Following two high-scoring weekends, Round 3 is crunch time for Ireland, France, Scotland and Italy as the pool stage comes to a conclusion.
Finishing positions in Pool A and Pool B are up for grabs in two winner-takes-all contests, starting in Dublin, where Ireland and France do battle for the right to face England in the final.
The Red Roses have a break this weekend, having secured their play in the Super Saturday showpiece courtesy of victories over Scotland and Italy – who go head-to-head in Saturday’s second game, with both sides looking to get off the mark in this year’s Championship.
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Wales are the other team with a fallow weekend as they prepare to play in the fifth/sixth-place play-off on Finals Day, where they will meet the side who are beaten in Glasgow.
With two big games to look forward to, here’s all you need to know ahead of Round 3…
Ireland v France – Energia Park, KO 2.15PM, live on BBC iPlayer and RTE Player
Two in-form sides kick off the day’s action in the Irish capital with Ireland and France battling to keep their Championship dreams alive.
You can check out the complete set of scenarios here but both sides know exactly what they must do – win, by any means or margin, and a place in the final is theirs.
Ireland have adopted the ‘don’t change a winning team’ formula, with the same XV which started last weekend’s impressive 45-0 victory over Wales trusted to continue on from where they left off.
That means opportunities for Beibhinn Parsons and Eimear Considine to add to braces they notched in Round 2, while Kathryn Dane and Hannah Tyrrell will continue as the half-back pairing.
Eve Higgins, Stacey Flood and Emily Lane made international XVs debuts in Cardiff having shone on the Sevens circuit in recent years and they could be joined by another this weekend, with Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe included among the replacements.
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Adam Griggs may have opted for consistency in his selection but his opposite number Annick Hayraud has taken a contrasting approach, making eight changes to the French side which beat Wales 53-0 in Round 1.
The hat-trick hero from that game, Caroline Boujard, is retained but the Player of Round 1, Gabrielle Vernier, drops to a strong bench.
Ireland: Eimear Considine, Lauren Delany, Eve Higgins, Sene Naoupu, Beibhinn Parsons, Hannah Tyrrell, Kathryn Dane; Lindsay Peat, Cliodhna Moloney, Linda Djougang, Aoife McDermott, Nichola Fryday, Dorothy Wall, Claire Molloy, Ciara Griffin (captain)
Replacements: Emma Hooban, Katie O’Dwyer, Laura Feely, Brittany Hogan, Hannah O’Connor, Emily Lane, Stacey Flood, Amee-Leigh Murphy Crowe
France: Emilie Boulard, Caroline Boujard, Carla Neisen, Jade Ulutule, Cyrielle Banet, Caroline Drouin, Laure Sansus; Annaëlle Deshaye, Agathe Sochat, Rose Bernadou, Madoussou Fall, Safi N’Diaye, Marjorie Mayans, Gaëlle Hermet (captain), Emeline Gros
Replacements: Laure Touré, Maïlys Traoré, Clara Joyeux, Coumba Diallo, Romane Menager, Pauline Bourdon, Morgane Peyronnet, Gabrielle Vernier
Scotland v Italy – Scotstoun Stadium, KO 5PM live on BBC iPlayer and RTE Player
After events in Dublin come to a close, we’ll find out who will meet the beaten side in next weekend’s third/fourth-place play-off as Scotland face Italy in Glasgow.
These two nations have not faced off in the Championship since 2019 due to last year’s cancellation and Italy have the recent edge, having won each of their past two meetings against Scotland.
A first victory of the campaign for either side this time around would be enough to wrap up second place in Pool A and the hosts have made four changes to the side beaten by England a fortnight ago.
An injury to skipper Rachel Malcolm means centre Helen Nelson takes on captaincy duties and there is a first international start for Evie Gallagher in the back row.
Megan Kennedy, Sarah Law and Liz Musgrove also come in while Hannah Smith misses out due to her involvement with the GB Sevens camp.
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The Azzurre have made two alterations to their starting XV, with Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi – an eleventh-hour withdrawal from the side due to start against England last time out – restored at full-back and Melissa Bettoni in at hooker.
Scotland: 15. Chloe Rollie, 14. Liz Musgrove, 13. Lisa Thomson, 12. Helen Nelson – captain, 11. Megan Gaffney, 10. Sarah Law, 9. Mairi McDonald, 1. Leah Bartlett, 2. Lana Skeldon, 3. Megan Kennedy, 4. Emma Wassell, 5. Louise McMillan, 6. Evie Gallagher, 7. Rachel McLachlan, 8. Siobhan Cattigan.
Replacements: 16. Jodie Rettie, 17. Lisa Cockburn, 18. Panashe Muzambe, 19. Christine Belisle, 20. Nicola Howat, 21. Jenny Maxwell, 22. Evie Wills, 23. Coreen Grant
Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Manuela Furlan, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Maria Magatti, 10 Veronica Madia, 9 Sara Barattin, 1 Erika Skofca, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 3 Lucia Gai, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 5 Giordana Duca, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 7 Lucia Cammarano, 8 Elisa Giordano
Replacements: 16 Silvia Turani, 17 Gaia Maris, 18 Sara Tounesi, 19 Isabella Locatelli, 20 Beatrice Veronese, 21 Francesca Sgorbini, 22 Sofia Stefan, 23 Aura Muzzo
