2013 Six Nations preview NEWS
The most exciting rugby tournament in the world kicks off this weekend as the 2013 Six Nations starts with at least four of the countries involved believing they have a realistic chance of winning the coveted Championship Trophy.
This year's Six Nations has the potential to be one of the most competitive in years with reigning Grand Slam winners Wales, England, conquerors of New Zealand, France and Ireland all fancying their chances of winning the prestigious trophy.
Scotland, who won the wooden spoon last year, have a new coach, in the shape of Aussie Scott Johnson, and perhaps a new attitude, whilst Italy will scrap in every game in the hope that they can knock off one of world rugby's bigger teams, although their backs never quite match the quality of their mighty pack.
Wales dominated the Six Nations last season in winning their 11th Grand Slam but they're in the middle of a terrible run of form losing their last seven internationals. The Welsh teams fared poorly in the Heineken Cup too, with none of them reaching the quarter-finals. The talent is still there but the team, shorn of Lions coach Warren Gatland, seem short of confidence and leadership.
Captain Sam Warburton is not the player he was twelve months ago and interim coach Rob Howley as a tough choice to make at fly-half with the injury-induced absence of Rhys Priestland - should he plump for the experience of James Hook or the potential of Dan Biggar?
England are, according to Stuart Lancaster, building towards the World Cup in 2015 but a Six nations championship would consolidate the progress made under Lancaster and build team confidence which was bolstered after the famous defeat of the All Blacks.
There are calls for Lancaster to throw caution to the wind and start Gloucester's exciting fly-half Freddie Burns who has shown fine running skills to accompany a solid kicking game and a sound appreciation of game management. His selection doesn't seem likely however as he's been left out of the match-day squad in favour of the tried and tested Toby Flood and Owen Farrell.
France, under new coach Phillipe Saint Andre, should continue to improve and they demonstrated their capabilities with wins over Australia and Argentina in the Autumn internationals. Flanker Thierry Dusautoir is back from injury to supplement an otherwise formidable pack featuring captain Pascal Pape and the best No.8 in Europe Louise Picamoles.
France's problem lies with this season's fixtures which see them visiting Twickenham and Dublin for successive games and they can sometimes be indifferent travellers.
Ireland's chances of lifting the Championship Trophy appear doubtful even though they host the two favoured nations England and France. This is mainly due to the fact that the Irish pack was dominated in last season's Six Nations and destroyed in the Summer tour of New Zealand added to which neither Paul O'Connell nor Stephen Ferris are available for this season's tournament.
Good news for coach Declan Kidney is the return from injury of the talismanic Brian O'Driscoll as well as fellow Leinstermen Sean O'Brien and Rob Kearney. The Irish provincial teams Leinster and Munster have qualified for the Heineken Cup quarter-finals with the former looking to defend their title.
Italy, who play France in their opening fixture, will be looking to improve upon their fifth place finish last season and coach Jacques Brunel will want his backs to capitalise more on the solid foundations provided by his super pack, led by the Italian version of Richie McCaw, Sergio Parisse.
The Azzuri only lost narrowly to Australia in their November meeting and they'll view progress as more than just a win against Scotland, which is what they achieved last season. Parisse has acknowledged that expectations have grown for the Italians and that honourable defeats are no longer enough. Can they achieve two wins this year remains to be seen, but they will be a tough opponent for everyone they play.
Scotland were last season's bottom team, losing all their matches to 'earn' the wooden spoon. More defeats in the Autumn internationals, including an embarrassing loss to Tonga, spelled the end of the Andy Robinson era and the Scots are now led by Aussie Scott Johnson, who formerly was an assistant coach with Wales, so at least he has international experience in the Northern hemisphere.
Scotland have a massive pack who need to take more advantage of this and the good players they have such as captain Kelly Brown and Richie Gray will mean that the Scots will always be a tough proposition, but it is their long-standing inability to cross the opponent's try-line that is the major problem for Scotland.
The other reason why Scotland are not tipped for Six Nations success is the fact that they're away against the top two teams in the championship, England and France. Not finishing bottom is Johnson's immediate priority and a couple of wins would rate as a successful start to his reign.
It's tough to part England and France who are most people's joint favourites, but as England face France at Twickenham they appear to have the edge in terms of winning the Six Nations, if not the Grand Slam. Unless Ireland lose to Wales they should finish third, behind France but ahead of Wales then Scotland and Italy, who will revert to wooden spoon candidates.
Here's BritEvents preview of the first round of matches this weekend: -
Saturday 2 February
Wales v Ireland - 1.30pm ko at the Millennium Stadium. A Celtic clash starts this season's Six Nations and on current form Ireland appear favourites to get a win at the Millennium Stadium. Wales have lost their last seven internationals despite winning the Grand Slam last season but they regularly raise their game for this tournament so they shouldn't be discounted, particularly as they still have plenty of talent and it should be remembered that the Welsh have beaten Ireland in their last three meetings. Ryan Jones will miss the game and uncapped lee Coombs will start at lock with all of Alun Wyn Jones, Luke Charteris and Bradley Davies out injured. Young No.8 Toby Faletu is predicted by many to be one of the stars of the championship. For Ireland Brian O'Driscoll has stated this is likely to be his last Six Nations so he'll be keen to make an impact in what will probably be his last visit to the Millennium Stadium. Rob Kearney returns after missing the Autumn internationals and wing Craig Gilroy will make his first Six Nations start, meaning Keith Earls has to settle for a place on the bench. Form would dictate an Ireland win but Wales are at home and I can see them rediscovering their edge in this game.
England v Scotland - 4pm ko at Twickenham. Scotland haven't won at Twickenham in thirty years and this year's task won't be any easier with England determined to build upon their fantastic win over the All Blacks in the Autumn international. However, Scotland will recall that both Australia and South Africa managed to win in November and England's best attacking player, Manu Tuilagi, is absent through injury. Former Scottish great Jim Telfer attempted to spice up the match with his cliched and well-worn accusations of English arrogance and pretentiousness. England are used to such jibes and they will not deviate from their game plan, given that they are clear favourites and they are at home. The game presents a great opportunity for new cap Billy Twelvetrees who is slated to start at centre. Its still not clear who will partner England's player of the Autumn internationals Joe Launchbury at lock now that Courtney Lawes is fully fit, and there are also some interesting selections to be made in the back three, in the front row of the pack and in the back row. Chris Robshaw will captain England, despite the claims that his decision-making was poor against Australia and South Africa. All this tells me that England should win, barring a disaster, but it will be a tough and almost certainly close encounter.
Sunday 3 February
Italy v France - 4pm ko at the Stadio Olimpico. France are heavy favourites in the final game of the weekend in Rome. They have a pack to match that of Italy and their backs are capable of opening up any defence. France won comfortably last year in Paris but it should perhaps be recalled that Italy shocked Les Bleus in the 2011 Six Nations winning 22-21 in Rome - is a repeat a possibility? Certainly French coach Phillipe Saint Andre feels his squad is not in the best of condition after a raft of injuries following the last round of Top 14 league games. However, all of England, Wales and Ireland have also suffered from last minute injuries so this will not be an adequate excuse for defeat, particularly given the huge number of top quality players available to France. Like France Italy had a good Autumn beating Tonga, narrowly losing to the Wallabies and matching the All Blacks for an hour before being consumed. The Azzuri will try and play with more adventure but I suspect this will only play into French hands and eventually they will be beaten.
Watch a preview of this years Six Nations above.
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