Key events
Fighting talk from Aoife Wafer. She told Sarah Rendell that “Ireland want to shake England up a bit” and shock the favourites in Cork. Well worth your pre-game perusal.
France 42-12 Wales
The early kick-off in this third round of games is done and France are still on course for what could – potentially – be a grand-slam decider in their final match at Twickenham. Welsh rugby fans: we’re afraid the report below means you’re still waiting for some overdue good news …
France maintained their perfect start to the Women’s Six Nations campaign with a 42-12 bonus-point win over Wales in Brive to stay on course for the grand slam.
After Emilie Boulard, back in the starting XV, touched down in the corner to give France an early lead, Wales responded when Kate Williams was driven over following a lineout. Winger Boulard extended the advantage with a second try in the 16th minute after more strong carrying by the French pack, only for Wales to again get another close-range score from Gwen Crabb.
Rose Bernadou then saw a try ruled out for a dropped ball, but, with the clock in the red, hooker Manon Bigot crossed after a lineout and Morgane Bourgeois added the extras to give France a 21-12 half-time lead. The France co-captain Manaé Feleu crashed over four minutes into the second half to secure a bonus point, before Wales – beaten by Scotland and then thrashed by England in Cardiff – had a try from Courtney Keight ruled out for obstruction in the buildup.
With 13 minutes left, Wales conceded a penalty try after collapsing a scrum, with Maisie Davies sent to the sin-bin. France made their late pressure count as replacement Lea Champon pushed over in the closing stages. PA Sport
The teams
It’s a compliment to Ireland that John Mitchell has – after making 13 changes in between England’s first two games – named what looks a full-strength side. Back after suspension, Alex Matthews makes her first start in this year’s competition, replacing Maddie Feaunati at No 8. Props Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman are the other changes, coming in for Mackenzie Carson (ruled out for the tournament with an ankle injury) and Sarah Bern.
Ireland also make three changes: Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan and Emily Lane are rewarded for impressing off the bench in the 54-12 win in Italy with spots in the starting XV. The hosts are without Edel McMahon and Enya Breen through injury. Rising star Aoife Wafer going head-to-head with Matthews could be: tasty.
Ireland
Stacey Flood; Anna McGann, Aoife Dalton, Eve Higgins, Amee-Leigh Costigan (capt); Dannah O’Brien, Emily Lane; Niamh O’Dowd, Neve Jones, Linda Djougang, Fiona Tuite, Dorothy Wall, Brittany Hogan, Erin King, Aoife Wafer.
Replacements: Cliodhna Moloney, Siobhán McCarthy, Christy Haney, Ruth Campbell, Grace Moore, Aoibheann Reilly, Nicole Fowley, Vicky Elmes Kinlan.
England
Ellie Kildunne; Abby Dow, Megan Jones, Tatyana Heard, Jess Breach; Zoe Harrison, Natasha Hunt; Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies, Maud Muir, Morwenna Talling, Abbie Ward, Zoe Aldcroft (capt), Sadia Kabeya, Alex Matthews.
Replacements: Amy Cockayne, Kelsey Clifford, Sarah Bern, Rosie Galligan, Maddie Feaunati, Lucy Packer, Holly Aitchison, Helena Rowland.
Referee: Aurélie Groizeleau (Fr)
Preamble
England are on a roll: unbeaten in 31 Women’s Six Nations games and with maximum points from their opening two matches in 2025 – but this is not the same Ireland side they walloped at Twickenham last year. In Cork, the Red Roses are facing a young, improving team who’ve come on leaps and bounds since they picked up the wooden spoon in this competition two years ago.
Ireland’s standout result since is shocking world champions New Zealand last autumn, though it might be an even more seismic upset if Scott Bemand’s team can derail the seemingly unstoppable England train. The Irish missed a few opportunities during an opening W6N defeat by France, but roared back to stick 54 points on Italy in Parma.
That means both sides have players coming into the game after hat-tricks: Amy McGann in Italy and Ellie Kildunne, the reigning world player of the year putting a nine-minute treble on Wales. Ouch. England have quality all over the pitch but it’s a home World Cup year, so every match is in audition for that.
One thing we can expect is a lively atmosphere: earlier in the week over 7,000 tickets were sold for the 8,008-capacity Virgin Media Park (still Musgrave Park to many locals, perhaps). So it’ll be a sellout or a near sellout. Can Ireland hold their nerve, not be overwhelmed and give their visitors a test? Or do England power on? We’re about to find out with kick-off at 4.45pm BST.