Six Nations fixtures, squads a

Ireland’s wing Jacob Stockdale (2R) celebrates teammates after scoring his team’s second try during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, on March 10, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Paul FAITH

Six Nations fixtures, squads and kick off times for 17 March

The final weekend of the Six Nations is upon us. The runner’s up spot with four teams still in with a chance at finishing second. Ireland are confirmed champions, but are eyeing up a Grand Slam. Here’s everything you need to know ahead of Saturday’s fixtures.

Six Nations fixtures, squads a

Ireland’s wing Jacob Stockdale (2R) celebrates teammates after scoring his team’s second try during the Six Nations international rugby union match between Ireland and Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, on March 10, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / Paul FAITH

Ireland are already confirmed as Six Nations Champions, but the grand slam is still on. So, all eyes will be on Twickenham when England square off with the Irish on Saturday night.

Six Nations fixtures on 17 March

All kick-off times, SAST.

Italy vs Scotland

Jake Polledri will get his first start as coach Conor O’Shea made just one change for tailenders Italy’s final Six Nations game against Scotland at the Stadio Olympico on Saturday.

The 22-year-old Glouchester flanker replaces Maxime Mbanda who suffered a knee injury during Italy’s 38-14 defeat to Wales in their fourth game in Cardiff last weekend.

Irishman O’Shea made just one change on the bench, with flanker Braam Steyn replacing Federico Ruzza.

Kick off time: 14:30

Squads

Italy: Matteo Minozzi; Tommaso Benvenuti, Giulio Bisegni, Tommaso Castello, Mattia Bellini; Tommaso Allan, Marcello Violi; Sergio Parisse (capt), Jake Polledri, Sebastian Negri; Dean Budd, Alessandro Zanni, Simone Ferrari, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Andrea Lovotti

Replacements: Oliviero Fabiani, Nicola Quaglio, Tiziano Pasquali, Braam Steyn, Giovanni Licata, Guglielmo Palazzani, Carlo Canna, Jayden Hayward

Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Tommy Seymour, Huw Jones, Nick Grigg, Sean Maitland, Finn Russell, Greig Laidlaw, Ryan Wilson, Hamish Watson, John Barclay (capt), Jonny Gray, Tim Swinson, Willem Nel, Fraser Brown, Gordon Reid

Replacements: Stuart McInally, Jamie Bhatti, Zander Fagerson, Richie Gray, David Denton, Ali Price, Pete Horne, Blair Kinghorn

England vs Ireland

England coach Eddie Jones has dropped half-backs Danny Care and George Ford for Saturday’s Six Nations finale against Ireland at Twickenham amid a raft of changes.

Jones – and his England charges – are under pressure in this final outing following losses to Scotland and France in their last two outings.

Ireland are eyeing a Grand Slam, a feat they can only achieve if they beat England at Twickenham. Iain Henderson will replace Devin Toner,  the only change to the Ireland team.

Kick off time: 16:45

Squads

England: Anthony Watson, Jonny May, Jonathan Joseph, Ben Te’O, Elliot Daly; Owen Farrell, Richard Wigglesworth; Sam Simmonds, James Haskell, Chris Robshaw; George Kruis, Maro Itoje; Kyle Sinckler, Dylan Hartley (capt), Mako Vunipola

Replacements: Jamie George, Joe Marler, Dan Cole, Joe Launchbury, Don Armand), Danny Care George Ford, Mike Brown

Ireland: Rob Kearney; Keith Earls, Garry Ringrose, Bundee Aki, Jacob Stockdale; Johnny Sexton, Conor Murray; CJ Stander, Dan Leavy, Peter O’Mahony; Iain Henderson, James Ryan; Tadhg Furlong, Rory Best (capt), Cian Healy

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Jack McGrath,Andrew Porter, Devin Toner, Jordi Murphy, Kieran Marmion, Joey Carbery, Jordan Larmour

Wales vs France

Mathieu Bastareaud will captain France in their final Six Nations match against Wales on Saturday after Guilhem Guirado was ruled out with a knee injury.

Guirado’s place at hooker is taken by Adrien Pelissie, who will make his debut run-on after four caps as a replacement.

Two other changes by coach Jacques Brunel see Cedate Gomes Sa take the place of Rabah Slimani at tighthead prop, while Gael Fickou starts on the right wing, Benjamin Fall moving to full-back in place of injured Hugo Bonneval, who failed a head injury assessment.

Meanwhile, Wales coach Warren Gatland has recalled captain Alun Wyn Jones in one of seven changes to the team to play France in their final Six Nations outing of the season on Saturday.

The Welsh team are set on the Six Nations runners-up spot, knowing a bonus-point victory against France will guarantee them second place behind champions Ireland.

Kick off time: 19:00

Squads

France: Benjamin Fall; Gael Fickou, Mathieu Bastareaud (capt), Geoffrey Doumayrou, Remy Grosso; Francois Trinh-Duc, Maxime Machenaud; Marco Tauleigne, Yacouba Camara, Wenceslas Lauret; Sebastien Vahaamahina, Paul Gabrillagues; Cedate Gomes Sa, Adrien Pelissie, Jefferson Poirot

Replacements: Camille Chat, Dany Priso, Rabah Slimani, Bernard Le Roux, Mathieu Babillot, Baptiste Couilloud, Lionel Beauxis, Geoffrey Palis

Wales: Leigh Halfpenny; George North, Scott Williams, Hadleigh Parkes, Liam Williams; Dan Biggar, Gareth Davies; Taulupe Faletau, Josh Navidi, Justin Tipuric; Alun Wyn Jones (capt), Cory Hill; Tomas Francis, Ken Owens, Rob Evans

Replacements: Elliot Dee, Nicky Smith, Samson Lee, Bradley Davies, Aaron Shingler, Aled Davies, Gareth Anscombe, Steff Evans

With additional reporting from AFP.