All the Six Nations team news with France, Scotland and Ireland in the mix for title glory and Italy chasing history on Super Saturday
Published 12/03/2026 at 17:44 GMT
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France, Scotland and Ireland all have a shot at ending the weekend as Six Nations champions as three thrilling final-weekend clashes take place. Gregor Townsend and Andy Farrell face off in Dublin as Scotland could clinch a maiden Six Nations crown, whilst England head to Paris as Fabien Galthie's side look to retain their title and heap more pressure on Steve Borthwick.
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Andy Farrell has strengthened his Ireland starting XV after beating a stubborn Wales side last weekend, with four players coming into the lineup for the Six Nations clash against Scotland on Super Saturday.
Dan Sheehan, Joe McCarthy, Josh van der Flier and Tommy O'Brien all come into the side. McCarthy and Van der Flier were dropped to the bench against Wales, while Sheehan was given the weekend off entirely.
Jacob Stockdale makes way for O'Brien on the wing, while Nick Timoney and Ronan Kelleher drop to the bench. James Ryan is omitted from the matchday squad.
Bundee Aki is set to make his first appearance of the Championship after he was suspended for Ireland's first three Six Nations matches.
Connacht second row Darragh Murray will also make his debut off the bench.
A win over Scotland will not only secure a Triple Crown, but will put Ireland in the best position possible to take advantage of a potential slip-up from France against England.
Sitting on 14 points, behind Scotland and France both on 16, Ireland would need to pray that if France do lose, they fail to pick up two bonus points.
That eventuality, coupled with a win over Scotland, would secure the title for Farrell's side.
Ireland starting XV: 15. Jamie Osborne, 14. Robert Baloucoune, 13. Garry Ringrose,12. Stuart McCloskey, 11. Tommy O'Brien, 10. Jack Crowley, 9. Jamison Gibson-Park; 1. Tom O'Toole, 2. Dan Sheehan, 3. Tadhg Furlong, 4. Joe McCarthy, 5. Tadhg Beirne, 6. Jack Conan, 7. Josh van der Flier, 8. Caelan Doris.
Replacements: Ronan Kelleher, Michael Milne, Finlay Bealham, Darragh Murray, Nick Timoney, Craig Casey, CIaran Frawley, Bundee Aki.
Scotland go for glory as Townsend makes three changes
Gregor Townsend has made three changes to Scotland's starting XV as they prepare for a thrilling Triple Crown decider against Ireland.
Scotland take on Ireland on Saturday at Aviva Stadium, a week after dispatching Grand Slam hopefuls France 50-40 at Murrayfield.
Townsend has been forced into two changes as a calf injury to Gregor Brown and a hamstring injury to Scott Cummings have ruled the second-row pairing out.
In their stead, Max Williamson and Grant Gilchrist move into the starting lineup.
It is a chance for redemption for Williamson and a show of faith from Townsend after the 23-year-old was hauled off early in Cardiff and was not included in the 23 for France.
The third change is a tactical one, and sees Zander Fagerson start this week at tighthead prop after coming off the bench against Les Bleus.
There are changes on the bench as Alex Craig and Magnus Bradbury have joined the forward replacements, while Kyle Rowe has joined the back substitutes on the bench. All three will make their first appearances of the Championship should they take to the field.
Scotland are in an incredible position, with the very real possibility of winning their first Six Nations.
Level on points with France, Scotland need to beat Ireland and hope that England can stun Fabien Galthie's side in Paris for a historic result.
Scotland starting XV: 15. Blair Kinghorn, 14. Darcy Graham, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Sione Tuipulotu (capt), 11. Kyle Steyn, 10. Finn Russell, 9. Ben White; 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. George Turner, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Max Williamson, 5. Grant Gilchrist, 6. Matt Fagerson, 7. Rory Darge, 8. Jack Dempsey.
Replacements: Ewan Ashman, Rory Sutherland, D'arcy Rae, Alex Craig, Magnus Bradbury, George Horne, Kyle Rowe, Tom Jordan.
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Jacob Stockdale celebrates after scoring Ireland's first try against Wales last weekend
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Borthwick makes single change for final clash
Steve Borthwick has made one change to the England starting XV for their final game of the 2026 Six Nations against France on Saturday.
Ollie Chessum comes into the team at flanker, with Sam Underhill dropping to the bench.
Underhill was named in the starting side that suffered England’s first-ever defeat against Italy last weekend, while Chessum came off the bench in the 66th minute.
The flanker was one of two players sent to the sin bin for England in that demoralising loss.
