The Six Nations returns after a fallow week and Round 3 promises fireworks, with Saturday's Calcutta Cup contest between England and Scotland the headline clash.
The 16:45 kick-off comes after unbeaten Ireland's 14:15 outing in Wales, with the reigning champions set to make it three out of three and extend hopes of an unprecedented third-straight title.
Finally, at 15:00 on Sunday, France will look to bounce back from their defeat at Twickenham by beating improving Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.
- IRELAND -25
- ENGLAND TO BEAT SCOTLAND BY 1-12 POINTS
- HUW JONES TO SCORE A TRY
- ITALY +17
- DAMIAN PENAUD AND LOUIS BIELLE-BIARREY TO BOTH SCORE TRIES
France To Put Wales To The Sword
Changes Unlikely To Halt Ireland's Momentum
It might be a testament to Welsh rugby's current state that despite losing on four of their last five Six Nations visits to Cardiff, Ireland have looked at Saturday's trip as a chance to rotate some of their established stars and blood a few of their youngsters.
Injuries have partly forced interim head coach Simon Easterby into making seven changes, with captain Caelan Doris among those absent. However, the calibre of players he has been able to bring in is frightening.
Hooker Dan Sheehan will skipper the side on his first international start since injuring his knee eight months ago, while lock Joe McCarthy is back and number eight Jack Conan is rewarded for his prowess off the bench with a starting spot.
Centre Garry Ringrose, wing Mack Hansen and full-back Jamie Osborne start behind a scrum that includes a new cap in tighthead prop Thomas Clarkson.
Loosehead prop Jack Boyle and back-row Cian Prendergast - brother of fly-half Sam - could also make their debuts off the bench. All are potential British & Irish Lions tourists for the summer trip to Australia.
While Ireland beat England 27-22 before easing past Scotland 32-18, Wales lost 43-0 in France before going down 22-15 to Italy and, back-row Jac Morgan and injured hooker Dewi Lake aside, it is tough to pick out players who might make the plane Down Under.
The defeat in Rome resulted in Warren Gatland's departure and Cardiff coach Matt Sherratt has freshened things up after being placed in temporary charge.
Eight personnel and two positional changes, including the inclusions of Dafydd Jenkins and Gareth Anscombe, improve the side. However, the hosts are unlikely to stop Ireland's quest for an unprecedented third straight Six Nations title.
Sherratt will ask fly-half Anscombe to move the ball quickly. If not, Ireland's physical pack could strangle the game.
Tommy Reffell's inclusion alongside Morgan in the back row will help at the breakdown, but Ireland look too good and can seal the Triple Crown with plenty to spare.
IRELAND -25
Red Rose Can End Scots' Calcutta Cup Dominance
Scotland have won the last four Calcutta Cup matches but, despite winning eight of their last 10 Tests, head to Twickenham with an air of uncertainty.
Their losses in that run came against South Africa in the autumn and earlier this month to Ireland, but defeats to the top two in the world raised fresh questions as to whether Gregor Townsend can take his team to the next level.
A fifth straight win in this annual match will help Townsend's hopes of keeping his job beyond the tournament but they face a newly-confident England, who beat France 26-25 last time out.
Red Rose boss Steve Borthwick's role is also under scrutiny. While beating Les Blues will have pumped confidence into his side, this fixture's recent history, combined with his team's poor record over the last year, means England may suffer from some nerves, especially if the Twickenham crowd becomes agitated.
Fin Smith was the hero against France and retains the fly-half shirt, with namesake Marcus at 15.
Scotland also have a Finn at number 10, with co-captain Russell free to play after a concussion saw him taken off in the defeat to Ireland. Russell has firepower outside him, with Duhan van der Merwe notching six tries in just four Calcutta Cup appearances.
Van der Merwe added to his national record of 32 with a try against Ireland, but centre Huw Jones might be the best player to watch. He grabbed a hat-trick in the opening 31-19 win over Italy and has five previous scores against England, often saving his best for West London..
The Scots can keep themselves in the game but are missing key players in wing Darcy Graham and injured captain Sione Tuipulotu.
Borthwick's boys can wrestle the trophy back, albeit in an unconvincing style.
ENGLAND 1-12 POINTS
HUW JONES TO SCORE A TRY
Repeat Bleus Unlikely For France Against The Azzurri
England showed promise at Twickenham a fortnight ago but France will feel it was their own errors that kept the contest alive and should be able to respond against Italy on Sunday.
The Azzurri continue to improve and the greatest compliment you can give them is that they lived up to expectations by beating Wales in Round 2.
Gonzalo Quesada's side were tipped to have too much and similar to last year's 24-21 win in Cardiff, they always looked in control. That success was one of two victories in 2024, also downing the Scots, and they came agonisingly close to edging France, drawing 13-13 in Lille.
A first victory over their neighbours since 2013 looked to be theirs, only for the ball to fall off the tee as Paolo Garbisi prepared for a potentially match-winning kick.
France have since recovered, shaking off their post-World Cup hangover to beat, among others, New Zealand in the autumn, and with a trip to Dublin after the upcoming fallow week, will be aiming to recoup some of the momentum gained in their excellent win over Wales.
The Azzurri might be the perfect test. They have the physicality and skill to push Fabien Galthie's team but the visitors still look to have the edge.
A bonus point victory for Les Bleus is worth considering, especially with wings Damian Penaud and Louis Bielle-Biarrey in red-hot form, the latter scoring eight tries in his last five Tests.
Backing a double of Penaud and Bielle-Biarrey looks like a solid play. However, France may not run away with the result, so getting behind Italy on the handicap could be equally sensible.
Some firms are willing to give them a +17-point start on the punters' side of evens and more optimistic bettors may even be tempted to stretch Italy +14.
Although they were outclassed 60-7 at the 2023 World Cup, that result is an outlier and the Italians approached that game with confidence after missing chances during their five-point Six Nations defeat earlier that year.
After last year's draw, the feeling is they will not be two converted scores worse than Galthie's visitors.
ITALY +17
DAMIAN PENAUD AND LOUIS BIELLE-BIARREY TO BOTH SCORE TRIES
