Ireland vs France
Kickoff: 1pm GMT Saturday 22nd March 2025
Watch on: BBC Iplayer/BBC 2 NI
Stadium: Kingspan Stadium, Belfast
Team news
Ireland
1.Niamh O'Dowd 2.Neve Jones 3.Linda Djougang 4.Ruth Campbell 5.Dorothy Wall
6.Brittany Hogan 7.Erin King 8.Aoife Wafer 9.Emily Lane 10.Dannah O'Brien
11.Amee-Leigh Costigan 12.Eve Higgins 13.Aoife Dalton 14.Anna McCann 15.Stacey Flood
16.Cliodhna Moloney 17.Siobhan McCarthy 18.Christy Haney 19.Grace Moore
20.Fiona Tuite 21.Edel McMahon 22.Aoibheann 23.Enya Breen
France
1.Brosseau 2.Sochat 3.Bernadou 4.M.Feleu 5.Fall Raclot
6.Escudero 7.Okemba 8.T.Feleu 9.Bourdon Sansus 10.Arbez
11.M.Menager 12.Vernier 13.Konde 14.Llorens Vignerers 15.Bourgeois
16.Bigot 17.Mwayembe 18.Joyeux 19.Berthoumieu
20.Champon 21.Chambon 22.Queyroi 23.Boulard
This is arguably Ireland's biggest game of the tournament. This game represents an opportunity to challenge the next level of team after successes in WXV against New Zealand. If you can beat New Zealand you can beat France so the Irish must enter this game with a degree of confidence. As for France, they must put in a strong performance here to keep themselves in contention for when they take on England.
One player to watch for Ireland is last year's break out star, Aoife Wafer. The young back-rower has lit up the international scene over the past 18 months and she will be a key piece of any success that Ireland have going forward. For France, Vernier is a massive danger in midfield and can dictate the game if Ireland allows France onto the front foot.
Ireland will make this competitive but ultimately France have too much quality for now. This game is one to watch going forward but the French will probably maintain their dominance for the moment.
Scotland vs Wales
Kickoff: 4:45pm Saturday 22nd March
Watch on: BBC 2, BBC Iplayer, BBC 1 Wales
Stadium: DAM Health Stadium, Edinburgh
Team news
Scotland
1.Annie Young 2.Lana Skeldon 3.Elliann Clarke 4.Hollie Cunningham 5.Sarah Bonar
6.Rachel Malcolm(C) 7.Rachel McLachlan 8.Evie Gallagher 9.Leia Brebner-Holden 10.Helen Nelson
11.Francesca McGhie 12.Lisa Thomson 13.Emma Orr 14.Rhona Lloyd 15.Chloe Rollie
16.Elis Martin 17.Leah Bartlett 18.Christine Belisle 19.Adelle Ferrie
20.Alex Stewart 21.Jade Konkel 22.Catty Mattinson 23.Evie Wills
Wales
1.Maisie Davies 2.Carys Phillips 3.Jenni Scoble 4.Abbie Fleming 5.Alaw Pyrs
6.Kate Williams 7.Bethan Lewis 8.Georgia Evans 9.Keira Bevan 10.Lleucu George
11.Carys Cox 12.Kayleigh Powell 13.Hannah Jones(C) 14.Lisa Neumann 15.Jaz Joyce
16.Kelsey Jones 17.Gwenluan Pyrs 18.Donna Rose 19.Gwen Crabbs
20.Bryonie King 21.Meg Davies 22.Courtney Keight 23.Nel Metcalfe
Wales come into this troubled but will be buoyed by the addition of Sean Lynn as head coach. The man, who has just won the "three-peat" with Gloucester-Hartpury, has had practically no time to make any seismic changes to the Welsh squad so expectation has to be tempered for the moment. However, a fresh coaching set up combine with some X-factor players give Wales a chance at being more competitive this time around.
Scotland have shown sings of improvement in the last year or so and have some exciting talents breaking through such as Emma Orr in the centre. This game is important for the Scots to keep themselves looking upwards in the table at the likes of Ireland and maybe France.
The players to watch in this game are the previously-mentioned Emma Orr and the Bristol Bears star, Jaz Joyce. Orr has already become an important player for her country at a young age and is going from strength-to-strength in a vital position. Her ability to unlock defences by running incisive lines from nowhere is a vital part of the Scottish attack. Jaz Joyce has been Wales's best player for a while and Scotland will know exactly what threats she brings to the pitch. Stopping these threats, however, is an entirely different story. There is no substitute for pace and Joyce is the quickest player on either side by a large margin. Her ability to score from nowhere will keep Scotland on their toes all game long.
I expect Wales to be better this year than they were last time but I think the true version of Lynn's Wales will only be seen at the World Cup. I think Scotland have shown themselves to be the clearly superior side so I'll go with them to win even though i don't see it being entirely straight forward.
England vs Italy
Kickoff: 3pm Sunday 23rd March
Watch on: BBC Two, BBC Iplayer
Stadium: LNER Community Stadium, York
Team news
England
1.Kelsey Clifford 2.Amy Cokayne 3.Maud Muir 4.Rosie Galligan 5.Lilli Ives Campion
6.Zoe Aldcroft(C) 7.Marlie Packer 8.Maddie Feaunati 9.Lucy Packer 10.Helena Rowland
11.Claudia McDonald 12.Holly Aitchison 13.Emily Scarratt 14.Mia Venner 15.Emma Sing
16.May Campbell 17.Hannah Botterman 18.Sarah Bern 19.Abbie Ward
20.Sadia Kabeya 21.Flo Robinson 22.Jade Shekells 23.Ellie Kildunne
Italy
1.Silvia Turani 2.Laura Gurioli 3.Sara Seye 4.Valeria Fedrighi 5.Giordana Duca
6.Beatrice Veronese 7.Isabella Locatelli 8.Francesca Scorbini 9.Sofia Stefan(C) 10.Veronica Madia
11.Francesca Granzotto 12.Beatrice RIgoni 13.Alyssa D'Inca 14.Aura Muzzo 15.VIttoria Ostuni Minuzzi
16.Vittoria Vecchini 17.Emanuela Stecca 18.Gaia Maris 19.Sara Tounesi
20.Giada Franco 21.Alia Bitonci 22.Emma Stevanini 23.Beatrice Capomaggi
England have selected a slightly rotated team for their game against Italy with notable absences of Natasha Hunt and Zoey Harrison to name a couple. England's bench is loaded with the powerful duo of Botterman and Bern to come on as well as Ward and Kabeya. Those players, along with Jade Shekells will bring a level of physicality that Italy will be unable to match in the last part of the game. Ellie Kildunne is also on the bench and needs no explanation of what she can do on a rugby pitch.
For the Italians, this game is going to be tricky. They'll have to hang in for as long as possible and then try to absorb the injection of brutality being held back until the second half. If they are to have any hope of getting something out of this game Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi must be on top form at fullback.
For England, the performances of Rowland at fly-half and Aitchison at inside centre will be interesting to watch. This is a clear signal that John Mitchell is looking to add a second play-maker to his back line. if he is going to do that, he must do it at centre because there is no way Kildunne is not starting at fullback when the big games come.
England will have far too much for Italy and should emerge victorious by quite a wide margin in the end.
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