6N Women, Round 3: Battle to Lead
After Round 2, England and Ireland are locked at the top of the Women's Six Nations log, and on Saturday afternoon in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England and Ireland lock horns in a match to decide who is sole log leader.
The ground has a capacity of 5 000 and is sold out.
Log after Round 2
1. England - 9 points
2. Ireland - 9 points
3. France - 6 point
4. Italy - 4 points
5. Wales - 1 point
6. Scotland - 1 point
Results Round 1
Ireland vs Scotland, 18-14
Italy vs Wales, 19-15
England vs France, 19-13
Results Round 2
France vs Italy, 45-10
Ireland vs Wales, 31-12
England vs Scotland, 53-0
Fixtures, Round 3
England vs Ireland
Wales vs France
Italy vs Scotland
Details, Round 3
England vs Ireland at Castle Park, Doncaster, on Sunday, 23 February 2020. Kick-off: 14.45
If the results against Scotland are anything to go by, the powerful England side should win this one comfortably.
It is a match where both countries would want to pick their best teams.
England have lost Hannah Botterman to injury but they have back in their starting team fullback Sarah McfKenna. half backs Katy Daly-Mclean and Leanne Riley
Prop Detysha Harper is on the bench with the possibility of earning her first cap.
Ireland have changed only two in the starting lineup - left wing and inside centre.
Teams
England: 15 Sarah McKenna, 14 Abby Dow, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Amber Reed, 11 Jess Breach, 10 Katy Daley-Mclean, 9 Leanne Riley, 8 Sarah Hunter (captain), 7 Vicky Fleetwood, 6 Sarah Beckett, 5 Zoe Aldcroft, 4 Poppy Cleall, 3 Sarah Bern, 2 Lark Davies, 1 Vickii Cornborough
Replacements: 16 Amy Cokayne, 17 Detysha Harper, 18 Shaunagh Brown, 19 Harriet Millar-Mills, 20 Amelia Harper, 21 Natasha Hunt, 22 Zoe Harrison, 23 Emily Scott
Ireland: 15 Eimear Considine, 14 Lauren Delany, 13 Sene Naoupu, 12 Katie Fitzhenry, 11 Aoife Doyle, 10 Claire Keohane, 9 Kathryn Dane, 8 Anna Caplice, 7 Edel McMahon, 6 Ciara Griffin (captain),5 Judy Bobbett, 4 Aoife McDermott, 3 Linda Djougang,2 Cliodhna Moloney, 1 Lindsay Peat
Replacements: 16 Victoria Dabanovich-O'Mahony, 17 Laura Feely, 18 Leah Lyons, 19 Ciara Cooney, 20 Dorothy Wall, 21 Nicole Cronin, 22 Larissa Muldoon, 23 Hannah Tyrrell.
Referee: Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
Assistant referees: Clara Munarini (Italy), Maria Giovanna Pacifico (Italy)
Television match official: Neil Paterson (Scotland)
Wales vs France at Cardiff Arms Park on Sunday, 23 February 2020. Kick-off: 14.00
Winless Wales host France, and are likely to find the going tough.
Megan Webb and Caitlin Lewis play their first Six Nations matches, Kayleigh Powell is back from injury Georgia Evans starts for the first time and Bethan Lewis returns.
The Welsh coach Geraint Lewis sees the Six Nations as a preparation for the next Women's World Cup to be held in New Zealand in late 2021.
France have changed four and would very much like to win.
Teams
Wales: 15 Kayleigh Powell, 14 Caitlin Lewis, 13 Megan Webb, 12 Kerin Lake, 11 Lisa Neumann, 10 Robyn Wilkins, 9 Keira Bevan, 8 Siwan Lillicrap (captain), 7 Bethan Lewis, 6 Alisha Butchers, 5 Gwen Crabb, 4 Georgia Evans, 3 Cerys Hale, 2 Kelsey Jones, 1 Gwenllian Pyrs
Replacements: 16 Molly Kelly, 17 Cara Hope, 18 Ruth Lewis, 19 Robyn Lock, 20 Manon Johnes, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Courtney Keight, 23 Lauren Smyth
France: 15 Jessy Tremouliere, 14 Cyrielle Banet, 13 Coralie Bertrand, 12 Morgane Peyronnet, 11 Marine Ménager, 10 Pauline Bourdon, 9 Laure Sansus, 8 Gaëlle Hermet, 7 Coumba Diallo, 6 Julie Annery, 5 Audrey Forlani, 4 Safi N’Diaye, 3 Clara Joyeux, 2 Agathe Sochat, 1 Maïlys Traore
Replacements: 16 Laure Touyé, 17 Lise Arricastre, 18 Yllana Brosseau, 19 Lenaig Corson, 20 Céline Ferer, 21 Yanna Rivoalen, 22 Camille Boudaud, 23 Caroline Boujard
Referee: Nikki O'Donnell (England)
Assistant referees: Laura Pettingale (England), Clare Daniels (England)
Television match official: Claire Hodnett (England)
Citing commissioner: Tim Lowry (Ireland)
Italy vs Scotland at Stadio Giovanni Mari on Sunday, 23 February 2020. Kick-off: 19.00
Italy: 15 Vittoria Ostuni Minuzzi, 14 Aura Muzzo, 13 Michela Sillari, 12 Maria Magatti, 11 Sofia Stefan, 10 Beatrice Rigoni, 9 Sara Barattin, 8 Elisa Giordano (captain), 7 Lucia Cammarano, 6 Ilaria Arrighetti, 5 Giordana Duca, 4 Valeria Fedrighi, 3 Lucia Gai, 2 Melissa Bettoni, 1 Silvia Turani
Replacements: 16 Giulia Cerato, 17 Erika Skofca, 18 Michela Merlo, 19 Sara Tounesi, 20 Francesca Sgorbini, 21 Laura Paganini, 22 Benedetta Mancini, 23 Benedetta Mancini
Scotland: 15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Rhona Lloyd, 13 Hannah Smith, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Megan Gaffney, 10 Helen Nelson, 9. Mairi McDonald, 8 Jade Konkel, 7 Rachel McLachlan , 6 Rachel Malcolm (captain), 5 Sarah Bonar, 4 Emma Wassell, 3 Mairi Forsyth , 2 Lana Skeldon, 1 Leah Bartlett
Replacements: 16 Molly Wright, 17 Panashe Muzambe, 18 Lisa Cockburn, 19 Siobhan Cattigan, 20 Louise McMillan, 21 Rachel Law, 22 Evie Tonkin (Darlington Mowden Park)
Referee: Joy Neville (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Aurelie Groizeleau (France), Doriane Domenjo (France)
Television match official: Olly Hodges (Ireland)