Italy vs England

Kickoff: 2pm, Saturday 9th May

Venue: Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi

Watch on: BBC TWO

England and Italy will kick off the penultimate round of the 2026 Six Nations in Parma when they meet on Saturday afternoon. England have dominated this fixture for as long as these nations have competed and look set to continue that streak once again. Italy do have some big strengths, however, so this will be far from a walk in the park with the Red Roses.

Italy have, understandably, opted for relative continuity after their demolition of Scotland last time out. Both changes come in the pack where Frangipani replaces Duca at lock and Veronese replaces Sgorbini at blindside flanker, both of whom drop to the bench. As I mentioned above, Italy have several big threats who England should watch out for. D'Inca and Ostuni Minuzzi in the back 3 are electric athletes who can score from anywhere. Sofia Stefan at scrum-half is also very quick and is a crucial decision-maker for this Italy team.

John Mitchell has opted for many more changes than his Italian counterpart. In the front row, Clifford and Muir swap places with Carson and Bern to start next to Amy Cokayne. Elsewhere, Sadia Kabeya is the latest addition to England's injury list and has been replaced by Demelza Short. Haidee Head makes the bench for the first time so the 22-year-old born in Brisbane is line for a senior debut. Zoe Harrison swaps back into the starting XV with Aitchison dropping to the bench. The centre partnership of Jones and Rowland remains the same once again whilst Kildunne moves to the wing and Sing starts at fullback as happened against Scotland. Mia Venner is also in line to start on the right wing after impressing from the bench earlier in the competition.

The Red Roses should win this comfortably but Italy will put up a fight more akin to that of Wales than of Scotland.

Team news

Italy

Starting XV

1.Silvia Turani 2.Vittoria Vecchini 3.Vittoria Zanette 4.Valeria Fedrighi 5.Alessandra Frangipani

6.Beatrice Veronese 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.Gaia Dosi 19.Giordana Duca 

20.Francesca Sgorbini 21.Alicia Bitonci 22.Emma Stevanin 23.Francesca Granzotto

England

Starting XV

1.Kelsey Clifford 2.Amy Cokayne(C) 3.Maud Muir 4.Abi Burton 5.Delaney Burns

6.Demelza Short 7.Marlie Packer(C) 8.Maddie Feaunati 9.Lucy Packer 10.Zoe Harrison

11.Ellie Kildunne 12.Helena Rowland 13.Megan Jones 14.Mia Venner 15.Emma Sing

Bench

16.Connie Powell 17.Mackenzie Carson 18.Sarah Bern 19.Haineala Lutui

20.Haidee Head 21.Flo Robinson 22.Holly Aitchison 23.Claudia Moloney-Macdonald

Scotland vs France

Kickoff: 4:15pm, Saturday 9th May

Venue: The Hive

Watch on: BBC TWO

France will visit a badly bruised Scotland on Saturday afternoon at the Hive. The Scots have now lost back-to-back against England and Italy with two disappointing performances and a couple of terrible results. France, on the other hand, have won all 3 of their matches and managed to fend off the Irish once again. They are struggling with injuries but that's unlikely to be a factor in this game.

Sione Fukofuka has made 6 changes to his team that lost to Italy. Bartlett and Clarke replace Swann and Skeldon in the front row, McMilland replaces Cunningham in the second row, and Bogan and Boyd replace Stewart and McLachlan in the back row. In the backs, Lloyd and Phillipps replace Campbell and Scott. Even if they don''t win, this needs to be a bounce-back performance for Scotland. 

France only have 2 changes to last week's team. At loosehead prop, Brosseau replaces Mwayembe and Escudero replaces Berthoumieu. France have struggled to gain dominance early in matches, only moving past Wales and Italy in the second half. If Scotland can repeat those circumstances, they have the firepower with McGhie, Lloud and Nelson to really challenge the French. I still expect France to win this fairly easily.

Team news

Scotland

Starting XV
1.Leah Bartlett 2.Elis Martin 3.Elliann Clarke 4.Emma Wassell 5.Louise McMillan

6.Holland Bogan 7.Eva Donaldson 8.Becky Boyd 9.Leia Brebner-Holden 10.Helen Nelson

11.Francesca McGhie 12.Meryl Smith 13.Rachel Phillipps 14.Rhona Lloyd 15.Chloe Rollie

Bench

16.Aicha Sutcliffe 17.Demi Swann 18.Molly Poolman 19.Hollie Cunningham 

20.Emily Coughbrough 21.Rhea Clarke 22.Lucia Scott 23.Shona Campbell

France

Starting XV

1.Yllana Brosseau 2.Mathilde Lazarko 3.Assia Khalfaoui 4.Siobhan Soqeta 5.Madoussou Fall Raclot

6.Charlotte Escudero 7.Manae Feleu 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 Riffonneau 17.Ambre Mwayembe 18.Annaelle Deshaye 19.Cloe Correa

20.Kiara Zago 21.Axelle Berthoumieu 22.Alexandra Chambon 23.Lina Queyroi

Ireland vs Wales

Kickoff: 6:30pm, Saturday 9th April

Venue: Affidea Stadium

Watch on: BBC iPlayer

This should be the game of the weekend. Ireland were left frustrated after falling short against France once again whilst Wales were buoyed by a rare 4-try bonus point against England. Despite that optimism, Wales haven't won for nearly a year and this will be a big chance for them to turn that around.

Scott Bemand has made one change for Ireland which sees Higgins return in place of McGillivray after replacing her in the 49th minute against France. Ireland's bench looks strong with Monaghan, Moore and Campbell waiting to come on in the back 5. This is a must-win for Ireland if they are to achieve anything in this tournament by getting to 3 wins.

Sean Lynn has shuffled a couple of positions in his team. Georgia Evans replaces Crabb in the pack whilst Cox and Dallavalle replace Singleton and De Vera in the backs. This is a big opportunity for Sean Lynn and his team but Ireland's pack represents a huge challenge for a side built on its power game. Ireland should win this but Wales are in with a chance.

Team news

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.Eve Higgins 13.Aoife Daltons 14.Beibhinn Parsons 15.Stacey Flood

Bench

16.Neve Jones 17.Sadhbh McGrath 18.Eilis Cahill 19.Ruth Campbell

20.Sam Monaghan 21.Grace Moore 22.Katie Whelan 23.Niamh Gallagher

Wales

Starting XV

1.Gwenllian Pyrs 2.Kelsey Jones 3.Sisilia Tuipulotu 4.Branwen Metcalfe 5.Georgia Evans

6.Jorja Aiono 7.Bethan Lewis(C) 8.Bryonie King 9.Keria Bevan 10.Lleucu George

11.Jasmine Joyce 12.Courtney Keight 13.Carys Cox 14.Hannah Dallavalle 15.Kayleigh Powell

Bench

16.Molly Reardon 17.Maisie Davies 18.Donna Rose 19.Natalia John 

20.Alisha Joyce 21.Seren Lockwood 22.Freya Bell 23.Nikita Prothero