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Wales Online

Sport

Katie Sands

Women's Six Nations headlines you can expect as England at most vulnerable and Wales to restore pride

England Wales Six Nations France Italy Scotland World Cup Ireland the Red Roses Rugby

What is set to be the most competitive Women's Six Nations yet is about to kick off, and there is plenty to be excited about.

England's Red Roses go into the tournament in search of a fifth consecutive title, hoping to return to dominance after their World Cup final defeat to New Zealand in November, while France have finished as runners-up for the past three years.

Below them the battle to be crowned best of the rest is set to be the closest contest to date, with Wales (14 months into professionalism) bidding to hold onto their third-place finish from last year, while newly-professional Scotland, Italy and Ireland fight to catch up.

Here are some of the talking points to look out for and headlines we can expect to be reading:

England and France remain cut above but upset on the cards

Everything on paper points to England and France, the second and third-best teams in World Rugby after world champions New Zealand, dominating once again in what has in recent years effectively become a two-tier competition. They can regularly put 50 points or more on the other nations, and the gap between this duo and the rest isn't going anywhere any time soon.

Defending champions England completed last year's Grand Slam by beating second-placed side France 24-12 in the final game of the schedule, and it once again looks like England's nearest challenger will be France.

However, both sides are missing a number of key players through retirement and injury, while England are set for something of a last hurrah under head coach Simon Middleton, who is stepping down following the Six Nations after guiding the Red Roses to World Cup finals in 2017 and 2022.

England captain Emily Scarratt, Zoe Harrison, Hannah Botterman, Vickii Cornborough and Laura Keates are among the Red Roses sidelined, while their most-capped player Sarah Hunter is bringing the curtain down on her career after the opener against Scotland on Saturday. As for France, they have seen a number of players retire, including reigning Women's Six Nations player of the championship Laure Sansus, Safi N’Diaye and Celine Ferrer, while the absence of Madoussou Fall and Romane Ménager through injury is also a cause for concern.

So, there is no better time for the Celtic trio plus Italy to try and exploit their superiors' vulnerabilities and of all the years this could be the one for a major shock result.

Wales fly-half Elinor Snowsill said: "For me, England this year, I think of all the years this might be the year that we can really look to close the gap on them."

Wales captain Hannah Jones said: "You go into the matches with a winning mindset, but there's definitely a chance this year."

England head coach Simon Middleton has said: "There is nothing you are entitled to in terms of winning. It's all about what happens on the day, how prepared you are and all you can do is be at your best."

While England or France losing to one of Wales, Scotland or Ireland would constitute a major shock, it's set to be a closer encounter with Italy. The Azzurri and France squared off in a two-match series before the World Cup, with Les Bleues taking the first game before Italy roared back to defeat their old enemies 26-19. Italy then lost out to France at the World Cup quarter-finals.

Investment pays as gap begins to close

Since the Rugby Football Union announced full-time contracts for the majority of England players in 2019, the Red Roses have dominated the Six Nations, winning the last four editions. Their nearest competitors France have contracts described by players as 75% professional.

It's hardly a surprise that such off-field backing has translated to on-field results. With everyone else following suit, that gap can only begin to close. How long it will take, however, remains to be seen.

Wales half-back Elinor Snowsill added: "I guess we're the guinea pigs, aren't we? The other teams have started to become professional now, and then you've obviously got England and France who have been for a while. I think we saw a big increase last year In terms of that initial emotional load off us of trying to balance both and the quick wins you could get in doing your extra analysis and extra kicking. I think we definitely saw the benefit of that last year and now hopefully we'll be fitter, we should be stronger."

New attendance records to be set

The Red Roses have already sold more than 40,000 tickets for their final-round Six Nations encounter with France at Twickenham on April 29, and could be on course to break the world attendance record for a women's rugby match, 42,579, set at last year's World Cup in New Zealand.

Long gone are the days when England were content to pack Doncaster's 5,000-capacity Castle Park or even Twickenham Stoop, which holds 14,800 and hosted the 2010 World Cup final. As for the opening weekend, England face newly-professionalised Scotland at the 10,200-capacity Kingston Park in Newcastle, where England’s most-capped player Sarah Hunter will hang up her boots in her hometown.

Wales, meanwhile, pulled off a nail-biting comeback win against Scotland last year in front of a record crowd of 4,875 at Cardiff Arms Park. This year, they host Ireland and England in the Welsh capital. A new attendance record for a standalone home women's rugby international is nigh on a certainty for the visit of England. A sell-out isn't off the cards, either.

