This weekend sees a return to action in the 2013 RBS 6 Nations Championship with the third round of games to be played, following a week’s break.  Two matches will be played on Saturday, one in Rome and the other in London. The third and final match of the weekend takes place on Sunday in Edinburgh. 

There has been some exciting rugby played in this year’s competition, especially in the first weekend where conditions were good. The quality of rugby was not as good in two of the games in the second weekend with far less favourable conditions prevailing.

Italy versus Wales

Italy host Wales in the first game of the weekend at Stadio Olimpico in Rome with the kick off scheduled for 16.30 South African time.  Both teams have won one and lost one game so far with Wales two places above Italy in the table by virtue of superior points difference.

Italy are waiting to see if inspirational captain Sergio Parisse will be available for the game. Parisse was given a red card for alledgedly insulting the referee while playing for Stade Francais last weekend. He will face a French league disciplinary hearing today and could face up to six weeks on the sidelines. It would be a huge blow to Italy should Parisse be handed out a ban and not be available for this game and one would have to say thay would further enhance Wales’ chance of winning.

Welsh coach Rob Howley has kept the same starting line up for this game as the one who beat France in France in round two. There are two changes to the Welsh bench though, both in the forwards. Sam Warburton replaces Aaron Shingler while Alun Wyn Jones replaces Lou Reed.

England versus France

The second game of the weekend see current Championship leaders England play at home, taking France on at Twickenham. France lost their first two games. The game is scheduled to kick off at 19.00 South African team.

The same squad of twenty three who beat Ireland in Dublin in round two will face France. England head coach Stuart Lancaster is due to announce his starting line up on Thursday.

Scotland versus Ireland

The final game of the weekend takes place at Murrayfield where Scotland play host to Ireland. The game is scheduled to kick off at 16.00 South African time.  Both teams have won one and lost one game so far with Scotland two places above Ireland in the table by virtue of superior points difference.

Ireland have several players out due to injury, in the backs the trio of Simon Zebo, Jonathan Sexton and Gordon D’Arcy have all been ruled out.  There are three candidates to fill the important flyhalf position. Ronan O’Gara came on for Sexton in their last game againts England but didn’t have one of his better games. The other two players who are in contention are Ulster’s Paddy Jackson and Leinster’s Ian Madigan. Madigan is Sexton’s understudy at Leinster and was only drafted into Ireland’s squad on Monday. However, he seems to have been doing well whenever called on to start at Leinster and may just be the bolter to start at flyhalf or at the very least be on the bench.

In the forwards, lock Mike McCarthy will also miss out due to injury while there are concerns about Donnacha Ryan who is under going treatment but has taken some small part in training this week. Prop Cian Healy also misses the game after being banned for the next two Six Nations games after being found guilty of stamping on England prop Dan Cole in their last encounter.

Scotland added thirteen players on Monday to the match day squad that beat Italy in round two with the only playing missing from that squad being Euan Murray who is not playing as the game is being played on Sunday.

As expected Tom Heathcote was called up again to the squad having been in training with Scotland prior to the start of Six Nations. Heathcote had a good game after coming on early as replacement for Bath and so it will be interesting to see whether he gets the nod for the bench. Ruaridh Jackson has started both of Scotland’s games and will probably start against Ireland. The other flyhalf candidate in the squad is Glasgow Warriors’ Duncan Weir. However, Glasgow play an important home game in the RaboDirect Pro12 against Ulster this weekend and Weir may just be released to play in that game instead.

Ireland and Scotland are both due to announce their teams today.

Table after two rounds

courtesy of BBC