Six Nations: Wales v England and all the latest news

Follow all the action from the final round of fixtures in the 2013 Six Nations, including the title showdown at the Millenium Stadium

Hello and welcome to Grand Slam Saturday, where we’ll be taking you through the day’s action as the RBS Six Nations reaches its climax. We start with the game in Rome between Italy and Ireland, with both teams looking to avoid this year’s wooden spoon. We then head to the Millennium Stadium for the championship-deciding game between Wales and England, where the home side will be out to prevent the English from claiming their first Grand Slam for 10 years, and should they win by more than seven points they’ll take the title themselves.

Finally we end with France v Scotland in Paris, with a French side that is still seeking their first win following last week’s draw in Ireland. Should the France fail to win, they’ll claim their first wooden spoon since 1999 when they finished last in the final Five Nations before the introduction of Italy to the tournament.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:17:25 PM
Italy and Ireland get proceedings underway in around 10 minutes, and while we'll be keeping you up-to-date with the action, we'll be focusing on the key clash in Cardiff. You can contribute throughout the day via the comments section, or on Twitter using #SixNations

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:20:43 PM
Here's how Wales and England can claim the title:

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:22:39 PM
England win the Grand Slam if: they win.
England win the Six Nations if: they lose by six points of fewer OR lose by seven points but outscore Wales by three tries or more.
Wales win the Six Nations if: they win by seven points or more and stay ahead on tries score.
The title is shared if: Wales win by exactly seven points but England score two or more tries.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:24:35 PM
So where do you think the title is going?

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:25:37 PM
Here's the line-up's for Italy v Ireland:

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:26:53 PM
Italy – Andrea Masi; Giovanbattista Venditti, Gonzalo Canale, Gonzalo Garcia, Luke McLean; Luciano Orquera, Edoardo Gori; Andrea Lo Cicero, Leonardo Ghiraldini, Lorenzo Cittadini; Quintin Geldenhuys, Josh Furno; Alessandro Zanni, Simone Favaro, Sergio Parisse.

Replacements: Davide Giazzon, Michele Rizzo, Alberto De Marchi, Antonio Pavanello, Francesco Minto, Paul Derbyshire, Tobie Botes, Tommaso Benvenuti.

Ireland – Rob Kearney; Craig Gilroy, Brian O’Driscoll, Luke Marshall, Keith Earls; Paddy Jackson, Conor Murray; Cian Healy, Rory Best, Mike Ross; Mike McCarthy, Donnacha Ryan; Peter O’Mahony, Sean O’Brien, Jamie Heaslip.

Replacements: Sean Cronin, Dave Kilcoyne, Stephen Archer, Devin Toner, Iain Henderson, Paul Marshall, Ian Madigan, Luke Fitzgerald.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:27:15 PM
Both teams can still finish bottom of the table and claim the dreaded wooden spoon. A point for Ireland will see them save, while Italy will be wary that a France win this evening means they will have to win today.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:29:32 PM
The national anthems have been done, the teams are ready, and Wayne Barnes gets the last weekend of the 2013 Six Nations underway.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:30:45 PM
1 min: Ireland win a penalty straight from the kick-off, and Paddy Jackson clears the ball to around halfway.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:31:37 PM
2 min: Italy give another penalty away, and Jackson puts the ball into the Italian 22m. Big pressure early on from the Irish.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:33:29 PM
3 min: But Rory Best misses his jumper and Italy clear their lines.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:34:01 PM
5 min: Good phase play by Ireland see's them win a penalty straight in front of the posts. It should be an easy one for Jackson...

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:35:41 PM
6 min: And Jackson converts, 0-3 to Ireland.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:36:05 PM
7 mins: Following a knock-on by Ireland, Italy have a scrum in midfield about 30m out, but they engage too early and give away the free-kick.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:37:53 PM
9 mins: Jackson once again pins the Italians in their 22, mounting the pressure once again. A good start from Ireland.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:40:22 PM
10 mins: The Italian forwards secure the line-out and Orquera clears their lines. Ominous signs for the home side, but they've won a penalty for Ryan coming in offside.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:41:56 PM
12 mins: It's Italy's turn to attack and they have a line-out in Ireland's 22.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:43:08 PM
13 mins: Italy win the line-out and a huge maul shoves Ireland onto their line. Wayne Barnes gives a penalty and Orquera will kick for goal, but that was a brilliant opportunity wasted for Italy. Orquera converts and it's 3-3.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:44:48 PM
Ireland will be worried about the ease with which the Italians set up that maul straight through their defence.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:46:37 PM
19 mins: The game is scrappy with plenty of turnovers, but both teams look like they want to attack. Italy win another penalty for Mike Ross not releasing the tackler. Orquera goes for posts again...

