Six Nations: Preview Week 3

Friday 24 February 2012

Saturday

Ireland v Italy- Kick off: 13:30

Ireland boss Declan Kidney has selected the same side that was due to face France two weeks ago for their home clash with Italy on Saturday. The major boost as far as the Irish are concerned is that Jonathan Sexton will start the game at number 10 after recovering from a thigh injury. The Irish have a busy schedule ahead of them between now and March 17 as they have four games in as many weeks. After struggling to a 13-11 victory over the Azzurri last year, Ireland will be hoping for a much more convincing win this time out in front of a packed Aviva Stadium crowd.

Italy have made four changes to the side that narrowly lost out to England for their trip to Dublin this weekend. Treviso's Tobias Botes will make his first international start at number 10 in place of Kristopher Burton. Botes' Treviso team mate Alberto Sgarbi will also start in place of Clermont-Auvergne's Gonzalo Canale. Jacques Brunel has made two changes in the forwards as Lorenzo Cittadini replaces the injured Martin Castrogiovanni and Michele Rizzo comes in for Andrea Lo Cicero to complete the new-look Italian front-row.

Ireland have had a difficult start to their 2012 Six Nations campaign after losing to Wales and having their match with France postponed so they will be desperate to put in a good display against the Italians and get their tournament up and running.

England v Wales- Kick off: 16:00

Leicester Tigers' Manu Tuilagi returns to the England side for this weekend's crunch match with Wales at Twickenham. Northampton's Lee Dickson is preferred to Ben Youngs at scrum-half and Owen Farrell moves to number 10 to replace Charlie Hodgson who is absent with a finger injury. Geoff Parling has been given the nod in the second row at the expense of Stade Francais' Tom Palmer and Ben Morgan plays at number eight in place of Phil Dowson to complete the changes amongst the forwards. Stuart Lancaster will be delighted with the results thus far, but he knows that Wales will be difficult to beat, but with home advantage and the return of Tuilagi, England will be quietly confident of making it three wins from three.

Wales will welcome back captain Sam Warburton for their Triple Crown decider with England on Saturday. The Blues' back-rower missed the victory over Scotland through injury but he has been declared fit to play against England. Fellow forwards Alun Wyn Jones and Ken Owens have been called up to the starting XV with Ryan Jones and the injured Huw Bennett dropping out. Scarlets winger George North has recovered from an ankle injury meaning Wales' backline is unchanged from that which took to the field in the wins over Ireland and Scotland.

With the Triple Crown at stake, this fixture is unquestionably the tightest game of the weekend to call but the dreams of a grand slam will soon be over for England or Wales in what promises to be an exciting match at Twickenham.

Sunday

Scotland v France- Kick off: 15:00

Andy Robinson has called up 19 year-old full-back Stuart Hogg for Scotland's match with France on Sunday. The Glasgow Warriors youngster impressed Robinson in his appearance as a replacement in the 27-13 defeat to Wales a fortnight ago. The other notable changes in the side see Sean Lamont move to outside-centre with his brother Rory shifting to the right-wing. Edinburgh's Mike Blair will play at scrum-half meaning Glasgow's Chris Cusiter drops to the replacements bench. Despite not training earlier this week, Gloucester's Jim Hamilton starts against the French as Scotland aim to get their first win of this year's campaign.

France coach Phillipe Saint-AndrÃ© has stuck with the same side that was due to face Ireland a fortnight ago for the trip to Scotland. Morgan Parra will play at scrum-half in place of Dimitri Yachvili who remains sidelined with a back injury. Les Bleus have won their last five matches against the Scots but they know Andy Robinson's side will be doing everything to ensure they avoid the wooden spoon and claim a win in front of the Murrayfield crowd.

France have had an extended break after their match with Ireland was postponed and they should make it two wins from two against a Scotland side that have lost their opening two fixtures.