Ireland Women Unchanged For France.

The Ireland Women's team to play France in the first home game of the Women's RBS 6 Nations Championship has been named. Head coach Philip Doyle has named an unchanged side for Friday's match.

Speaking ahead of the game, Philip Doyle said: "We have a brand new squad this season and we capped a lot of new players last weekend. We have a very short turnaround time this week and we felt the need for continuity and to bed in the combinations."

"The French are a big challenge and it will be a stern test for some of the new girls, but we are looking forward to playing in Ashbourne as we have been getting great support there in recent seasons." 

Heaslip in line to face French

Ireland number eight Jamie Heaslip is on course to make his comeback in Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with France.

Heaslip and winger Andrew Trimble came through training this afternoon without suffering any adverse reaction to their respective ankle and hand injuries.

However, flanker Stephen Ferris has been ruled out of the showdown at the Aviva Stadium after losing his battle with a knee injury.

Ireland will name their team tomorrow as originally scheduled having considered delaying the announcement until Friday to give the trio further time to recover.

Manager Paul McNaughton said: 'We felt earlier today we weren't in a position to name the team as there was too much doubt on the fitness of several players.

'But following training this afternoon, Andrew Trimble and Jamie Heaslip came through the session okay.

Traille moved to centre for France

France coach Marc Lièvremont has moved Damien Traille from full-back to inside centre and picked Clément Poitrenaud for Sunday's RBS 6 Nations clash with Ireland.

Traille takes over the number twelve jersey from Maxime Mermoz, who injured his shoulder in the 34-21 win against Scotland last week. Clément Poitrenaud comes off the bench to start at full-back at Aviva Stadium. Recalled Toulouse back Yannick Jauzion takes up the vacant spot amongst the replacements.

There is one other change to the bench where veteran prop Sylvain Marconnet replaces Luc Ducalcon.

As much as possible, Lièvremont wanted to retain the side that saw off Scotland 34-21 on Saturday.

'We go with stability,' he said.

Centre Yannick Jauzion has been added to the squad on the bench, although he did miss training today with a shoulder complaint of his own.

Wales 19-26 England

England withstood a furious fightback from Wales to open their Six Nations campaign with a 26-19 victory and end their eight-year losing streak in Cardiff.

 Two converted tries from wing Chris Ashton and four penalties from fly-half Toby Flood and Jonny Wilkinson secured a nervy victory for Martin Johnson's men at the Millennium Stadium in a see-saw battle between the arch-rivals.

 Wales fought back from 23-9 down heading into the final quarter to go within four points of England at 23-19 with 10 minutes left before a late Wilkinson penalty saw the visitors home.

It was England's first win in Cardiff since 2003.

 Early Welsh pressure saw a nervy-looking England concede two penalties but neither Stephen Jones nor James Hook were able to take advantage.

Instead, England gradually settled into their routine and quickly began exerting pressure on the Welsh scrum. And with their first visit to the Welsh 22, England were able to put points on the board.Poor Welsh defence at the side of a ruck allowed Flood to burst into a gaping chasm and pop the simplest of passes to Ashton, who dived over under the posts with flourish for the opening score on 15 minutes.

France 34-21 Scotland

Tries from captain Alastair Kellock, Kelly Brown and Sean Lamont were not enough for Scotland to claim a first RBS 6 Nations win in Paris as defending champions France triumphed at the Stade de France.

Les Bleus, who had lost three of their previous five Tests since securing the Grand Slam last March, quickly recovered their confidence following their 59-16 mauling by Australia last November to state their ambitions of retaining their title.

France crossed for tries through Maxime Medard, a penalty try, Imanol Harinordoquy and Damien Traille, with Morgan Parra kicking two conversions, Dimitri Yachvili two conversions and a penalty and Francois Trinh-Duc a drop goal.

The visitors were always chasing the game and Kellock and Brown's close-range tries followed by Lamont's late score - all converted by Dan Parks - were ultimately in vain as Scotland suffered defeat on the opening Six Nations weekend for the 11th time in 12 tournaments.

Scotland's most recent win in Paris had come on the way to victory in the final Five Nations Championship in 1999 and since the inaugural Six Nations tournament in 2000, Scotland had won their opening game just once - their most recent defeat of France, at Murrayfield in 2006.

Again Scotland return home from the French capital empty handed, looking to reclaim the momentum in next weekend's Test with Wales.

Italy 11-13 Ireland

Ireland required a late drop goal from Ronan O'Gara to avoid a first defeat by Italy in the RBS 6 Nations.

The Azzurri crept 11-10 ahead in the 76th minute through a try from Luke McLean and one of the championship's greatest upsets looked likely.

But Ireland, who started as overwhelming 1/8 favourites, hit back two minutes later when O'Gara was on target from in front of the posts.

It was dismal start to the campaign for a side hoping to be in the title mix, but there was nothing on show at the Stadio Flaminio today to suggest they can win the Six Nations.

Brian O'Driscoll crossed in the 44th minute while Jonathan Sexton kicked five points, but it was otherwise a torrid afternoon for the 2009 champions.

They dazzled with some thrilling running but time and again failed to capitalise, making desperately hard work of subduing stubborn but limited opposition.

Worryingly for Ireland, they are group rivals at this year's World Cup and the teams are due to meet on October 2. Italy will only have been encouraged by today's events.