Much of the build-up in the week will focus on the team announcements ahead of the all-important final round.

Round 4 saw France keep their Grand Slam hopes alive with a 13-9 victory over Wales in Cardiff.

A tense encounter saw Anthony Jelonch get the only try of the game in the first half as defense dominated proceedings.

The only side that can beat France to the title is Ireland, who overcame England 32-15 in an enthralling affair at Twickenham.

Tries from James Lowe, Hugo Keenan, Jack Conan, and Finlay Bealham secured a famous win for Ireland after England were reduced to 14 men inside two minutes.

The other game in Round 4 saw Scotland pick up their second win of the 2022 Championship as they beat Italy 33-22 in the inaugural contest for The Cuttitta Cup.

This weekend sees Wales welcome Italy and Ireland host Scotland before England travel to Paris. And ahead of what promises to be a blockbuster finale, here’s all you need to know about those important team announcements.

Tuesday 

Wales are the only side who will name their side on Tuesday, and Wayne Pivac will do so at 2.30pm.

Pivac will be hoping his side can end their Championship on a high with victory against Italy after successive losses to England and France in the past two rounds.

Wales made four changes for their Friday night encounter with France, as Josh Navidi, Seb Davies, Gareth Thomas, Jonathan Davies all came into the side.

Legendary lock Alun Wyn Jones was added to the squad after the defeat to France despite having been expected to miss the whole of the 2022 Guinness Six Nations and could be in line for a 150^th appearance on Saturday.

With nothing riding on Saturday’s game, Pivac may well be minded to experiment with his selection, though Italy will pose a tough test in Cardiff.

 

Thursday 

With all three games taking place on Saturday, the remaining team announcements are due to take place on Thursday.

Fabien Galthié will name the side he hopes will seal France’s first Grand Slam since 2010 at 12pm.

Galthié will have to decide whether Yoram Moefana, Romain Taofifenua, and Damian Penaud are fit enough to start in Paris against England, with question marks currently over the fitness of all three.

France made only one change to their side ahead of Round 4, as Gabin Villière replaced Penaud on the wing and it feels unlikely that Galthié will make any changes that are not enforced as he has found a winning combination so far this year.

England head coach Eddie Jones will name the side hoping to spoil the party in Paris at 5.30pm as his side looks to bounce back from defeat at home to Ireland.

Jones made three changes to his team ahead of the game against Ireland with Jamie George, Joe Marchant, and Sam Simmonds coming in for Luke Cowan-Dickie, Elliot Daly, and Alex Dombrandt.

Two of those changes were enforced as Cowan-Dickie was ruled out for the rest of the Championship and Dombrant had tested positive for Covid the week before – and Jones’ hand may be forced again as Kyle Sinckler came off injured at the weekend.

Flanker Jack Willis returns to the squad after injury, but Tom Curry won’t be in contention after sustaining a hamstring injury against Ireland.

The other game that may have implications on who wins the Championship is Ireland hosting Scotland at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Ireland can still win the 2022 Guinness Six Nations if they beat Scotland and France lose to England.

Andy Farrell’s men ensured they remained in with a chance with a 32-15 victory at Twickenham, and Farrell will announce his team to face Scotland on Thursday at a time yet to be confirmed.

Farrell made six changes to his side ahead of the game at Twickenham, including the return of Johnny Sexton at fly-half.

Hugo Keenan, Andrew Conway, Bundee Aki, Cian Healy and James Ryan all came in to the side and Farrell will now be faced with some tough calls ahead of the Scotland game.

However, Farrell will be without James Ryan and Ryan Baird due to injury, with Ross Molony and Joe McCarthy coming into the squad.

Their opponents Scotland will name their side at around lunchtime on Thursday, as Gregor Townsend’s men look to make it two wins in a row after victory against Italy last time out.

Townsend made five changes ahead of the game in Rome and Scotland looked improved from their Round 3 defeat to France.

Sam Johnson, Kyle Steyn, George Turner, Hamish Watson, and Matt Fagerson all came into the starting XV and Townsend may look to retain many of these changes ahead of the trip to Dublin.

He also has more options from the bench as Adam Hastings, Ben Vellacott and Allan Dell returned last week.

Finally, Italy will announce their squad on Thursday as they travel to Wales looking to get their first win of the 2022 Championship.

Kieran Crowley’s team gained plaudits for their performance against Scotland despite defeat and they will be targeting victory in Cardiff.

Italy made two changes ahead of the match in Rome, with Giacomo Nicotera making his debut at hooker while Callum Braley replaced Stephen Varney at nine.

Crowley will have plenty to consider, with 22-year-old Ange Capuozzo starring off the bench as he scored two tries on debut and could be in line for a start against Wales.

Prop Filippo Alongi has been called into the squad ahead of the final game, with Crowley perhaps looking ahead to the rest of the year’s games with his selection.