The final straight of the 2024 Six Nations is coming into view as teams head into Round 4.
Ireland have been flawless so far and are now two games away from being the first team to win back-to-back Grand Slams since the Six Nations era began in 2000. Standing in their way in Saturday’s late kickoff is England, who will be hoping their pragmatic brand of rugby will prove to be the leaders’ undoing.
At the other end of the standings, Italy are without a win, but they are not without hope. They were denied a memorable victory against France last time out when Paolo Garbisi’s last-gasp penalty hit the post in an agonising 13-13 stalemate. “It’s going to stay in my head for a while,” Garbisi said afterward. Italy will be hoping it doesn’t, with second-placed Scotland in their sights.
Meanwhile, in the final game of the weekend, winless Wales will look for a bright spot of their own when they take on France.
Here’s all the team news and everything you need to know heading into the weekend.
Italy vs. Scotland, Saturday 2.15pm, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Cameron Redpath will start at inside centre and George Horne at scrum-half as Scotland coach Gregor Townsend makes three changes and opts for a 6-2 split between forwards and backs on the bench.
The other change to the starting line-up sees flanker Andy Christie on the side of the scrum for Jamie Ritchie, who drops to a bench packed with forwards ahead of the anticipated physical confrontation.
Redpath is in for the injured Sione Tuipulotu, while Horne replaced Ben White, who has been a fixture in the side in this championship. Ali Price is the replacement scrumhalf on the bench.
Scotland are unbeaten in their last 13 meetings with Italy and last suffered defeat in Rome in 2012 when they lost 13-6. They have won two of their three games in this year’s Six Nations — their lone defeat being a controversial 20-16 home loss to France.
For Italy, Louis Lynagh, the son of former Australia flyhalf Michael, will make his debut after head coach Gonzalo Quesada named the wing in his team on Thursday.
Lynagh was born in Italy and has played at Under-20 level for England where he grew up. He will play his club rugby at Benetton in Italy next season, with his signing from Harlequins confirmed last month.
Saturday’s game at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome is a sell-out, with 69,869 tickets sold for Italy’s final home game of this year’s Six Nations.
Italy: Ange Capuozzo, Louis Lynagh, Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane, Paolo Garbisi, Martin Page-Relo, Ross Vintcent, Michele Lamaro, Sebastian Negri , Federico Ruzza, Niccolo Cannone, Simone Ferrari, Giacomo Nicotera, Danilo Fischetti.
Replacements: Gianmarco Lucchesi, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosue Zilocchi, Andrea Zambonin, Lorenzo Cannone, Stephen Varney, Leonardo Marin, Federico Mori.
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn, Kyle Steyn, Huw Jones, Cameron Redpath, Duhan van der Merwe, Finn Russell (co-captain), George Horne, Pierre Schoeman, George Turner, Zander Fagerson, Grant Gilchrist, Scott Cummings, Andy Christie, Rory Darge (co-captain), Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Alec Hepburn, Elliot Millar-Mills, Sam Skinner, Jamie Ritchie, Matt Fagerson, Ali Price, Kyle Rowe.
England vs. Ireland, Saturday, 4.15pm, Twickenham, London
Winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso will make his first start for England, while Ireland have named an almost unchanged side for the match, where a bonus-point win would secure the title for the visitors with a game to spare.
England’s Alex Mitchell and George Martin also return, with making up the last of the three changes from the team beaten by Scotland.
The Cardiff-born Feyi-Waboso, 21, scored a try as a replacement in the 30-21 defeat at Murrayfield two weeks ago and starts on the right wing, with Tommy Freeman switching to the left and Elliot Daly dropping to the bench.
Martin, also impressive as a replacement, comes in to add his power at lock, with Ollie Chessum shifting to blindside flanker. Mitchell returns after injury at scrum-half, with Danny Care set to win his 100th cap off the bench.
“I’m sure Saturday will be an emotional and memorable day for Danny and his family,” coach Steve Borthwick said in a statement. “The team couldn’t be prouder of his accomplishment.”
Fly-half Marcus Smith is on the bench and set for his first appearance of this year’s Six Nations after recovering from a calf injury.
Meanwhile, Ireland will welcome Hugo Keenan back from injury in an otherwise unchanged team.
Keenan — a near ever present and hugely reliable presence at fullback during Farrell’s tenure — limped off with a knee injury during last month’s 36-0 win against Italy that ruled him out of the bonus point victory over Wales in the following round of matches.
England: George Furbank, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Henry Slade, Ollie Lawrence, Tommy Freeman, George Ford, Alex Mitchell; Ellis Genge, Jamie George (captain), Dan Cole, Maro Itoje, George Martin, Ollie Chessum, Sam Underhill, Ben Earl.
Replacements: Theo Dan, Joe Marler, Will Stuart, Chandler Cunningham-South, Alex Dombrandt, Danny Care, Marcus Smith, Elliot Daly.
Ireland: Hugo Keenan, Calvin Nash, Robbie Henshaw, Bundee Aki, James Lowe, Jack Crowley, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong Joe McCarthy, Tadhg Beirne, Peter O’Mahony (captain), Josh van der Flier, Caealan Doris.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Cian Healy, Finlay Bealham, Iain Henderson, Ryan Baird, Jack Conan, Conor Murray, Ciaran Frawley.
Wales vs. France, Sunday, 3pm, Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Wales have made five changes to the side that were dominated 31-7 by Ireland in Round 3.
There’s a new look midfield with George North and Nick Tompkins dropping out to be replaced by Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin.
Hooker Ryan Elias comes in to the front-row for his second start of the Championship. Captain Dafydd Jenkins moves to blindside flanker, while Will Rowlands and Adam Beard form the second-row combination.
Gareth Davies has been added to the squad to start from the bench in Cardiff.
Coach Warren Gatland admitted France will pose a tough challenge to his young side.
“There are a few changes to the team this week as there are some players that deserve an opportunity,” Gatland said.
“It’ll be a tough, physical challenge from France on Sunday particularly up front. We know they will start hard and it’s about us staying in the fight, having good line speed defensively and keeping our discipline. We’re looking for an 80 minute performance.
“We’re excited to be back at home for our last two matches and looking forward to getting out in front of a passionate Welsh crowd this weekend.”
Wales: Cameron Winnett, Josh Adams, Joe Roberts, Owen Watkin, Rio Dyer, Sam Costelow, Tomos Williams, Aaron Wainwright, Tommy Reffell, Dafydd Jenkins, Adam Beard, Will Rowlands, Keiron Assiratti, Ryan Elias, Gareth Thomas.
Replacements: Elliot Dee, Corey Domachowski, Dillon Lewis, Alex Mann, Mackenzie Martin, Gareth Davies, Ioan Lloyd, Mason Grady
France:
Replacements: