Exeter Chiefs vs Bristol Bears

Kickoff: 1pm, Saturday 6th December

Venue: Sandy Park

Watch on: Youtube

3 keys to the game:

1. The front row battle. Exeter's front row is a real asset and also boasts significant depth. Other teams could only wish to be able to start America's most capped player, an Ireland international and a Black Fern whilst having Italian and Canadian internationals on the bench. Bristol have England's Hannah Botterman starting with the powerhouse that is Simi Pam waiting to come on in the second half. If Exeter can take over with their front row, Bristol's electric backs will have a very difficult time getting into the game.
2. Ruahi Demant makes her first start. Holly Aitchison heading north to Sale left a big gap in the Bristol line-up. Lucie Skuse filled in admirably in her absence, but the Bears were unable to replicate last season's form. Now, New Zealand international Ruahei Demant is in the squad and will be making her first start at fly-half having been in midfield last week. If she can play anywhere near her normal level, Bristol can quickly get back on track.
3. Which new stars will make their mark? The retirement of Abby Dow came as a surprise to many within the game and leaves a big hole on England's right wing going forward. There are several names that will be considered for the role such as Moloney-MacDonald or moving Ellie Kildunne there to accommodate Emma Sing or Helena Rowland. However, there are also some young players, like Westcombe-Evans, that will be liking their chances. Two of those young players ply their trade for Bristol; Reneeqa Bonner and Millie David are both very highly rated and could force their way into the England set up with some big games over the next few weeks.

Team news

Exeter Chiefs

Starting XV
1.Hope Rogers 2.Cliodhna Moloney-MacDonald 3.Amy Rule 4.Linda van der Velden 5.Abby Duguid

6.Dorothy Wall 7.Maisy Allen 8.Emily Robinson(C) 9.Flo Robinson 10.Liv McGoverne 

11.Francesca Granzotto 12.Gabby Cantorna 13.Alexandra Tessier 14.Katie Buchanan 15.Sabrina Poulin

Bench

16.Emily Tuttosi 17.Demi Swann 18.DaLeaka Menin 19.Lola Whitley 

20.Zoe Dare 21.Lucy Nye 22.Naomi Brennan 23.Maddie Flutey

Bristol Bears

Starting XV

1.Hannah Botterman 2.Amy Dale 3.Elliann Clarke 4.Hollie Cunningham 5.Abbie Ward(C)

6.Christiana Balogun 7.Jenny Herring 8.Evie Gallagher 9.Keira Bevan 10.Ruahei Demant

11.Millie David 12.Savannah Picton-Powell 13.Emma Orr 14.Reneeqa Bonner 15.Ella Lovibond

Bench

16.Heidi Pashei-Taraghoun 17.Simi Pam 18.Aisha Jah 19.Talia John

20.Gwennan Hopkins 21.Tilly Ryall 22.Lucie Skuse 23.Jasmine Joyce

Gloucester-Hartpury vs Trailfinders

Kickoff: 3:05pm, Saturday 6th December

Venue: Kingsholm

3 keys to the game:

1. Can Trailfinders gain a foothold early on? This Gloucester-Hartpury pack is formidable. Every unit within it possesses serious international quality and there will be no let up when the bench comes into play. In fact, their depth is so impressive that each player on it would walk into most teams in the league. Trailfinders do have some real quality in their own pack with the experience of Kate Zackary and Rachel Malcolm combining with the power of Abi Burton and Alana Borland. They'll need to be at their best to give their side a chance in this one.
2. Can Meg Jones take over? It's very difficult to find any area in which Trailfinders have a clear edge in this game, but there is one player that would walk into either team. Meg Jones has the ability to take over any game in which she plays. Up against a midfield that is missing Tatiana Heard, she could do some serious damage. This looks like a tough test for Trailfinders, but a Meg Jones masterclass would open things up significantly.
3. Can the Trailfinders back 3 keep up? Gloucester-Hartpury have an absolutely rapid group of Lund, Sing and Metcalfe. They are deadly as a trio and punish any mistakes whilst also gaining dominance in the air. Trailfinders may not have the big names in this one, but their back 3 can definitely compete well with this group. They'll have to if their side is to have a chance in this one.

Team news

Gloucester-Hartpury

Starting XV
1.El Perry 2.Kelsey Jones 3.Maud Muir 4.Sarah Beckett 5.Steph Else

6.Kate Williams 7.Bethan Lewis 8.Zoe Stratford(C) 9.Natasha Hunt 10.Lleucu George

11.Nel Metcalfe 12.Jade Shekells 13.Hannah Dallavalle 14.Rachel Lund 15.Emma Sing

Bench

16.Neve Jones 17.Niamh O'Dowd 18.Sisilia Tuipulotu 19.Sam Monaghan

20.Tabitha Copson 21.Meg Davies 22.Molly Bunker 23.Lizzie Goulden

Trailfinders

Starting XV
1.Alivia Leatherman 2.Cristina Blanco 3.Maya Montiel 4.Emma Taylor 5.Alana Borland

6.Rachel Malcolm(CC) 7.Haidee Head 8.Abi Burton 9.Brooke Bradley 10.Claire Gallagher

