Six Nations 2015: Round 3 Fixtures, Predictions and Previews
The Six Nations has kicked off in fine style with some amazing action over the first two rounds of the tournament.
England currently lead the standings on points difference after their impressive wins against Wales and Italy.
Ireland are tied with Stuart Lancaster's team on four points after they overcame a brutal test against a physical France.
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Here are the upcoming fixtures for Round 3, when the competition's top-two sides will face off against each other:
| Saturday, Feb. 28 | 2:30 p.m. GMT/9:30 a.m. ET | Scotland v Italy | 33-12 |
| Saturday, Feb. 28 | 5 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. ET | France v Wales | 22-18 |
| Sunday, March 1 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Ireland v England | 12-26 |
| 1 | England | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 33 | +35 | 4 |
| 2 | Ireland | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 44 | 14 | +30 | 4 |
| 3 | France | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 26 | 0 | 2 |
| 4 | Wales | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 42 | 44 | -2 | 2 |
| 5 | Scotland | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 31 | 41 | -10 | 0 |
| 6 | Italy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 20 | 73 | −53 | 0 |
Ireland vs. England
England have begun their campaign to win the tournament and achieve the Grand Slam in fine fashion, but it seems Lancaster still wants more from his side.
The Italians fell at the feet of the English after a strong first-half display, and the home team moved through the gears to grab the win.
But Lancaster spoke after the match about the lack of "intensity" in his side's defensive display and showed he has very high expectations for his team in the coming weeks, per BBC Sport:
"I am disappointed really. I thought we lacked the intensity we had in defence last week. We addressed it in the second half but the last try was a frustrating one. I guess at the start of the day, if someone had said we would get 47 points, I would have taken it.
We played some really good rugby and scored some excellent tries. Then defensively, apart from the last minute, we really fronted up physically.
"
There was always likely to be something of a comedown for England after their superb performance in Cardiff, with Italy still very much the wooden-spoon team of the Six Nations.
The Italians are an improving unit, playing more flair rugby than ever before, but they are not a challenge for an outfit such as Lancaster's.
Now, England face possibly their toughest challenge of the lot, as they travel to the Aviva Stadium to battle Ireland.
The holders of the trophy know England mean business at present, with their young side already showing a maturity beyond their years.
The two nations have faced each other on 128 occasions, with the English being victorious on 74 occasions, per RBS6Nations.com.
England's pack has been in sensational form, but the Irish are the one side who can truly match them.
Ireland faced a bruising encounter against France at the weekend, a match that BBC Sport's Ben Dirs called a "massacre of the senses" and "ugly" but "compelling."
The match was the embodiment of how rugby league has influenced the union code, with Dirs quoting former England prop Harry Walker criticising the new way:
"There is no room for finesse any more. If you beat one man, then three others hit you."
But the game against England should be filled with a significant increase of flair, as Lancaster gets his team to once again move the ball.
That desire could be the single reason why the English upset the odds against the champions. Italy were not much of a test for England, who will have had one eye on this match for some time.
Jonathan Joseph is in exceptional form for Lancaster, having scored three tries in two matches, per RBS6Nations.com, and he will have an impact at the Aviva.
A win on Sunday will position England as favourites to lift the Six Nations title and propel them to a successful World Cup campaign in September and October.
France vs. Wales
There is no doubt Wales are a very talented team, but they have lost the edge from their previous championship-winning seasons.
Against England, Wales looked devoid of ideas, as the young lions ran their opponents ragged, overpowering the Welsh with surprising ease.
But they grabbed a slim win against Scotland, with Alun Wyn Jones claiming his team-mates can now improve further, per the tournament's official website:
"We were pretty unconvincing last week and I think toward the end today we were pretty unconvincing again, but a win is a win and we are trying to get better. I think the final score is a fair reflection of the game. I think both teams have been a bit unconvincing of late but credit to Scotland today as they gave us a real game.
"
We hope that we can win the Championship but we are not going to get too far ahead of ourselves. You have to have a lot of respect for the other teams and realise that you have to take it one game at a time.
As always, France will be a stern test, so Warren Gatland's men must start using the ball in hand much more convincingly.
This is a factor that the Welsh have been famous for for many years, but the overreliance on Leigh Halfpenny is both a help and hindrance.
The French are playing a destructive game at the moment, so Halfpenny's goal kicking will once again be key, but it will be great seeing if Wales can step up a gear and meet France's aggression with a stockpile of flair rugby.
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
