Valentine's Day 1993, a date forever etched in Irish women's rugby history. For it was on that day that Ireland's women played their first ever international match, losing 10-0 to Scotland at Raeburn Place in Edinburgh.

Ironically more than a century earlier, Raeburn Place had hosted the first ever rugby international between England and Scotland, and fittingly this weekend Ireland's women will reach their own international century against one of those nations.

England will provide the opposition for Ireland as they celebrate a century of international test matches on Sunday at Esher RFC in the third round of this year's RBS Women's Six Nations.

Ireland have never beaten England - a side they will face again at Women's Rugby World Cup 2010 in August - but what better occasion than to break that duck and improve the record to won 29, lost 70 and drawn one.

That said, captain Fiona Coghlan is anxious that her side don't get caught up in the historic occasion as they look to bounce back to winning ways following a 19-9 loss in France a fortnight ago.

"Just a game"

"It's a huge milestone and all, but to be honest at the end of the day it's just another game and another huge game against a very good team," admitted the prop, who has played in half of Ireland's internationals.

"We can't get too bogged down with it being the 100th game, although it will be a great occasion and one that should be celebrated."

The "just a game" phrase was ironically the way Ireland's first ever captain Jill Henderson described that historic day in Scotland, the culmination of a lot of hard work trying to get players together for training and selection and getting the clubs involved in the process.

Henderson recalled sitting in a room in a local B&B the night before with several of her teammates, working out the lineout calls and other tactics for the match against Scotland, an occasion she "can't believe was so long ago".

"It was just a game, go out there and play your best and enjoy it," explained Henderson, who played in the Ireland team for a decade and now coaches the Under 9s at Belfast Harlequins, as well as playing a spot of tag rugby.

"To win your first cap for your country, no matter who you are be it captain, vice captain, pack leader or full back, that first cap means so much.

"It was special [to be captain], but if I'd started saying I was captain for such an important game I'd never have been able to play. To represent your country is so good in whatever shape or form."

Sheer enthusiasm

Henderson admits the formation of an Ireland team "kind of took over her life at that time", but the thought of a national side celebrating 100 test matches never even crossed her mind.

"I didn't really look ahead. If we had looked ahead and thought this is going to be big we would never have done it. We took it in small bits and concentrated on just getting one game going and then see what we could do from it."

This was a sentiment echoed by the coach of that first team Alain Rolland, an Ireland international in his own right in 1993 and now one of the world's leading referees, having taken charge of the RWC 2007 final between South Africa and England at the Stade de France.

"It all started down at Stradbrook," recalled Rolland. "Steve Bachop was there and his girlfriend, now wife, Sue had played for the New Zealand women's team.

"One of the girls made an announcement on the PA in the club that there was going to be a training session held on the Sunday morning for anyone who wanted to turn up.

"Twenty girls showed up and about 40 the following Sunday. We took the training sessions down in Blackrock and I was asked to help out for that first game against Scotland.

"I wasn't involved too long because I was still involved myself on the playing side, but one thing I can remember is their enthusiasm to learn, never having been involved in the game. They were so keen in training sessions, they were like sponges, soaking it all up, and there were some fine players."

Rising to the challenge

The history aspect of Sunday's match aside, Ireland will have their work cut out against an England side that have not yet conceded a single point in beating Wales and Italy as they seek a record fifth successive Six Nations title.

"They are clear favourites this weekend for obvious reasons," admitted Coghlan. "They have been on fire and haven't conceded any points. It is a huge test, but in the past two years we have risen to the challenge and played quite well against them.

"We have never beaten them, but hopefully it will come. It would be brilliant if it came this weekend. It would be amazing [to beat them], particularly going into the World Cup and that being our opening game in the World Cup. It would be a huge confidence boost."

Her England counterpart Catherine Spencer is only too aware of the threat Ireland pose to the World Cup hosts' hopes of claiming a fourth Grand Slam in five years.

"Ireland have a strong team and play great attacking rugby, so once again we will need to ensure that our defence is watertight. We have worked hard on our defence over the last couple of years and this work is really coming to fruition.

"After a week off from Six Nations action we're very much looking forward to our game against Ireland. We've had some close games against them over the last couple of years so we are fully prepared for a tough fixture."

Wales target crucial win

The two other Women's Six Nations matches on Sunday see Italy host Scotland in Colleferro looking for a first victory in this year's competition, while Wales and France meet at Bridgend with both hoping to build on victories a fortnight ago.

