England vs Wales

Kickoff: 2:15pm, Saturday 25th April

Venue: Ashton Gate

Watch on: BBC ONE

The first game of round 3 will see 1st host 5th at Ashton Gate when England play Wales. The Red Roses dominated Scotland at Murrayfield last weekend whilst Wales showed promise in a defeat to France. England have dominated this fixture in recent times and this game shouldn't be too close either. 

Scott Mitchell has made 4 changes to his pack that destroyed Scotland. Bern and Carson replace Clifford and Muir as the props whilst Burns and Packer replace Ives Campion and Short in the back 5. Aitchison, Moloney-Macdonald and David are in for Harrison, Breach and Sing. This moves Kildunne back to fullback and gives 20-year-old Millie David her debut on the right wing. Lutui and Short are the bench options for the back 5, giving England an exciting but inexperienced group on the bench. 

Sean Lynn has only made one change to the Welsh pack from last weekend which sees Metcalfe replace Williams at flanker. The only other change comes at scrum-half where Bevan swaps with Lockwood who drops to the bench. Wales were very competitive against France in the first half so it makes sense for Lynn to trust his players again this weekend. Their lack of depth also plays a part in that decision. Wales have a stronger pack than Scotland so they are very unlikely to be put to the sword in the manner that the Scots were last Saturday. Having said that, England should still win this game comfortably.

Team news

England

Starting XV

1.Mackenzie Carson 2.Amy Cokayne 3.Sarah Bern 4.Abi Burton 5.Delaney Burns

6.Sadia Kabeya(C) 7.Marlie Packer 8.Maddie Feaunati 9.Lucy Packer 10.Holly Aitchison

11.Claudia Moloney-Macdonald 12.Helena Rowland 13.Megan Jones(C) 14.Millie David 15.Ellie Kildunne

Bench

16.Connie Powell 17.Kelsey Clifford 18.Maud Muir 19.Haineala Lutui 

20.Demelza Short 21.Flo Robinson 22.Zoe Harrison 23.Jess Breach

Wales

Starting XV
1.Gwenllian Pyrs 2.Kelsey Jones 3.Sisilia Tuipulotu 4.Jorja Aiono 5.Gwen Crabb

6.Branwen Metcalfe 7.Bethan Lewis(C) 8.Bryonie King 9.Keira Bevan 10.Lleucu George

11.Jasmine Joyce 12.Courtney Keight 13.Hannah Dallavalle 14.Seren Singleton 15.Kayleigh Powell

Bench

16.Molly Reardon 17.Maisie Davies 18.Donna Rose 19.Georgia Evans 

20.Alisha Joyce 21.Seren Lockwood 22.Jenna de Vera 23.Catherine Richards

Italy vs Scotland

Kickoff: 4:30pm, Saturday 25th April

Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Watch on: BBC iPlayer

This is a huge game for both teams. Italy are coming into it needing a win having lost their first two games including a 57-20 defeat to Ireland last weekend. It could be worse; at least they're not Scotland. The Scots did win their opening game, but any optimism was emphatically wiped away at Murrayfield in an 84-7 loss to England. This is a must-win for both teams.

Italy have five changes to their team that lost to Ireland last weekend. Turani and Zanette both come in at prop with Duca also coming into the pack. In the backs, D'Inca moves from midfield to left wing, moving Muzzo to the right side. Sillari replaces Buso to facilitate these changes.  At fly-half, Madia replaces Stevanin. This is Italy's biggest game of the competition so far.

Scotland have also made five changes. In the pack, Swann replaces Bartlett in the front row and the back row has two personnel changes. Malcolm moves to no.8 from blindside flanker whilst McLachlan and Donaldson come into the starting XV. In the backs, McGhie and Scott replace Lloyd and Wills. This is a real test of character for Fukofuka's team and a challenge to which they must rise. I think Scotland will bounce back to take a crucial, moral-boosting victory.