Wales to restore pride and bid for top three

After two wins against Ireland and Scotland last year secured Wales a third-place finish (their best in 13 years), three wins and at least the same table finish are the aim this time around. Wales host Ireland first up, who will be keen to prove themselves having missed out on World Cup qualification last year, while Scotland also have a point to prove and Italy are a quality outfit. Wales need to start with momentum with a win over the Irish at home in round one.

It will be the first time they take the field since bombshell allegations of sexism and misogyny at the Welsh Rugby Union surfaced earlier this year, prompting a review into the governing body's culture and behaviours.

And after a dismal Six Nations campaign in which Warren Gatland's men finished fifth after a sole win against Italy, combined with Wales U20s coming away with the wooden spoon, Wales Women really have a chance to put smiles back on faces with entertaining performances, positive results and progress.

Italy taken forward under new coach

Italy have been building a strong side for a number of years, but this year marks a new challenge for Le Azzurre. Long-serving coach Andrea Di Giandomenico has left after 13 years in the role and legendary captain Manuela Furlan has moved on, and in their place are Giovanni Raineri and Elisa Giordano.

Raineri cut his teeth in management as part of a Western Province set-up alongside three former South Africa head coaches in Allister Coetzee, Rassie Erasmus and Jacques Nienaber, and now moves into his first role in women's rugby.

The former Italy international will be looking for results in the short-term, with Italy not finishing bottom of a Six Nations table since 2017 (unlike their male counterparts), but will have an eye on developing for the future, too.

While Furlan, Maria Magatti and Melissa Bettoni have called it a day, Sara Barattin has made a surprise return to the squad and Elisa Giordano - the 60-cap back-rower who is known as Polipo (Octopus) because she catches everything - has been selected to head up Italy’s new era.

Le Azzurre finished fifth last year, matching Ireland and Wales with two wins in the tournament, but they failed to pick up any bonus points, unlike the others. Expect that to improve in 2023 as they bid to climb the table.

Scotland's losing streak to continue

Scotland, who exited the World Cup after the pool stages, are on a run of nine losses on the bounce in all competitions which stretches the way back to the 2022 Six Nations, when they finished bottom of the table. Six of their last nine games have been lost by seven points or less, but expect a much higher losing scoreline when they face the Red Roses in the opening round.

Scotland captain Rachel Malcolm says the squad want to end the "morbid story" of their poor run and deliver a better Six Nations. "We've proven that we're good enough to compete but we just need to find a way to win," the back-row forward said. "Putting more points on the board in games is the way forward with that. If you look at nine defeats, it tells a pretty morbid story but I think that when you actually look at the performances within them, it gives you hope."

Head coach Bryan Easson's Scotland will end their losing streak this Six Nations, and can realistically target wins against Wales and Ireland.

Scottish Rugby announcing 11-month professional contracts for 28 players in December will only help that bid, and Malcolm believes full-time training is making a difference. "It's probably too soon in terms of closing the gap but I do think you'll see a better product from us as a result of those professional contracts," she added.

Ireland's away schedule does them no favours

Having finished fourth last year, and after continuing their growth with a summer tour of Japan, Ireland will be looking to develop partnerships and push on despite their newly-professional set-up not being taken up by all players.

A total of 29 players accepted historic IRFU playing contracts at the end of last year, offered on the condition of playing club rugby in Ireland, while a number of players including captain Nichola Fryday rejected the deals in favour of remaining with their Premier 15s clubs in England, widely seen as the best women's rugby club competition in the world.

Greg McWilliams’ side are the only participating championship nation not to have competed at the World Cup but are an improving outfit and several of their squad impressed at the inaugural Celtic Challenge, which saw the Combined Provinces XV go unbeaten against sides from Scotland and Wales.

Much will depend on how they travel, with their three most winnable games – against Wales, Italy and Scotland – all coming on the road.

Kit revolution

Ireland’s decision to change the colour of their shorts from the traditional white to navy to ease player concerns around periods saw them become the first home nation to make the switch, part of a wider move away from white shorts in women’s sport. It would be a surprise for this to be the norm from next year onwards.

Ireland captain Nichola Fryday has said of the move to navy shorts: "If something as simple as changing the colour of your shorts eases that anxiety or that concern for a girl then it is a change that should be welcomed, and it is really positive."

Wales' opening game against Ireland on Saturday afternoon (2.15pm) has tickets priced at £10 for adults and £5 for children (under-16s) via wru.wales/W6N