Wales have been boosted by the return of centres Naomi Thomas and Clare Flowers after recovering from knee and shoulder injuries respectively, allowing captain Mellissa Berry to return to her normal position in the back row.

"This is a crucial game for us, there's no doubt about it. If we beat France we have a really good chance of finishing within the top two for the third consecutive season, which would be a real achievement," said coach Jason Lewis.

"Losing in France last season is something that still hurts. We had beaten them earlier in the season at the European Championships and we were guilty of underestimating them in the Six Nations.

"We certainly won't make that mistake again and we'll have to be on the button in attack and defence if we are to answer the questions France will ask of us. They will be a much tougher proposition than Scotland, although they lost to the Scots on the opening weekend."

Squad details:

WALES: 1. Catrin Edwards 2. Rhian Bowden 3. Jenny Davies 4. Gemma Hallett 5. Rachel Taylor 6. Catrina Nicholas 7. Jamie Kift 8. Mellissa Berry (Captain) 9. Laura Prosser 10. Awen Thomas 11. Aimee Young 12. Clare Flowers 13. Naomi Thomas 14. Caryl James 15. Non Evans.

Replacements: 16. Becky Newton 17. Hannah Roberts 18. Claire Horgan 19. Louise Horgan 20. Amy Day 21.Ceri Redman 22. Mared Evans.

FRANCE: Sandrine Agricole, Manon Andre, Aurélie Bailon, Céline Barthelemy, Cyrielle Bouisset, Claire Canal, Lucille Godiveau, Marie-Charlotte Hebel, Fanny Horta, Nadège Labbey, Caroline Ladagnous, Cathy Langenfeld, Christelle Le Duff, Stéphanie Loyer, Cyndia Mansard, Elodie Poublan, Stéphanie Provost, Sandra Rabier, Hasna Rhamouni, Laetitia Salles, Amandine Vaupre, Marie Alice.

ENGLAND: 1. Rochelle Clark 2. Amy Garnett 3. Sophie Hemming 4. Tamara Taylor 5. Joanna McGilchrist 6. Heather Fisher 7. Margaret Alphonsi 8. Catherine Spencer (Captain) 9. La Toya Mason 10. Katy McLean 11. Michaela Staniford 12. Alice Richardson 13. Emily Scarratt 14. Katherine Merchant 15. Fiona Pocock.

Replacements: 16. Samantha Reeve 17. Claire Purdy 18. Rebecca Essex 19. Jane Leonard 20. Amy Turner 21. Rachael Burford 22. Claire Allan.

IRELAND: 1. Fiona Coghlan (Captain) 2. Chris Fanning 3. Lauren Day 4. Kate O'Loughlin 5. Marie Louise Reilly 6. Orla Brennan 7. Claire Molloy 8. Joy Neville 9. Tania Rosser 10. Helen Brosnan 11. Amy Davis 12. Shannon Houston 13. Joanne O'Sullivan 14. Nora Stapleton 15. Niamh Briggs.

Replacements: 16. Gillian Bourke 17. Emer McManamly 18. Louise Austin 19. Carol Staunton 20. Louise Beamish 21. Grace Davitt 22. Alison Miller.

ITALY: Sara Barattin, Giuliana Campanella, Maria Grazia Cioffi, Elisa Cucchiella, Michela Este, Elisa Facchini, Manuela Furlan, Lucia Gai, Silvia Gaudino, Daniela Gini, Cristina Molic, Silvia Peron, Sara Pettinelli, Silvia Pizzati, Valentina Schiavon, Veronica Schiavon, Flavia Severin, Licia Stefan, Michela Tondinelli, Diletta Veronese, Paola Zangirolami, Cecilia Zublena.

SCOTLAND: 1. Heather Lockhart 2. Sarah-Louise Walker 3. Gillian McCord 4. Louise Moffat 5. Lindsay Wheeler 6. Lynne Reid (Captain) 7. Donna Kennedy 8. Susie Brown 9. Louise Dalgliesh 10. Tanya Griffith 11. Victoria Blakebrough 12. Veronica Fitzpatrick 13. Lucy Millard 14. Lynsey Douglas 15. Celia Hawthorn.

Replacements: 16. Sarah Quick 17. Beth Dickens 18. Natalya Macholla 19. Ruth Slaven 20. Sarah Gill 21. Laura Steven 22. Stephanie Johnston.