Maggie Alphonsi
2014 England World Cup winner on BBC Two

We haven't seen England at their best yet and that isn't a bad thing. I think this England team are only going to get better.

BBC iPlayer

You can watch this one live on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two and on the BBC Sport website.

Ex-England internationals Maggie Alphonsi and former Red Roses head coach Simon Middleton are on pundit duty alongside Gabby Logan.

Former Ireland centre Sene Naoupu is in Cork alongside Sonja McLaughlin.

We'll also have live updates right here, so you won't miss a thing!

Lauren McCann
BBC Sport NI

Image source, Getty Images

Ireland hooker Cliodhna Moloney said that talking to her fiancee and England scrum-half Claudia MacDonald "hasn't been much different" before Saturday's Women's Six Nations encounter.

Moloney is named among Ireland's replacements for the game in Cork, while MacDonald has not made England's matchday squad, scuppering the couple's chances of playing against each other on the pitch for the first time.

The 31-year-old said that they have been keen to steer their phone call conversations away from the build-up to the game as they attempt to navigate being on opposite sides after being team-mates at Wasps and now at Exeter Chiefs.

"It's funny we wouldn't talk much about team stuff anyway, it hasn't been much different this week because we don't share the technical detail but it's exciting, probably challenging, too," she said.

"I don't know what it will be like because I have never done this before. We have been together seven years through lots of different circumstances, but we have never come up against each other because of injuries."

England back row Sadia Kabeya tells BBC Sport "being a black girl in rugby who has curly hair" led her to create a satin scrum cap to "knock down a barrier for people joining the sport".

Game faces on.

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

England have won the Women's Six Nations six years on the bounce for a reason.

The Red Roses started their Grand Slam bid with a convincing 38-5 victory over Italy in York, but better was to come in Wales the following week.

Full-back Ellie Kildunne, on her 50th cap, scored a hat-trick of tries as England ran out 67-12 winners in Cardiff.

That's 105 points scored in two matches, which is a scary thought for any team.

Image source, Inpho

Flanker Dorothy Wall says a healthy competitive environment is benefiting the Ireland camp as they prepare to face the Red Roses.

Wall started Ireland's defeat by France in their opener and then came off the bench and scored a try in the subsequent win over Italy.

The back-row is hoping to be recalled to the starting line-up for this weekend's encounter with the defending champions.

"We're all incredibly competitive. Our whole environment is around compete so everything we do there is an edge of compete," explained Wall.

"It's great to learn how to compete well with people as well, that you really respect who you're going against. You put it up to each other in training and then you'll have a chat about it after.

"It encompasses a really good environment where we'll go after it but we're also helping each other in the process. It's quite fulfilling as a player to compete like that."

Image source, Inpho

It's been a pretty positive start to the Six Nations for Ireland, who sit third in the table heading into this weekend.

After being in contention for most of the game against France, Ireland were defeated 27-15 in Belfast

It was a much-improved by Ireland, who were hammered by the French the year before.

They responded with a big win over Italy in their second match, as Anna McGann scored a hat-trick as Scott Bemand's side ran out 54-12 winners in Parma.

As improved as Ireland have been, this will be a whole new level of a challenge today.

England Rugby

England head coach John Mitchell has made three changes to his starting XV to face Ireland in Cork in the Women's Six Nations on Saturday with World Cup-winning number eight Alex Matthews returning.

Last year's World Rugby women's player of the year nominee Matthews, 31, missed the opening two rounds through suspension and is joined by captain Zoe Aldcroft and Sadia Kabeya in the back row.

Props Maud Muir and Hannah Botterman also come into the starting line-up in the pack for the injured Mackenzie Carson and Bristol Bears' Sarah Bern.

Former captain Marlie Packer again misses out on the matchday squad, with Maddie Feaunati named on the bench after starting the opening two rounds at number eight, winning player of the match against Italy before scoring twice against Wales.

England: Kildunne; Dow, Jones, Heard, Breach; Harrison, Hunt; Botterman, Atkin-Davies, Muir, Talling, Ward, Aldcroft (capt), Kabeya, Matthews.

Replacements: Cokayne, Clifford, Bern, Galligan, Feaunati, L Packer, Aitchison, Rowland.

Image source, Getty Images

England prop Mackenzie Carson has been ruled out of the rest of their Women's Six Nations campaign with an ankle injury.

The 26-year-old Gloucester-Hartpury player suffered the injury during the first half of the 67-12 thrashing of Wales on 29 March.

No timeframe has been given for Carson's return, but it is understood that she will not require surgery and should still be fit for the World Cup which starts in August.

It was all smiles at Ireland's captains run in Cork yesterday.

Image source, Inpho

Image source, Inpho

Ireland Rugby

Ireland have made three changes from the thumping win over Italy for Saturday's Women's Six Nations game against champions England in Cork.

With captain Edel McMahon ruled out by injury, Ulster's Brittany Hogan returns to the back row with Dorothy Wall also recalled to the pack and Emily Lane drafted in at scrum-half.

Wall, who started in the opening defeat by France, returns to the second row after coming off the bench in Parma as Ruth Campbell drops to the replacements.

Aoibheann Reilly produced an impressive scrum-half display against Italy but has to be content with a place on the bench as Lane is recalled after starting against France.

McMahon's absence means that wing Amee-Leigh Costigan will captain the side.

Enya Breen's unavailability because of injury results in Vicky Elmes Kinlan being drafted into the replacements.

Ireland's back three is unchanged with Anna McGann named at wing after scoring a hat-trick of tries in Parma.

Ireland: Flood; McGann, Dalton, Higgins, Costigan (capt); O'Brien, Lane; O'Dowd, Jones, Djougang; Tuite, Wall; Hogan, King, Wafer.

Replacements: Moloney, McCarthy, Haney, Campbell, Moore, Reilly, Fowles, Elmes Kinlan.

Here's a quick look at the table after France's win over Wales put them top of the standings on 14 points with three wins from three.

Will England regain top spot with a third successive bonus-point win?

Or will Ireland, with one win over Italy and one defeat by France so far, close the gap?

Fourth-placed Scotland host bottom side Italy on Sunday afternoon.

Image source, Getty Images

We've already had one game in the Six Nations this afternoon as France ran out 42-12 winners over Wales in Brive.

Emilie Boulard was back in line-up and back in the tries as she crossed twice, while Wales hit back through Kate Williams and Gwen Crabb.

Manon Bigot's score on the stroke of half-time gave the hosts a 21-12 lead, with Wales still very much in the contest.

But France's class shone through as they pulled away with efforts from Menae Feleu, Lea Champon and a penalty try, and they remain on course for a Grand Slam decider with England.

Wales' wait for a first win under new head coach Sean Lynn goes on, as does a first victory on French soil, but they can be encouraged by an improved performance.

England take on Ireland in about 45 minutes and Scotland host Italy tomorrow.

Image source, Inpho

The scene is set in Cork.

It's a beautiful day for some Six Nations rugby.

Image source, Inpho

It's time for the third round of the Six Nations and holders England are in town to face Ireland in Cork.

Make no doubt about it, England are heavy favourites for this one but Ireland have made rapid progress over the past 12 months and will be looking to cause a shock.

It's a perfect day for rugby, so it should be a cracking game all round.

You'll be able to watch it on BBC iPlayer, BBC Two and we'll also have live updates right here.

Thanks for joining us!