The destiny of the Women’s Six Nations trophy will be decided in Colwyn Bay on Friday with France knowing that a win over hosts Wales will guarantee them the title regardless of how defending champions England fare at home to Ireland in the earlier of the two kick-offs.

France could also have further cause for celebration as a win, accompanied by a heavy loss for England, would see Les Bleues replace the Red Roses as the second-highest ranked team in the World Rugby Women's Rankings, matching their all-time best position since the rankings were introduced in February 2016.

The 2018 Six Nations concludes in Padova on Sunday with a game between bottom-of-the-table Italy and a Scotland side looking to repeat last year’s fourth-place finish. Both sides will be looking to build on their impressive victories over Wales and Ireland respectively in round four and also pick up valuable points in the rankings.

England (2) v Ireland (8)

Team news

England coach Simon Middleton makes six changes, two positional, to the starting XV that were defeated 18-17 by France at the Stade des Alpes last Saturday. Three of the changes come in the backs with Caity Maddison coming in at scrum-half for her first Six Nations start, Lagi Tuima at outside centre alongside Rachael Burford who moves inside one position, and Kelly Smith on the wing. Poppy Cleall joins Abbie Scott in the second row while Rowena Burnfield starts at blindside flanker.

Winger Louise Galvin and Nicole Cronin are promoted from the bench to the Ireland starting line-up in response to last week’s loss to Scotland. Galvin’s return means a shift to full-back for Hannah Tyrrell. Coach Adam Griggs has changed things around in the forwards too, with Paula Fitzpatrick moving from number eight to the second row and captain Ciara Griffin filling the void at the back of the pack while Ashleigh Baxter is named at flanker.

In brief

  • England have won nine of the 11 meetings between these sides in the current format of the Women’s Six Nations, including the last two in a row
  • England have won their last five home games against Ireland in the Championship, conceding just seven points per game on average in that run
  • Only France have managed to beat England at home in the current format of the Six Nations, with England winning 27 of their 29 games on home soil
  • Ireland have won three of their last four away games in the Championship; however, they lost their most recent away fixture, against France in round one
  • No player has scored more tries in the Championship this year than Ellie Kildunne, who has crossed for four tries in her four games (level with France duo Jessy Tremouliere and Cyrielle Banet)

Rankings predictor

England will gain no reward for victory, due to the large points differential between themselves and Ireland. Any form of victory for Ireland, though, will be enough to lift them above Italy and into seventh place.

Wales (9) v France (3) 

Team news

Loose-head prop Caryl Thomas will win her 50th cap as Wales name an unchanged starting line-up for Friday's game against table-toppers France in Colwyn Bay.

Céline Ferer and Lise Arricastre are the only new faces for France as Annick Hayraud’s team go in pursuit of the Grand Slam. Ferer comes in at openside flanker, with captain Gaëlle Hermet shifting to number eight. The other change is a straight swap with Arricastre starting at loose-head prop in place of Caroline Thomas, who drops to the bench.

In brief

  • France are aiming to win the Women’s Six Nations for the third time in the last five years. A win of any sort would see them lift the title
  • If France beat Wales it will be their fifth Grand Slam triumph and their second since Italy joined the current line-up of sides in 2007
  • Les Bleues have won nine of their previous 11 games against Wales since 2007, both their losses in that time did come in Wales however
  • Four of Wales’ last five home games have been decided by a margin of seven points or fewer. However, they have picked up just one win in that time
  • This game will be played at Parc Eirias - Wales won their only previous Six Nations game here, 18-17 v Scotland in 2017

Rankings predictor

A two-place rise to seventh is within Wales’ reach if they beat a French side ranked six places higher than them and other results go their way. A victorious France need England to lose by more than 15 points at home to Ireland to replace the Red Roses in second place. A heavy loss for Les Bleues, however, would see them drop below Canada to fourth.

Italy (7) v Scotland (11)

Team news

Unsurprisingly, Italy keep faith with the same starting line-up that beat Wales 22-15 at the Principality Stadium last weekend.

Hannah Smith moves to outside centre to cover the loss of Lisa Thomson through injury with winger Lauren Harris earning her first start of the Championship for Scotland on the wing. Eilidh Sinclair, who came on as a replacement versus England at Scotstoun earlier in the tournament, joins the replacements. In the forwards, Lindsey Smith, who has 41 caps for her country, comes into the front-row at loose-head prop with Siobhan McMillan moving to the bench alongside sister Louise.

In brief

  • Italy have won six of the last seven meetings between these sides in the Women’s Six Nations, although Scotland won their most recent encounter 
  • Italy are unbeaten at home to Scotland in the Championship, winning four and drawing one of their five games against Scotland on home soil
  • Scotland come into this game on the back of a victory against Ireland and have now won three of their last seven games, as many as they’d won in their previous 52 matches in the Six Nations
  • Italy also come into this game having won their last match and will be aiming to win consecutive games in the Championship since winning three on the bounce in 2015
  • Only three players have scored more tries than Scotland’s Chloe Rollie this year. All three of Rollie’s tries have come away from home (2 v Wales, 1 v Ireland)

Rankings predictor

With over four points between themselves and Australia in sixth place, Italy cannot improve their position in victory as the most they can gain this weekend is 0.45 of a point. Scotland could set a new all-time high for the second week running and move from 11th to ninth if they win well.

The World Rugby Women's Rankings update every Monday at 12:00 GMT.