain), 8 Aïda Ba, 7 Marie Charlotte Hebel, 6 Claire Canal, 5 Cyrielle Bouisset, 4 Sandra Rabier, 3 Christelle Chobet, 2 Laetitia Salles, 1 Hélène Ezanno.
Replacements: 16 Gaëlle Mignot, 17 Emeline Dupont, 18 Elodie Mert, 19 Manon Andre, 20 Chloé Pelle, 21 Laura Di Muzio, 22 Jennyfer Troncy.
Ireland: 15 Ashleigh Baxter (Belfast Harlequins), 14 Niamh Kavanagh (UL Bohemians), 13 Niamh Briggs (UL Bohemians), 12 Grace Davitt (Cooke), 11 Alison Miller (Portlaoise/Highfield ), 10 Lynne Cantwell (Exile), 9 Amy Davis (Blackrock), 8 Joy Neville (UL Bohemians), 7 Claire Molloy (Bristol), 6 Laura Guest (Highfield), 5 Sophie Spence (Exile), 4 Marie Louise Reilly (Old Belvedere), 3 Ailis Egan (Old Belvedere), 2 Gillian Bourke (UL Bohemians), 1 Fiona Coghlan (UL Bohemians), (captain)
Replacements: 16 Paula Fitzpatrick (St Mary's), 17 Ruth O'Reilly (Galwegians ), 18 Siobhan Fleming (Tralee), 19 Heather O'Brien (Highfield), 20 Larissa Muldoon (UWIC), 21 Nikki Caughey (Belfast Harlequins), 22 Jennifer Murphy (Exile),
Date: Saturday, 11 February 2012
Kick-off: 18.30
Venue: Stade du Hameau, Pau
Referee: Sherry Turnbull (Canada)
Italy vs England
Italy got a hammering last weekend and it may be no different this weekend even if they are at home as England march towards their seventh successive championship.
England have a new captain in Sarah Hunter while Katy McLean rests on the bench. Hunter said of the match: “We must step up as Italy were the only side to cross our line in the Six Nations last season. We are definitely taking them seriously. Each game we go into we want to see how good we can be, it is not just about winning but being the best we can be. We will go to Milan with confidence but we are under no illusions because we definitely won't be in for an easy ride in Milan.”
The teams:
Italy squad: Veronica Schiavon, Chiara Castellarin, Maria Grazia Cioffi, Paola Zangirolami , Manuela Furlan, Michela Tondinelli, Sara Barattin, Silvia Gaudino, Michela Este, Giuliana Campanella,Sara Pettinelli, Flavia Severin, Lucia Gai, Sara Zanon,Elisa Chucchiella, Anita Nespoli, Debora Ballarini, Cristina Molic, Alice Trevisan, Vanessa ChindamoFlavia Severin, Maria Diletta Veronese, Melissa Bettoni.
England: 15 Emily Scarratt (Lichfield), 14 Georgina Roberts (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 13 Rachael Burford (VC), (Richmond), 12 Kimberley Oliver (Bristol), 11 Kay Wilson (Bristol), 10 Ceri Large (Worcester), 9 La Toya Mason (Wasps), 8 Sarah Hunter (C), (Lichfield), 7 Marlie Packer (Bristol), 6 Isabelle Noel-Smith (Bristol), 5 Tamara Taylor(Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 4 Rowena Burnfield (Richmond), 3 Laura Keates (Worcester), 2 Amy Turner (Richmond), 1 Rochelle Clark (Worcester),
Replacements: 16 Victoria Fleetwood (Lichfield), 17 Claire Purdy (Wasps), 18 Emily Braund (Lichfield), 19 Hannah Gallagher (Saracens), 20 Georgina Rozario (Lichfield), 21 Katy McLean (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 22 Katherine Merchant (Worcester)
Date: Sunday, 12 February 2012
Kick-off: 14.30
Venue: Parabiago
Referee: Itziar Diaz (Spain)
Assistant referees: Federica Guerzoni, Barbara Guastini
Wales vs Scotland
Scotland have to pick themselves up but Wales are not a strong side.
Wales have made three changes. All the changes involve the backline with Amy Day coming in at scrumhalf while Caryl James gets the nod on the wing. With Caryl James's selection, Rosie Fletcher moves from the wing to full back with Mared Evans and Laura Prosser both dropping down to the bench.
The pack have been given a vote of confidence by head coach Rhys Edwards who was impressed by his eight in last week's abandoned encounter against Ireland, saying: "I was pleased with the way the front five went to be honest. The forwards went really well as did the scrum.
"Going into the match there were some question marks surrounding that area but Jenny Davies showed her verstality in the unfamiliar role of tighthead so that should give her plenty of confidence which is pleasing.
"Our second row pairing of Vicky Owens and Shona Powell-Hughes also stood out and had plenty of carries while captain Rachel Taylor led from the front.
"On the flip side of the coin there were a couple of areas which were disappointing which we will have to eradicate if we are going to get a win against Scotland.
"With last week's game against Ireland being abandoned at halftime because of the freezing conditions we were basically gifted 40 minutes to have a look at positional permutations and that's why we've decided to freshen things up for Scotland."
The teams:
Wales: 15 Rosie Fletcher, 14 Charlie Murray, 13 Adi Taviner, 12 Philippa Tuttiett, 11 Caryl James, 10 Naomi Thomas, 9 Amy Day, 8 Jamie Kift, 7 Rachel Taylor (captain), 6 Sioned Harries, 5 Shona Powell-Hughes, 4 Vicky Owens, 3 Jenny Davies, 2 Rhian Bowden, 1 Caryl Thomas
Replacements: 16 Lowri Harries, 17 Megan York, 18 Sian Williams, 19 Clare Flowers, 20 Laura Prosser, 21 Rebecca De Filippo, 22 Mared Evans
Scotland: 15 Stephanie Johnston (RHC Cougars), 14 Caroline Collie (OA Saints), 13 Laura Steven (Murrayfield Wanderers), 12 Lisa Martin (Murrayfield Wanderers), 11 Sarah Dixon (Stirling County), 10 Tanya Griffith (RHC Cougars), 9 Louise Dalgliesh (RHC Cougars), 8 Lindsay Wheeler (Richmond), 7 Ruth Slaven (Murrayfield Wanderers), 6 Tess Forsberg (Richmond), 5 Jemma Forsyth (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 4 Anna Swan (RHC Cougars), 3 Tracy Balmer (Worcester), 2 Sarah Quick (Murrayfield Wanderers), 1 Suzanne McKerlie-Hex (Murrayfield Wanderers)
Replacements: 16 Lindsey Smith (Darlington Mowden Park Sharks), 17 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 18 Heather Lockhart (Hillhead/Jordanhill), 18 Katherine Muir (RAF), 19 Beth Dickens (Murrayfield Wanderers), 20 Charlotte Veale (London Wasps), 21 Lisa Ritchie (Carlisle), 22 Katy Green (Murrayfield Wanderers)
Date: Sunday, 12 February 2012
Kick-off: 13.00
Venue: Pandy Park, Cross Keys
Referee: Clare Daniels (England)
Assistant referees: Simon Rees (Wales), Julian Smith (Wales)
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