England starting XV: 15. Elliot Daly, 14. Tom Roebuck, 13. Tommy Freeman, 12. Seb Atkinson, 11. Caden Murley; 10. Fin Smith, 9. Ben Spencer; 1. Ellis Genge, 2. Jamie George, 3. Joe Heyes, 4. Maro Itoje (capt), 5. Alex Coles, 6. Ollie Chessum, 7. Guy Pepper, 8. Ben Earl
Replacements: Luke Cowan-Dickie, Bevan Rodd, Trevor Davison, Chandler Cunningham-South, Sam Underhill, Henry Pollock, Jack van Poortvliet, Marcus Smith
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Ollie Chessum applauds England fans after their defeat to Italy in Rome last weekend
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Galthie springs flanker surprise in title decider
France head coach Fabien Galthie has surprisingly named uncapped Bordeaux back-rower Temo Matiu at openside flanker.
Oscar Jegou was banned for four weeks for gouging Ewan Ashman’s eye in the defeat by Scotland, and Galthie has opted to give a chance to Matiu.
Anthony Jelonch also misses out through injury, so Charles Ollivon moves from lock to No. 8 as Emmanuel Meafou comes into the second row alongside Thibaud Flament, with Mickael Guillard dropping to the bench.
In the backs, there is a single change, as injured centre Nicolas Depoortere is replaced by Pierre-Louis Barassi.
France starting XV: 15. Thomas Ramos, 14. Theo Attissogbe, 13. Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12. Yoram Moefana, 11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10. Matthieu Jalibert, 9. Antoine Dupont (c); 1. Jean-Baptiste Gros, 2. Julien Marchand, 3. Dorian Aldegheri; 4. Thibaud Flament, 5. Emmanuel Meafou; 6. Francois Cros, 7. Temo Matiu, 8. Charles Ollivon
Replacements: Peato Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, Demba Bamba, Hugo Auradou, Mickael Guillard, Joshua Brennan, Baptiste Serin, Emilien Gailleton
Wales hunt first win as they stare down Wooden Spoon
Steve Tandy has left the side that started in a spirited defeat to Ireland intact, making just a single change to the 23 as they hope for a maiden win of the tournament against Italy.
Whilst the starting XV is untouched, Blair Murray comes in on the bench in place of Bath's Louie Hennessey.
After announcing his team, Tandy reflected on the cohesion that the group is beginning to foster in the wake of two hugely improved performances against Scotland and Ireland.
"Having an unchanged team, I think it reflects the cohesion and the consistency in the group and the consistency of performance out in Ireland," he said.
"This week we need to go up another level. We’ve had some really good performances.
"I think there were parts against France, then we built up into the Scotland game where I thought we were very good. Against Ireland, we stepped up to the plate physically.
"Now it’s putting it all together and creating our best performance this weekend."
Wales: Louis Rees-Zammit; Ellis Mee, Eddie James, Joe Hawkins, Josh Adams; Dan Edwards, Tomos Williams; Rhys Carre, Dewi Lake (captain), Tomas Francis, Dafydd Jenkins, Ben Carter, Alex Mann, James Botham, Aaron Wainwright.
Replacements: Ryan Elias, Nicky Smith, Archie Griffin, Adam Beard, Olly Cracknell, Kieran Hardy, Jarrod Evans, Blair Murray.
Italy make three changes following famous England win
Gonzalo Quesada has made three changes to his Italy team for their trip to Wales, following their memorable first-ever win over England in Rome last weekend.
The Azzurri are hoping to register three wins for the first time in a single Six Nations campaign, which would see them better their record points tally of 11.
Alessandro Fusco comes into the side at scrum-half for Saturday's visit to Cardiff, taking the place of Alessandro Garbisi.
In the forward pack, Muhamed Hasa comes into the front row in place of Simone Ferrari, ruled out by a back injury, while Federico Ruzza replaces Andrea Zambonin to partner Niccolo Cannone.
Italy: Lorenzo Pani; Louis Lynagh, Juan Ignacio Brex, Tommaso Menoncello, Monty Ioane; Paolo Garbisi, Alessandro Fusco; Danoli Fischetti, Giacomo Nicotera, Muhamed Hasa, Niccolo Cannone, Fedrico Ruzza, Michele Lamaro (captain), Manuel Zuliani, Lorenzo Cannone.
Replacements: Tommaso Di Bartolomeo, Mirco Spagnolo, Giosuè Zilocchi, Riccardo Favretto, David Odiase, Stephan Varney, Leonardo Marin, Tommaso Allan.
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