Six Nations: Week 4 Preview
Saturday
Wales v Italy- Kick-off: 14:30
Wales captain Sam Warburton has been ruled out of Saturday's clash with Italy after he failed to recover from a knee injury. The Blues' back-rower has been replaced by Justin Tipuric at number seven with Gethin Jenkins taking over the captaincy. The other change amongst the forwards sees former captain Matthew Rees replacing Ken Owens at hooker meaning the Wales front-row will be the same as the 2009 Lions front three. Wales' try-scorer at Twickenham Scott Williams has been named on the bench alongside Luke Charteris who returns after a long spell on the sidelines after he suffered a wrist injury at the World Cup last year.
Jacques Brunel has made several changes for his Italy side that will face Wales at the Millennium Stadium this weekend. Kris Burton has been recalled to the side to play at fly-half in place of Tobias Botes who missed three attempts at goal in the Azzurri's 42-10 defeat in Dublin last time out. The other changes in the back-line see the return of Mirco Bergamasco, Gonzalo Canale and Fabio Semenzato as Brunel aims to crush Wales' Grand-slam hopes in Cardiff. Italy have made three changes in the front eight as Simone Favaro, Cornelius van Zyl and Andrea Lo Cicero all start as they seek to claim their first points of this year's tournament in the Welsh capital.
Wales are targeting a fourth win in as many games and should be more than comfortable in securing a victory against the Italians who have never beaten Wales at the Millennium Stadium.
Ireland v Scotland- Kick-off: 17:00
Declan Kidney has named Rory Best as captain for Ireland's final home game of this year's Six Nations campaign against Scotland. The Uslterman was appointed captain after Paul O'Connell, who has been replaced in the second row with Donnacha Ryan, was ruled out for the remainder of the tournament through injury. The other enforced changes see Peter O'Mahony replace the injured Sean O'Brien at flanker and Leinster's Eoin Reddan starts at scrum-half after Conor Murray was ruled out with the injury he picked up in the draw with France last weekend.
Scotland coach Andy Robinson has made one change to the side that lost 17-23 against France for their match with Ireland at the Aviva Stadium. Edinburgh's Nick De Luca has been included in the starting XV to play at centre meaning Sean Lamont will shift to the wing to replace his brother Rory who broke his leg in the defeat to Les Bleus at Murrayfield. Scotland have lost their opening three matches against England, Wales and France and will be desperate to beat their Celtic opponents to avoid a wooden spoon decider with Italy on the final game week.
The absence of Paul O'Connell will be a huge blow for the Irish but they should still be capable of defeating a Scotland side that despite performing impressively in their three games so far that are yet to win in this season's tournament.
Sunday
France v England- Kick-off: 15:00
France coach Phillipe Saint-André has made two changes to his side ahead of their penultimate Six Nations fixture with England on Sunday. The coach will start with scrum-half Julien Dupuy and fly-half Lionel Beauxis instead of the half-back pairing of Morgan Parra and Francois Trinh-Duc from last week's draw with Ireland. The French still have ambitions of winning the Six Nations championship after last Sunday's 17-17 against Declan Kidney's side and a win against England would set up a winner takes all clash with Wales on the final weekend of the tournament.
Stuart Lancaster has named the same side that were defeated by Wales a fortnight ago for England's trip to the Stade de France this weekend. The only changes come amongst the replacements as Charlie Hodgson returns meaning Toby Flood has been released to play for Leicester. Stade Francais' Tom Palmer is also on the bench after Courtney Lawes was ruled out for the rest of the tournament after he picked up a shin injury.
England were much improved in their 19-12 defeat to Wales at Twickenham and will be aiming to get back to winning ways but France are very strong on home soil and should have enough to claim the win at the Stade de France.
Credit - RFU & Getty Images