11.Vicky Laflin 12.Jess Cooksey 13.Meg Jones 14.Grace White 15.Rosie Inman

Bench

16.Ponsonby 17.Williams 18.Tuffnail 19.Roos

20.Pinnock 21.Zackary(C) 22.Gallagher 23.Norman-Bell

Leicester Tigers vs Harlequins

Kickoff: 5:05pm, Saturday 6th December

Venue: Mattioli Woods Welford Road

Watch on: Youtube

3 keys to the game:

1. Can Leicester continue to show some improvement? It's obviously been a difficult start to the season for Leicester, but they will have taken some confidence from scoring 50 against Lightning last time out. This may not be a game that they can win, but continuing to build on patterns and phases from game-to-game is very important for this team going forward.
2. Can Ella Cromack win the starting fly-half spot? Cromack is known for being an excellent goal-kicker, but often finds herself kept on the bench behind Kayleigh Powell. If Cromack can show that she can run the game efficiently, on top of her kicking ability, she could quickly earn herself some more game time. 
3. Can Harlequins unleash their backs? Harlequins have had some high-scoring games this season but we are yet to see the likes of Kildunne and Pena truly take over games as they did last season. With a distributor at fly-half, and a weaker opposition, surely this is the week that this Harlequins attack gets properly going.

Leicester Tigers

Starting XV

1.Ellie Smith 2.Micke Gunter 3.Nadine Vincent 4.Deni Ross 5.Emerson Allen

6.Jordan Russell 7.Morgan Richardson 8.Tiana Gordon 9.Eneka Labeyrie 10.Kristin Bitter

11.Karolina Kacirkova 12.Georgie Lingham 13.Emily Henrich 14.Charlotte Daley 15.Tess Feury

Bench

16.Alana Bainbridge 17.Lauren Poole 18.Clodagh Dunne 19.Hermione Farmer

20.Alicia Watkins 21.Zara Pickwick 22.Abileigh Priestnall 23.Amelie Anstead

Harlequins

Starting XV
1.Silvia Turani 2.Carys Phillips 3.Lizzie Hanlon 4.Fi McIntosh 5.Jade Konkel

6.Nicole Wythe 7.Amelia Kolev 8.Liana Mikaele-Tu'u 9.Lucy Packer 10.Ella Cromack 

11.Beth Wilcock 12.Sarah Perry 13.Claudia Pena 14.Lauren Torley 15.Ellie Kildunne

Bench

16.Connie Powell 17.Jessie Spurrier 18.Ruby Winstanley 19.Abbie Fleming

20.Maja Meuller 21.Lucy Burgess 22.Kayleigh Powell 23.Frey Aucken

Saracens vs Loughborough Lightning

Kickoff: 3pm, Sunday 7th December

Venue: StoneX Stadium

Watch on: TNT Sports

3 keys to the game:

1. Marlie Packer vs Sadia Kabeya. England's former starter at openside flanker will go head-to-head with England's current openside flanker. Both players were part of the World Cup squad, and there is no bad blood between them, but it's still a fun rivalry to see on the field. Kabeya starred throughout the World Cup and has continued her form into the PWR season, She'll face a mighty challenge against Saracens, but there is no reason to think that she can't prevail.
2. The back 3 battle. I mention England's opening on the left wing earlier, and Westcombe-Evans could be a big factor in that conversation. Fancy Bermudez, on Lightning's other wing, is also an exceptional athlete and suits their ball-playing style perfectly. Up against them will be some international experience in Jess Breach and Alysha Corrigan so this could go either way.
3. Can Loughborough shut down Apps and Harrison. The 9/10 combination is the hinge on which a rugby team is built and it' s difficult to find a better combination than Apps and Harrison. Both were stars of the World Cup (Apps for Canada and Harrison for England) and have continued to dominate in the PWR. Helen Nelson presents a real threat for Loughborough, but the Saracens duo have been able to dictate games with ease so far this season. Both can kick and pass at a World-class level, but they are also dynamic runners that can take off at any time. This game will be a great litmus test to see where exactly Lightning are in their development.

Team news

Saracens

Starting XV

1.Liz Crake 2.May Campbell(C) 3.Kelsey Clifford 4.Rosie Galligan 5.Poppy Cleall

6.Julia Omokhuale 7.Marlie Packer 8.Gabrielle Senft 9.Olivia Apps 10.Zoe Harrison(C)

11.Sydney Gregson 12.Emma Hardy 13.Beth Blacklock 14.Alysha Corrigan 15.Jess Breach

Bench

16,Bryony Field 17.Carmen Tremelling 18.Donna Rose 19.Louise McMillan

20.Georgia Evans 21.Tori Sellors 22.Sophie Bridger 23.Jemma Jo-Linkins

Loughborough Lightning

Starting XV
1.Anne Young 2.Lucy Calladine 3.Mae Sagapolu 4.Lillie Ives Campion 5.Rachel Ehrecke

6.Daisy Hibbert-Jones 7.Sadia Kabeya 8.Haineala Lutui 9.Lis Maude 10.Helen Nelson

11.Bo Westcombe-Evans 12.Carmela Morrall 13.Alev Kelter 14.Fancy Bermudez 15.Lucia Scott

Bench

16.Kathryn Treder 17.Amelia Williams 18.Christina Belisle 19.Becky Boyd

20.Keevy Fitzpatrick 21.Tahlia Brody 22.Megan Davey 23.Lia Green