Team news

Italy

Starting XV

1.Silvia Turani 2.Vittoria Vecchini 3.Vittoria Zanette 4.Valeria Fedrighi 5.Giordana Duca

6.Francesca Sgorbini 7.Alissa Ranuccini 8.Elisa Giordano(C) 9.Sofia Stefan 10.Veronica Madia

11.Alyssa D'Inca 12.Sara Mannini 13.Michela Sillari 14.Aura Muzzo 15.Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi

Bench

16.Chiara Cheli 17.Gaia Maris 18.Alessia Pilani 19.Alessandra Frangipani

20.Margherita Tonellotto 21.Alia Bitonci 22.Emma Stevanin 23.Francesca Granzotto

Scotland

Starting XV

1.Demi Swann 2.Lana Skeldon 3.Elliann Clarke 4.Emma Wassell 5.Hollie Cunningham

6.Eva Donaldson 7.Rachel McLachlan(C) 8.Rachel Malcolm 9.Leia Brebner-Holden 10.Helen Nelson

11.Shona Campbell 12.Meryl Smith 13.Lucia Scott 14.Francesca McGhie 15.Chloe Rollie

Bench

16.Elis Martin 17.Leah Bartlett 18.Molly Poolman 19.Holland Bogan

20.Louise McMillan 21.Alex Stewart 22.Rianna Darroch 23.Rachel Philipps

France vs Ireland

Kickoff: 8:10pm, Saturday 25th April

Venue: Stade Marcel-Michelin

Watch on: BBC iPlayer

This is the match of the round and could be the match of the tournament. Ireland have come painfully close to beating France in both of their previous two matches but the French managed to get over the line in the closing stages. Other than a slow start against England, Ireland have been impressive; they drew the second half against England 12-12 before beating Italy 57-20. France, meanwhile, have played two good halves and two poor halves. The two good halves were enough to secure bonus-point victories but they will need to be better for an entire game to see off the Irish once again.

France have only made one change to their starting line-up which has been enforced by an injury to Vernier. She is replaced by the now-healthy Teani Feleu who comes in at inside centre. The real challenge for France in this game is the start. They will have to avoid a sluggish opening 20 minutes against Ireland who are a real threat. France's bench has been to get the team out of trouble before. but doing so against Ireland is a much greater challenge.

Ireland have opted for complete continuity from their victory over Italy with McGillivray looking to nail down her spot at inside centre after impressing last weekend. Beibhinn Parsons scored a hat-trick last weekend in the best game of her international career and will need reach similar heights this weekend if her team is to avoid defeat to the French once again. I have a feeling this is Ireland's time to finally get one over the line against the French.

Team news

France

Starting XV

1.Ambre Mwayembe 2.Mathilde Lazarko 3.Assia Khalfaoui 4.Kiara Zago 5.Madoussou Fall Raclot

6.Axelle Berthoumieu 7.Manae Feleu(C) 8.Lea Champon 9.Pauline Bourdon Sansus 10.Carla Arbez

11.Lea Murie 12.Teani Feleu 13.Aubane Rousset 14.Anais Grando 15.Pauline Barrat

Bench

16.Elisa Rifffonneau 17.Yllana Brosseau 18.Rose Bernadou 19.Cloe Correa

20.Siobhan Soqeta 21.Charlotte Escudero 22.Alexandra Chambon 23.Lina Queyroi

Ireland

Starting XV

1.Ellena Perry 2.Cliodhna Moloney-Macdonald 3.Linda Djougang 4.Dorothy Wall 5.Fiona Tuite

6.Brittany Hogan 7.Erin King(C) 8.Aoife Wafer 9.Emily lane 10.Dannah O'Brien 

11.Robyn O'Connor 12.Nancy McGillivray 13.Aoife Dalton 14.Beibhinn Parsons 15.Stacey Flood

Bench

16.Neve Jones 17.Niamh O'Dowd 18.Elis Cahill 19.Ruth Campbell

20.Sam Monaghan 21.Katie Whelan 22.Eve Higgins 23.Anna McGann