Five matches. Five chances for combinations to shine. Five opportunities to cement positions – or jeopardise your Rugby World Cup spot.
At the Women’s Six Nations launch, England head coach John Mitchell acknowledged the influence of the World Cup in selection decisions over the next few weeks.
“It would be stupid to not select combinations based on thinking ahead,” he said. “I’m big on cohesion. We won’t get through with the same combinations in 13 Test matches.
“There’s always room for a bolter. There’s always room for a new player to create enthusiasm. Players will be given opportunities.”
That much was clear when he sprung a few surprises with his line-up to take on Italy on Sunday. But it is not just the Red Roses who will be looking to make their case for World Cup selection during the championship. Telegraph Sport looks at each home nation’s key selection battles…
England
Full-back: Ellie Kildunne v Emma Sing
The 2024 Women’s Six Nations Player of the Tournament and 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year versus the breakthrough star of the 2024-25 Premiership Women’s Rugby season. Sing has forced her way into contention after a disappointing season by her own standards last year. Not selected for the Red Roses at all in the 2024 Six Nations, she has since been in scintillating form for Gloucester-Hartpury, topping the PWR points-scoring charts. Kildunne had a year most players could only dream of in 2024, scoring 14 tries in 10 Test matches. A formidable presence in defence, she ticks all the boxes for a world-class full-back and it would take something special for Sing to overhaul her in the pecking order – but it is the challenger who gets the nod in the No 15 shirt for England’s championship opener.
Fly-half: Holly Aitchison v Zoe Harrison v Helena Rowland
This one is fascinating, much like the discussion has been around the No 10 shirt in the England men’s team. Harrison was preferred under the previous regime of Simon Middleton but, since the ACL injury that wrecked her 2023 season, she has struggled to regain the starting shirt. Aitchison was the incumbent in the position, preferred by Mitchell last year as the team’s attacking game broadened. Yet he has picked Rowland, who has more often worn the 13 and 15 shirts for England, in the key playmaker role to take on Italy on Sunday with Aitchison at inside centre. He may give all three time at 10 during the championship before nailing down his choice for the World Cup.
The back row
Of Mitchell’s selection headaches nothing can be bigger than the back-row conundrum. The Red Roses are blessed with options in these positions: Marlie Packer, Sadia Kabeya, Maddie Feaunati, Alex Matthews, Sarah Beckett, Morwenna Talling, Georgia Brock – all will be vying for shirts. What makes the selection battle all the more interesting is the addition of captain Zoe Aldcroft. Most frequently selected at lock, Aldcroft is starting at six against Italy and is known for her versatility, having also played blindside and No 8. Mitchell has five chances to find the winning combination.
Ireland
Hooker: Neve Jones v Cliodhna Moloney
Jones cemented her starting position as Ireland’s first-choice hooker in the two years that Moloney was exiled from the team. Jones is a destructive weapon in the loose, a dominant tackler and Ireland’s pack often owe a lot to her industriousness. Moloney has always been a pillar of consistency but has found herself behind in the pecking order.
Back row: Erin King v Edel McMahon
King, named last year as World Breakthrough Player of the Year, burst onto the scene during WXV1 with her swashbuckling performances. A former sevens player, she possesses the sort of athleticism that Ireland have lacked in recent years and it will be intriguing to see whether she can kick on. As a former captain, McMahon brings a wealth of experience but her starting place is under threat.
Scotland
Tighthead: Christine Belisle v Elliann Clarke
Scotland have often fallen short in the power game but their front-row pool has never looked healthier. Clarke has been a benchwarmer for most of the domestic season at Bristol but has been given the nod to start against Wales this weekend ahead of 40-times-capped Belisle, who has been a cornerstone of Loughborough Lightning’s pack. Having depth in the position is crucial to Scotland’s ability to have a solid platform from which to launch their back line.
Wing: Liz Musgrove v Rhona Lloyd
With Coreen Grant and inside centre Meryl Smith ruled out of the championship through injury, Scotland’s back line is looking thinner than in recent years. Musgrove could be the answer to patch up any gaps. As a utility back who can slot in at fly-half or the wing, she has underlined her credentials as a try-scoring threat in the PWR for Ealing Trailfinders. Lloyd has been playing her club rugby for Stade Bordelais and is one of the most dangerous attackers in the game.
Wales
Fly-half: Lleucu George v Kayleigh Powell
Wales’ kicking game has often been found wanting but in George and Powell, new head coach Sean Lynn can draw on two solid fly-halves who have had excellent seasons at their respective clubs. The expectation is that Gloucester-Hartpury playmaker George still rules the roost at 10 but Powell, who is named at 12 for their opener against Scotland, is snapping at her heels. A travelling reserve at last year’s Paris Olympics for Great Britain’s sevens team, Powell swapped Bristol for Harlequins last summer to specifically mould herself in the position and has not disappointed. Her performances and game management personified Quins’ revival this season.
Openside: Bethan Lewis v Alex Callender
Callender’s promotion to Wales vice captain – along with her ball-wrecking performances for Harlequins this season – should help her to nail down a starting spot in Lynn’s squad when she recovers from the ankle injury that has ruled her out of the Scotland match. But in Lewis, a supreme ball-carrier and turnover specialist who has gone from strength to strength under Lynn’s tutelage at Gloucester-Hartpury, her place might be under threat. He could even pick them both in the same back row…
