Champions refocus after Gonzalez axe

Scotland

SCOTLAND have not won a Six Nations game since 2010 but coach Shade Munro hopes the 29-12 warm-up win over English Premiership side Aylesford Bulls will stand her side in good stead.

Munro said: “We’ve added more competitive games this season to better prepare the players. We have progressed in a number of areas, but there is a lot more we can do.”

France

FRANCE had a tumultuous start to 2017 but captain Gaelle Mignot is adamant they will be ready to begin the defence of their Six Nations crown at Twickenham next week.

After two years in charge, and just seven months before the World Cup, former France hooker Jean-Michel Gonzalez was replaced by Samuel Cherouk at the turn of the year, prompting an uprising from the players ahead of camp in Corsica in January.

Talking exclusively to TRP, Mignot says doubts have been dismissed and everyone is working with a common goal.

“We’re still working on things but it’s all going well so far,” she said. “It was tough to understand the change of coaches so close to the World Cup but we were reassured by the new staff that they have the same target as us, which is to be genuine contenders at the World Cup.

“Once we started training it all fell into place and the camp went great. There will be some amendments in our game but we’re not going to reinvent rugby. We have the same team so we’re going to keep what we do best.

“We’re desperate to retain our title and the girls are working hard to make sure we’re ready for England. We’re fully aware of how tough it’s going to be. We prevented them from claiming a Grand Slam last season beating them on the last round.

“They’re professional now and they have that winning mind-set especially in World Cup year. They’re the world champions and we’re playing at Twickenham.”

Italy

Italy will be once again led by scrumhalf Sara Barattin while eight players are in line to make their international debut over the next two months.

They will be looking to pick up where they left off after claiming a stunning 16-12 over Wales in Aberavon in the last round.