Source: INPHO

England’s Team to face Ireland

Round 4 – Six Nations Simon Middleton’s penultimate Red Rose selection is fascinating on several counts. Discourteous as it may be to their next opponents, Ireland, the managements’ eyes are fixed firmly on Round Five, the climax of the series and of Middleton’s career as head coach. Hence the introduction of players who didn’t start

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Source: INPHO

Looking forward to Round Four

Six Nations Sadly, the Red Roses’ next game against Ireland in Cork already looks like a one-horse race. Simon Middleton and his assistants will be keeping a weather-eye open on Round Five. Ireland v England Greg McWilliams had to adopt a defensive position in post-match interviews last week. It’s hardly his fault that the sides

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Source: INPHO

Half-way House

How does the Six Nations look from here? Yes, we’re precisely three-fifths of the way through the 2023 Six Nations, but let’s keep our fractions simple. The Biggest Plusses More coverage of every sort, the Tik Tok machine working overtime to attract new customers and spread the good news. Even the old-style press devoting more

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Source: INPHO

France run Scots off their Feet

France v Scotland Round Three Vannes, Brittany This was one of those worrying games the Six Nations throws up. Scotland gave the French some problems early on, but long before the end they were run off their feet. The worry came with a lengthy break on 76 minutes for a serious head injury to Emma

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Source: INPHO

I to I – Italy v Ireland

Six Nations – Round Three Parma This was the result I expected, but not the manner of it. Ireland really got stuck in; it took two electric tries from Alyssa D’Inca to see the Azzurre home. In the regrettable absence of skipper Elisa Giordano, Giovanni Raineri gave Sofia Stefan the armband (her first appointment on

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Source: INPHO

The kicking question!

It was a question that could have been dismissed with a simple answer, no further expansion asked for, or required. When Simon Middleton was asked last week if his team’s issues from the tee were a major concern, the England head coach might have batted the query aside, noted a couple of key absentees, insisted

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Source: ©INPHO/Ashley Crowden

Razzle, dazzle England

Who needs 15 players on the field? – Wales v England Six nations – Round Three Cardiff Arms Park CAP was a wonderful sight: a sea of happy faces on all sides. How times change. The final result – see below – looked way off as Wales started at a terrific pace. In the first minute

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Source: ©INPHO/Billy Stickland

France still experimenting – Lisa Thomson turns fifty

The French co-coaches have announced this squad to face Scotland in Vannes, Brittany in Round Three on Sunday: 15 Emilie Boulard, 14 Caroline Boujard 13 Marine Ménager, 12 Gabrielle Vernier 11 Mélissande Llorens 10 Jessy Trémoulière 9 Pauline Bourdon 1 Ylana Brosseau 2 Agathe Sochat 3 Assia Khalfaoui 4 Maëlle Picut 5 Audrey Forlani (captain)

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Source: INPHO/Ben Brady

Can Wales rise to their own expectations?

Wales v England – Round Three Live Coverage: BBC Two from 14.00 (14:15 kick-off, BST), plus Flo Sports in the USA. First plays second in a juicy tie in the Welsh capital. Teams below. Wales Wales are full of optimism, which is great to see. They find themselves in the same position as last year,

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