Six Nations Round Four Teams: France continue Grand Slam hunt as England, Ireland make changes

Fri, Mar 11, 2022, 12:26 AM
Nathan Williamson
by Nathan Williamson
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France's hunt for the Grand Slam continues as Fabien Galthié names a settled side to face Wales.

Meanwhile, England and Ireland have tweaked their line-ups as they prepare for what looms as a must-win game for both sides.

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Check out below for all the team news as it drops.

NOTE: ALL TEAMS WILL BE CONFIRMED 48 HOURS BEFORE THE RESPECTIVE GAMES.

Saturday 12 March 7:00 am AEDT – Wales v France at Principality Stadium, ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport

Wales coach Wayne Pivac has handed flanker Josh Navidi and veteran centre Johnathan Davies call-ups as they look to stop Six Nations leaders France.

Navidi returns after a shoulder injury, slotting into a backrow which includes Seb Davies and Taulupe Faletau.

Nick Tompkins' concussion paves the way for Davies to return to the starting side, joining Owen Watkin in the centres.

Meanwhile, Gareth Thomas is given a run-on start ahead of Wyn Jones at tight-head prop.

As for France, Gabin Villiere is the lone change to the starting side that defeated Scotland a fortnight ago.

He comes in for Damian Penaud on the wing, who was ruled out with COVID.

Lock Romain Taofifenua has also contracted the virus, with Matthis Lebel coming on the bench along with prop Mohamed Haouas.

WALES: Liam Williams; Alex Cuthbert, Owen Watkin, Jonathan Davies, Josh Adams; Dan Biggar (capt), Tomos Williams; Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi, Seb Davies; Adam Beard, Will Rowlands; Tomas Francis, Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas

RESERVES: Dewi Lake, Wyn Jones, Dillon Lewis, Ross Moriarty, Jac Morgan, Kieran Hardy, Gareth Anscombe, Louis Rees-Zammit

FRANCE (15-1): Melvyn Jaminet; Yoram Moefana, Gael Fickou, Jonathan Danty, Gabin Villiere; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (c); Anthony Jelonch, Gregory Alldritt, Francois Cros; Paul Willemse, Cameron Woki; Uini Atonio, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille

RESERVES: Peato Mauvaka, Jean-Baptiste Gros, Mohamed Haouas, Thibaud Flament, Dylan Cretin, Maxime Lucu, Thomas Ramos, Matthis Lebel

Sunday 13 March 1:15 am AEDT – Italy v Scotland at Stadio Olimpico, ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport

Scrum-half Callum Braley returns for Italy as they look to break their 35-game losing streak.

Braley missed the game against Ireland with a calf complaint and will partner Paolo Garbisi in the halves.

Kieran Crowley's only other change to the starting line-up is elevating Treviso hooker Giacomo Nicotera for his first start for Italy.

Meanwhile, Scotland coach Grigor Townsend has made five changes to the run-on side defeated by France.

Matt Fagerson and Hamish Watson boost the back-row after missing the defeat to France.

Sam Johnson returns to the starting side for the first time since round one, partnering Chris Harris in the centres while Kyle Steyn will make his first Six Nations start on the wing.

George Turner returns to the starting line-up in the front row, joining Zander Fagerson and Pierre Schoeman.

ITALY (15-1): Edoardo Padovani, Pierre Bruno, Juan Ignacio Brex, Leonardo Marin, Montanna Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Callum Braley, Toa Halafini, Michele Lamaro (c), Giovanni Pettinelli, Federico Ruzza, Niccolo Cannone, Pietro Ceccarelli, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti

RESERVES: Luca Bigi, Ivan Nemer,Giosue Zilocchi, David Sisi, Manuel Zuliani, Alessandro Fusco, Marco Zanon, Ange Capuzzo

SCOTLAND (15-1): Stuart Hogg (c); Darcy Graham, Chris Harris, Sam Johnson, Kyle Steyn; Finn Russell, Ali Price; Matt Fagerson, Hamish Watson, Rory Darge; Grant Gilchrist, Sam Skinner; Zander Fagerson, George Turner, Pierre Schoeman

RESERVES: Stuart McInally, Allan Dell, WP Nel, Jamie Hodgson, Magnus Bradbury, Ben Vellacott, Adam Hastings, Sione Tuipulotu

Sunday 13 March 3:45 am AEDT – England v Ireland at Twickenham, ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport

Eddie Jones has made three changes to England’s starting side as they prepare for a crucial match with Ireland.

Sam Simmonds returns at number eight after contracting COVID, replacing Alex Dombrandt at the back of the scrum.

He is joined in the pack by Jamie George after Luke Cowan-Dickie was ruled out of the rest of the tournament with a knee injury.

Joe Marchant comes into the centres, joined by Henry Slade, whilst Joe Launchbury headlines the inclusions on the bench.

Irish coach Andy Farrell has called on a plethora of experience, led by flyhalf Johnny Sexton.

Sexton, who signed a new deal until the 2023 World Cup, will win his 104th cap alongside his Leinster team-mate and scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park.

Bundee Aki returns to the centres alongside Garry Ringrose, with both missing the comprehensive win against the Azzurri.

James Ryan and Cian Healy return to the starting side in the tight five, as is Hugo Keenan at full-back and winger Andrew Conway.

ENGLAND (15-1): Freddie Steward, Max Malins, Joe Marchant, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell, Marcus Smith, Harry Randall, Sam Simmonds, Tom Curry, Courtney Lawes (capt), Charlie Ewels, Maro Itoje, Kyle Sinckler, Jamie George, Ellis Genge

RESERVES: Jamie Blamire, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Joe Launchbury, Alex Dombrandt, Ben Youngs, George Ford, Elliot Daly

IRELAND (15-1): Hugo Keenan; Andrew Conway, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, James Lowe; Johnny Sexton (c), Jamison Gibson-Park; Caelan Doris, Josh van der Flier, Peter O'Mahony; James Ryan, Tadhg Beirne; Tadhg Furlong, Dan Sheehan, Cian Healy

RESERVES: Rob Herring, Dave Kilcoyne, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Robbie Henshaw

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