With the women’s RBS 6 Nations 2013 kicking off on Saturday, here we profile each of the six countries, picking out players who are set to make an impact at this year’s competition.
ENGLAND
OVERVIEW Since winning another RBS 6 Nations title last year complete with a Grand Slam, England have continued in hugely impressive fashion.
A win over France in the autumn kick-started an excellent end-of-year campaign for England, who went on to win a three-test series over the world champions New Zealand.
But England have switched priorities in 2013 in the lead-up to the World Cup Sevens this summer, and as such this RBS 6 Nations campaign will see them field a new-look line-up with a large number of players focusing on the short-form of the game in the coming months instead.
Despite that temporary switch, England’s strength in depth is such that they still start as likely favourites with a huge amount of experience still at Gary Street’s disposal.
PLAYER TO WATCH Fly-half Ceri Large has big boots to fill, stepping in for regular skipper Katy McLean. Large though, has been part of RBS 6 Nations campaigns before and is going very well for the Premiership’s top side Worcester. How she fares as the starting ten could be vital when England face full strength French and Irish sides.
FRANCE
OVERVIEW Two successful tests against the USA in the autumn highlighted that France are building nicely for this RBS 6 Nations and with a raft of players coming through their U20 set-up, France will feel positive about their chances this season.
Unlike England, France have no Sevens concerns during the RBS 6 Nations and will be at full strength. France have not been crowned champions of the championship since 2005 and have finished as runners-up for the last three years running.
With England under-strength they will surely be looking at this year being a fantastic opportunity to lift the title again. However France do however, have to travel for their two toughest games and they are never predictable on the road.
Playing at Twickenham against England will be tough, as the hosts have never lost there, and Ireland at Ashbourne is somewhere they have lost before. This tournament is though a great opportunity for the talented French.
PLAYER TO WATCH France have plenty of new faces to watch, but if they are to go well this season they need the experience of a player like Sandra Rabier to guide them through some tough fixtures. Caen’s player-coach has huge experience in the French shirt and the lock will need to be at the heart of everything if she is to help her side to the title.
IRELAND
OVERVIEW Ireland go into the RBS 6 Nations with much to be positive about. On the back of a big win over Spain last weekend, Ireland face a tough opener against Wales, but should they come through it can look forward to a huge game against England at Ashbourne.
England are the only side who Ireland have never beaten in the RBS 6 Nations and this really must be their best ever chance.
Ireland have unearthed a number of very talented new players over the past year or so and their Sevens work is also helping to sharpen their attack.
With the recently finished Interprovincial Series also helping to give top level match practice to the country’s leading players, hopes should be high in Phillip Doyle’s camp.
Ireland have never finished higher than third in this competition and there is every chance they can do better this time around.
PLAYER TO WATCH Jen Murphy burst onto the scene just over a year ago as a hard-running powerful centre, and she hasn’t looked back. A key part of the Irish side who qualified for the World Cup Sevens, she is likely to be an important figure again this year in both the 6 Nations and in all other competitions.
ITALY
OVERVIEW The most improved team in the women’s RBS 6 Nations over the past few years, Italy continue to make real strides at international level. At home they are a real threat and they too harbour hopes of a best ever finish this season.
A big win over Spain for the first time ever last year shows that the Italians are on the right track and as they continue their bid to qualify for the 2014 World Cup and they will feel confident that they can record a couple of wins this year.
Their target games will certainly be Scotland and Wales and despite being underdogs for most of their matches, the rapidly improving Italians should not be underestimated.
PLAYER TO WATCH Centre Michela Sillari has become a key player in her side in recent times and her performances have been catching the eye. With pace, power and all the ability needed at this level, her performances will be important.
SCOTLAND
OVERVIEW It’s been a difficult few years for Scotland and with qualification for the World Cup on the line; this is an important RBS 6 Nations for them.
Finishing bottom last season was a big disappointment but a year of working on their conditioning and skills as well as exposure on the international Sevens circuit will certainly have helped.
Scotland have seen a number of players come through their U20s programme and they will hope that the youth emerging will help to improve their results this time around.
Their key game is with Italy, as both sides will be desperate to avoid the Wooden Spoon.
PLAYER TO WATCH Sarah Dixon is a flyer out wide and she made a real impact last season on the Sevens scene. If Scotland can get her the ball in space then she is a real try-scoring threat.
WALES
OVERVIEW Like Ireland, Wales also played Spain recently in a warm-up game and will have learned plenty from a hard-fought win. World Cup qualification is the main aim for Wales in this RBS 6 Nations but they will also be looking to develop the consistency that has eluded them at times in recent seasons.
The first clash against Ireland will be a big test and if they can get the result they want at home, a top-three finish is certainly well within their grasp.
With a host of players returning from injury and absences, Wales will feel confident going into the tournament as the likes of Catrin Edwards and Catrina Nicholas are important figures coming back into the set-up.
The increasing efforts to create strength in depth are obvious with the inclusion of a number of new faces, with seven uncapped players in all making the squad.
PLAYER TO WATCH Elinor Snowsill has been in and around the Welsh set-up for a while, coming through the U20s programme, but she has begun to make a real mark on the fly-half position, and has been impressing at club level in the English Premiership.
