Women's

All you need to know ahead of Round 2 of the Women’s Six Nations

All You need to know
The second weekend of the 2021 Women’s Six Nations is almost upon us as the two teams who have yet to play their opening games make their grand entrance .

The second weekend of the 2021 Women’s Six Nations is almost upon us as the two teams who have yet to play their opening games make their grand entrance .

Italy and Ireland both sat out the first round of this year’s new-look Championship, which sees the six teams split into two pools in which they will each play two games.

The new format will culminate in a thrilling climax as the first ever Super Saturday of the Women’s Six Nations will see the top two teams from each pool play-off for the title.

And if the opening weekend was anything to go by, we’re in for a Championship to savour as the first two games of the 2021 edition delivered thrills, spills and plenty of tries.

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Reigning champions England began their title defence in style as Simon Middleton’s side defeated Pool A rivals Scotland 52-10 at Castle Park in the Women’s Six Nations curtain-raiser.

That was followed by another blistering attacking display from France, who ran in eight tries – including a memorable Caroline Boujard hat-trick – to defeat Wales 53-0 in Vannes.

But what can Italy and Ireland bring to the party? As both teams prepare to kick off their campaigns, here’s everything you need know ahead of Round 2.

Italy v England – Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, KO 2PM, Live on BBC iPlayer and RTÉ Player

The Red Roses were in formidable form in their opening game of the Championship, taking control of Pool A with an impressive bonus-point victory over Scotland.

Seven different players got their name on the scoresheet as the defending champions laid an emphatic marker down to the rest, adding a penalty try as well in their 52-10 triumph.

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Poppy Cleall stole the headlines with her Player of the Match display in Doncaster, scoring a try and delivering an all-action display that included 107 metres gained and 19 carries.

Her twin sister Bryony also made an impact on her long-awaited return to the international stage, touching down in her first start – 26 months after making her debut off the bench.

But it was not just in the pack where England excelled, with Jess Breach proving a thorn in Scotland’s side all afternoon as the cut the visiting defence open time and again.

And Middleton has show the strength in depth he has at his disposal by making ten changes to his team for this weekend’s trip, with both Cleall sisters starting on the bench as skipper Sarah Hunter returns.

So the Azzurre will be well aware of the challenge that faces them when they welcome the Red Roses to Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi on Saturday lunchtime for their opening Championship bout.

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Italy finished last year’s disrupted Women’s Six Nations in fourth, with one win from four game, and they will be keen to improve on that performance and start Pool A with a bang.

Captain Manuela Furlan will certainly be looking to banish memories of their last meeting with England in November, which ended in a 54-0 defeat as the Red Roses clinched the Grand Slam.

Italy: 15. Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14. Aura Mezzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Maria Magatti, 11 Manuela Furlan (C), 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sara Barattin; 1 Erika Skofca, 2 Lucia Cammarano, 3 Lucia Gai, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 7 Giada Franco, 8 Elisa Giordano

Replacements: 16 Melissa Bettoni, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Sara Tounesi, 19 Isabella Locatelli, 20 Beatrice Veronese, 21 Beatrice Rigoni, 22 Sofia Stefan, 23 Alyssa D’Inca

England: 15. Ellie Kildunne, 14. Jess Breach, 13. Emily Scarratt, 12. Megan Jones, 11. Abby Dow, 10. Helena Rowland, 9. Leanne Riley, 1. Vickii Cornborough, 2. Amy Cokayne, 3. Shaunagh Brown, 4. Zoe Aldcroft, 5. Cath O’Donnell, 6. Alex Matthews, 7. Vicky Fleetwood, 8. Sarah Hunter (C)

Finishers: 16. Lark Davies, 17. Hannah Botterman, 18. Bryony Cleall, 19. Harriet Millar-Mills, 20. Poppy Cleall, 21. Claudia MacDonald, 22. Zoe Harrison, 23. Sarah McKenna

Wales v Ireland – Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff, KO 5PM, Live on BBC Two Wales and RTÉ 2/RTÉ Player

The new era under Warren Abrahams got off to a bumpy start for Wales in France as the clinical hosts ran in eight tries of their own to hit the ground running in Pool B.

That 53-0 defeat will have been tough to take for Abrahams and his players after coming into the Championship with renewed optimism and a pledge to play attacking rugby.

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But after disappointment in Vannes, the real test for Wales will come from an Ireland team who will be looking to build on a promising third-place finish in last year’s Championship.

Ireland’s last game was their rescheduled Championship clash with Italy in October last year, which ended in a 21-7 success for Adam Griggs’ side at Donnybrook, Dublin.

And the visitors have made three changes to the side that ran out that day, with uncapped Eve Higgins getting her first taste of international 15s rugby in their Women’s Six Nations trip to Wales.

And with Ciara Griffin leading the squad, there is plenty of excitement around what Ireland could achieve in the 2021 Women’s Six Nations if they can get off to a perfect start in Cardiff.

These two sides last did battle in the second round of last year’s Championship, with Ireland winning 31-12 in Dublin. Could we see a repeat performance? It’s certainly not one to be missed.

Wales: 15 Robyn Wilkins, 14 Lisa Neumann, 13 Hannah Jones, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Courtney Keight, 10 Elinor Snowsill, 9 Jess Roberts; 1 Cara Hope, 2 Kelsey Jones, 3 Cerys Hale, 4 Natalia John, 5 Gwen Crabb, 6 Georgia Evans, 7 Manon Johnes, 8 Siwan Lillicrap (C)

Replacements: 16 Molly Kelly, 17 Caryl Thomas, 18 Donna Rose, 19 Teleri Wyn Davies, 20 Bethan Dainton, 21 Megan Davies, 22 Niamh Terry, 23 Caitlin Lewis

Ireland: 15. Eimear Considine, 14. Lauren Delany, 13. Eve Higgins, 12. Sene Naoupu, 11. Beibhinn Parsons, 10. Hannah Tyrrell, 9. Kathryn Dane, 1. Lindsay Peat, 2. Cliodhna Moloney, 3. Linda Djougang, 4. Aoife McDermott, 5. Nichola Fryday, 6. Dorothy Wall, 7. Claire Molloy, 8. Ciara Griffin (C)

Replacements: 16. Neve Jones, 17. Katie O’Dwyer, 18. Laura Feely, 19. Brittany Hogan, 20. Hannah O’Connor, 21. Emily Lane, 22. Stacey Flood, 23. Enya Breen