19th March 2010 6 Nations

Saturday 20 March

14:30 - Wales v Italy
17:00 - Ireland v Scotland
19:45 (20:45 local) - France v England

First up will be Wales taking on the Azzuri at the Millennium stadium in Cardiff. It's all come to tears for the Welsh this season I'm afraid, with only one solitary win against Scotland and even then there was more than a touch of luck. Italy, on the other hand, can mark this as a vintage year - a win against Scotland, and giving England a good run for their money, Nick Mallet their coach will be asking for a raise. Wales have made a raft of changes for the match, they have the experience and excellence of Mike Phillips, Gethin Jenkins and Ryan Jones to welcome back from injury, and Tom Prydie will become the youngest ever player for Wales at the age of just 18. It should be Wales all the way with the Italian feeling their season is already in the bag.

Next up is Ireland against Scotland at Croke Park, the last Ireland rugby match at the famous Gaelic ground. Ireland don't have anything to prove, they will be going for a good win to beef up their points difference in case the French slip up against England, and if they are as clinical as they were against Wales last weekend they could rack up the points. Scotland, with only a draw to show for their efforts are unlikely to win but they have a nagging habit of making it difficult for the Irish, Ireland should win but it’ll be closer than they wanted. It should make for a festive atmosphere at Croke Park with a number of Scottish supporters likely to pitch in drag.

Finally, France will take on England at the Stade De France in Paris . The French are saying this is just another match, they have nothing against 'Les Rosbifs'. For Irelands sake, it would be better if England win, and better still if they could beat them by 50 points. But this is asking a lot of Martin Johnson's raggle taggle bunch of elderly portly gentleman. He's tinkered with his line up a bit but it's a bit like rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic, as this team is surely doomed to founder on the invincible looking iceberg that is the French team, who despite anything they might say will be itching to smash the English and claim the 6 Nations and the Grand Slam. France by a country mile.