After an impressive 2023 Six Nations showing, Ireland will wrap up the tournament Grand Slam in Saturday’s finale if they beat England.
Steve Borthwick’s side look to bounce back from their 53-10 drubbing by France last time out. The England boss said after the match that his side are far off the standard of the world’s best teams, but they now look to recover from their heavy loss against the world’s No. 1 side.
After an impressive opening to the tournament, Scotland have suffered back-to-back defeats against France and Ireland. They look to bounce back against Italy, who despite looking improved have yet to register a point in this year’s Six Nations.
Warren Gatland won his first match as Wales boss last weekend, but faces a tough test in the tournament finale against a confident France side who have only lost to Ireland so far.
Scotland vs. Italy, Saturday March 18, 12.30 p.m. GMT, Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Blair Kinghorn will start at fly-half and Ollie Smith has been selected at fullback in four changes made by Scotland coach Gregor Townsend against Italy at Murrayfield on Saturday.
Kinghorn gets the nod ahead of uncapped Ireland-born No. 10 Ben Healy as Townsend fills the gap left by the injured Finn Russell. Healy is on the bench.
“Blair has been doing well off the bench and Ollie played very well for us against Australia last November and has carried on with that form,” Townsend said.
Townsend said his side are taking nothing for granted against an Italian side that is winless in this year’s championship, but have played some excellent rugby.
“We are determined to win, but Italy will test us, they are playing outstanding attacking rugby. They will ask us questions and play with passion,” Townsend said.
Scotland are out of the running for the Six Nations title, but could finish as high as second in the table.
Scotland: Ollie Smith, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe, Blair Kinghorn, Ben White, Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Sam Skinner, Jonny Gray, Jamie Ritchie (captain), Hamish Watson, Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, WP Nel, Scott Cummings, Matt Fagerson, Ali Price, Ben Healy, Cameron Redpath
Italy: Tommaso Allan, Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Simone Gesi, Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco, Lorenzo Cannone, Michele Lamaro (captain), Sebastian Negri, Federico Ruzza, Edoardo Iachizzi, Marco Riccioni, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: Marco Manfredi, Federico Zani, Pietro Ceccarelli, Niccolo Cannone, Giovanni Pettinelli, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Garbisi, Luca Morisi.
France vs. Wales, Saturday March 18, 2.45 p.m. GMT, Stade de France, Paris
Wales fly-half Dan Biggar has been recalled to the team and Louis Rees-Zammit will make a rare start at fullback as coach Warren Gatland brings back two of his big guns for the daunting final Six Nations trip to title-chasing France on Saturday.
France are still in the hunt for the championship but must beat Wales, potentially with a bonus point. They are four points behind leaders Ireland. Wales have won one of their four games in the championship in a disappointing campaign to date.
“Last weekend was really important for us getting a win in the Six Nations and building a bit of confidence. It was a step in the right direction but there’s still lots for us to work on,” Gatland said in a statement released by Welsh Rugby.
“We’ve worked hard on a few things in terms of tidying some of the defensive lapses that we’ve made and getting those things right. We’re still working hard on our attack.”
“They’re [France] a team that kick the ball a lot, so we’ve also got to make sure that our backfield is right and we’ve got to be good in the air.”
France: Thomas Ramos, Damien Penaud, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Ethan Dumortier, Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (captain), Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Uini Atonio, Thibaud Flament, Romain Taofifenua, Francois Cros, Charles Ollivon, Gregory Alldritt.
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Reda Wardi, Sipili Falatea, Bastien Chalureau, Secou Macalou, Maxime Lucu, Yoram Moefana, Melvyn Jaminet.
Wales: Louis Rees-Zammit, Josh Adams, George North, Nick Tompkins, Rio Dyer, Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Wyn Jones, Ken Owens (captain) Tomas Francis, Adam Beard, Alun Wyn Jones, Aaron Wainwright, Justin Tipuric, Taulupe Faletau.
Replacements: Bradley Roberts, Gareth Thomas, Dillon Lewis, Dafydd Jenkins, Tommy Reffell, Tomos Williams, Owen Williams, Leigh Halfpenny.
Ireland vs. England, Saturday March 18, 5 p.m. GMT, Aviva Stadium, Dublin
Ireland limited the injury damage from last weekend’s bruising victory in Edinburgh and made just three changes as they seek to complete a Six Nations Gram Slam with victory over England in Dublin on Saturday.
No. 8 Caelan Doris and hooker Dan Sheehan, two of the five Irish players who left the field injured against Scotland and who have been among Ireland’s best performers all campaign, are fit enough to start.
Centre Garry Ringrose and lock Iain Henderson were already ruled out but the return of fit again Robbie Henshaw, starting his first game of the championship, softens the blow of losing the increasingly influential Ringrose.
Amid the St. Patrick’s weekend festivities, it is also an opportunity to complete a Grand Slam on home soil for the first time in 75 years, having clinched the two secured since in Cardiff in 2009 and London in 2018.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Mack Hansen, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Johnny Sexton (captain), Jamison Gibson-Park, Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong, Ryan Baird, James Ryan, Peter O’Mahony, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Rob Herring, Cian Healy, Tom O’Toole, Kieran Treadwell, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ross Byrne, Jimmy O’Brien.
England: Freddie Steward, Anthony Watson, Henry Slade, Manu Tuilagi, Henry Arundell, Owen Farrell (captain), Jack van Poortvliet, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Kyle Sinckler, Maro Itoje, David Ribbans, Lewis Ludlam, Jack Willis, Alex Dombrandt.
Replacements: Jack Walker, Mako Vunipola, Dan Cole, Nick Isiekwe, Ben Curry, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Joe Marchant.