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:50:05 PM
20 mins: And he hits the post! Heaslip catches it and Ireland look to attack straight away.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:51:11 PM
21 mins: Italy collect the ball following Brian O'Driscoll's chip through, and they win yet another penalty for not releasing the tackler. Wayne Barnes gives Ireland a warning, and he may have to intervene.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:52:44 PM
22 mins: Orquera makes amends for his miss and converts the penalty. Italy 6 Ireland 3.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:53:39 PM
6-3 Italy after 22 mins, deserved lead. Italy showing much the more aggression. #sixnations

by richardmflynn via twitter 3/16/2013 2:54:35 PM
24 mins: Italy are playing the expansive attacking play that saw them to victory against France.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:56:06 PM
25 mins: Keith Earls is receiving attention following a strong run, and it looks like that'll be it for the Munster player. He appears to have a shoulder injury, and Luke Fitzgerald replaces him.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 2:58:49 PM
Such a run of injuries for Ireland.. #unbelievable #sixnations

by ExactAli via twitter 3/16/2013 2:59:27 PM
27 mins: Yet another injury for Ireland and Luke Marshall is down in the Italian half. Ireland currently playing with 14 men.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:00:35 PM
28 mins: Marshall joins Earls on the sideline, and he is replaced by fly-half Ian Madigan. Jackson remains at 10 with Madigan outside him.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:01:58 PM
29 mins: Jackson takes a shot at goal, but it drifts wide to the right. Italy clear the ball from the drop-out to the Irish half, and they are then penalised for not rolling away.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:03:00 PM
30 mins: O'Driscoll, in possibly his final appearance for Ireland, is sin-binned for a stamp on Simone Favaro. Not too dissimilar to that of Cian Healy's a few weeks ago.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:04:34 PM
31 mins: Italy look to expose the numerical advantage and go wide off first-phase ball. Barnes calls them back for a forward pass though. The O'Driscoll decision looked the right one, by the way.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:06:04 PM
What is it with irish players stamping? #Stampoutstamping #sixnations

by @(null) via twitter 3/16/2013 3:06:28 PM
32 mins: The Italians are looking to offload in every tackle, and it's causing havoc in the Irish defence. Italy knock the ball on, and Ireland get a penalty. Amazingly, Fitzgerald is now down injured. How's your luck, Declan Kidney?

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:08:33 PM
Italy handling been bright so far. Not allowing Ireland to settle. #sixnations

by ThomasFennelly via twitter 3/16/2013 3:08:48 PM
33 mins: And Italy cause yet another turnover. To their credit, Ireland are still looking to attack quickly, but with O'Driscoll off till half-time, they aren't having much success.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:10:23 PM
35 mins: Mike Ross gives away another penalty, this time in the scrum, and centre Gonzalo Garcia is kicking for goal from around 40m out...

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:11:35 PM
36 mins: And he nails it! A very impressive kick that. Italy now stretching their lead, and Ireland bring on second-row Iain Henderson on the wing for Luke Fitzgerald. This injury crisis is starting to get ridiculous.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:13:00 PM
39 mins: Luke McClean gets caught in possession, and Ireland win the ball back near half-way. O'Driscoll returns from the sin-bin with a minute left of the half. Ireland's defence is all over the place at the moment.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:16:01 PM
40 mins: Ireland get a penalty as the clock strikes 40 minutes. A brief scuffle off the ball results in nothing, with Rob Kearney taking exception to Canale and giving him a shove. Jackson kicks for goal to a chorus of Italian boo's...

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:18:38 PM
40 mins: But he holds his metal. Jackson converts and it's 9-6 at half-time. A very strange half of rugby that, but Italy deserve their narrow lead.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:19:31 PM
this has to be the most depleted irish squad we've had in a long time. #sixnations

by MaybeAli_ via twitter 3/16/2013 3:20:03 PM
So how do you feel about the first half? Can Ireland win considering their mounting number of injuries? Will Italy triumph and claim their second win of the championship. An intriguing half to come.

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:21:03 PM
And we're only an hour and forty minutes away from the main event in Cardiff. Can England win the Grand Slam, or will Wales spoil the hopes of the English and take the title themselves?

by Simon Rice 3/16/2013 3:23:16 PM