Six Nations 2024 LIVE: England name Immanuel Feyi-Waboso in starting side plus Ireland and Scotland team news
Flying winger Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is handed a first start, while Alex Mitchell returns from injury at scrum half as Steve Borthwick’s England face grand slam-chasing Ireland at Twickenham
After almost two weeks off, the fourth round of the 2024 Six Nations is nearly upon us with another enticing trio of matches lined up for the weekend as the championship heads towards its conclusion.
Ireland will look to continue their search for historic consecutive Six Nations grand slams when they take on England at Twickenham. Andy Farrell’s men have been unbeatable in the tournament so far and dominated Wales 31-7 in their last outing.
Meanwhile, Steve Borthwick’s side have something to prove following a 30-21 loss to Scotland in the Calcutta Cup and a headline-grabbing victory over the Irish could be just the thing to get their campaign back on track. Alex Mitchell returns to the side at scrum half and Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is handed a first start on the wing but Marcus Smith is only given a place on the bench.
Italy, fresh off a 13-13 draw with France, host Gregor Townsend’s Scotland who will be thinking about ending their campaign on a high after regaining their momentum against England. Intriguingly, France travel to Wales where Warren Gatland’s young side hope to transfer decent performances into winning results.
Follow below for today’s team announcements and all the latest news ahead of the third round of matches this weekend:
Three changes for Scotland to face Italy
Let’s delve a little more into that Scotland team just announced by Gregor Townsend. There are three changes to the side that impressively beat England last time out as Andy Christie, Cam Redpath and George Horne all come into the line-up.
Christie is preferred to Jamie Ritchie in the back row, where he’ll line up for his first Scotland start alongside co-captain Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey, while Redpath comes in for the injured Sione Tuipulotu to form a midfield partnership with Huw Jones and Horne starts at scrum half, as Ben White drops out of the 23 entirely with veteran Ali Price the chosen No 9 replacement.
Scotland XV: 15. Blair Kinghorn, 14. Kyle Steyn, 13. Huw Jones, 12. Cameron Redpath, 11. Duhan van der Merwe, 10. Finn Russell (co-captain), 9. George Horne; 1. Pierre Schoeman, 2. George Turner, 3. Zander Fagerson, 4. Grant Gilchrist, 5. Scott Cummings, 6. Andy Christie, 7. Rory Darge (co-captain), 8. Jack Dempsey
Replacements: 16. Ewan Ashman, 17. Alec Hepburn, 18. Elliot Millar-Mills, 19. Sam Skinner, 20. Jamie Ritchie, 21. Matt Fagerson, 22. Ali Price, 23. Kyle Rowe
Scotland name team for Italy clash
Scotland are the first team this morning to name their side for the weekend. They face Italy in Rome on Saturday afternoon
Six Nations 2024 LIVE: Ireland welcome back key quartet ahead of England showdown
Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, Iain Henderson and Oli Jager are in contention for Ireland’s Six Nations clash with England after training on Tuesday.
Leinster centre Ringrose is yet to feature in this year’s championship because of a shoulder injury.
Full back Keenan and lock Henderson missed the round-three win over Wales due to a knee issue and a dislocated toe respectively.
Munster prop Jager made his Test debut as a replacement in that 31-7 success on February 24 before sustaining a knee problem.
Grand Slam-chasing Ireland, who play at Twickenham on Saturday before completing their campaign at home to Scotland seven days later, reported a clean bill of health ahead of holding a more physical training session on Wednesday.
Ireland welcome back key quartet ahead of England showdown
Garry Ringrose, Hugo Keenan, Iain Henderson and Oli Jager could feature at Twickenham on Saturday
Six Nations 2024 LIVE: George North and Nick Tompkins not rocked by shock omission
Wales boss Warren Gatland has sprung a major selection surprise by omitting established centres George North and Nick Tompkins from his line-up for Sunday’s Guinness Six Nations clash with France.
But Wales assistant coach Mike Forshaw says both players have “jumped back on the horse” after being left out, with a new midfield pairing of Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin preferred.
While North and Tompkins have 155 caps between them – North is Wales’ most experienced Six Nations squad member – 23-year-old Scarlets centre Roberts will make his first tournament start and Watkin is recalled after featuring against opening opponents Scotland.
“I think it is an opportunity to have a look at Joe,” Forshaw said. “I think Joe was unlucky not to go to the World Cup.
“We just felt if we were going to have a look, this was the game to do it. He (Roberts) is a really promising young 13 going forward, and Owen Watkin has a lot of experience.”
George North and Nick Tompkins not rocked by shock omission – Mike Forshaw
The established Wales pairing will not be involved in the Six Nations clash.
Six Nations 2024 schedule in full: Fixtures, kick-off times and results
The Six Nations is back with Ireland looking to defend their grand slam crown and finding the perfect start with emphatic wins over France, Italy and Wales
The start of a new cycle has seen a significant change to the six competing unions since a thrilling Rugby World Cup in France.
England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and France all began the campaign with new captains at the helm, while Italy have made a promising start to life under Gonzalo Quesada after a post-World Cup coaching change.
Scotland, denied cruelly against the French in round two, will be hoping to build on a third-placed finish a year ago as they look to deny Ireland back-to-back triumphs. Here’s everything you need to know:
Six Nations 2024: Fixtures, schedule, kick-off times and results
Everything you need to know as the Six Nations hots up
Six Nations 2024 LIVE: George North dropped as Warren Gatland makes big calls
Wales have already confirmed their team for Sunday’s encounter with France, with Warren Gatland again going early with his line-up. There’s big news, too, with both Nick Tompkins and George North dropped as Gatland looks at a new centre partnership, and captain Dafydd Jenkins deployed in a new position.
George North dropped as Warren Gatland makes big calls in Wales team for France
Joe Roberts and Owen Watkin will start in the centres against France in the Six Nations on Sunday, with North and Nick Tompkins not picked
Six Nations 2024 LIVE: England, Ireland, Scotland and Italy set to confirm line-ups
A very good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of a big day of Six Nations team news. England, Ireland, Scotland and Italy will confirm their line-ups for Saturday’s games today ahead of a crucial round of fixtures.
We’ll have all the latest team news and reaction throughout the day.
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