England
Fixtures: 7 Feb, Wales (h); 14 Feb, Scotland (a); 21 Feb, Eire (h); 7 Mar, Italy (a); 14 Mar, France (a)
Final 12 months’s end: 2nd
The sense of optimism is palpable in Steve Borthwick’s camp. On a run of 11 straight victories and with greater than sufficient power in depth to deal with front-row accidents and the attritional nature of a six-week event, England have excessive hopes of a primary title since 2020. Beginning at dwelling towards a determined Wales facet is a perfect solution to kick off and the bullishness is mirrored in Borthwick’s name to arms to supporters to flood to Paris on the ultimate weekend. It was out of character however historically one of the best England sides have all the time walked tall. George Furbank’s return to health will add one other dimension to the again division because the event wears on however it is a settled England facet and Borthwick is hoping to reap the rewards. If there may be one concern about England it’s that just a few gamers – Ben Earl being the obvious one – are off form and certainly feeling some results of final summer time’s British & Irish Lions tour. Borthwick should be ruthless if there is no such thing as a upturn within the opening rounds.
Participant to look at: Henry Arundell. The Bathtub flyer has specific tempo and has improved his aerial sport no finish. That Borthwick opted towards choosing Tommy Freeman on the wing, or deciding on Elliot Daly, is a substantial present of religion. The problem for England now could be to get the ball to Arundell in area.
Key match: Scotland. The Calcutta Cup tends to make or break England campaigns lately and this 12 months isn’t any completely different. England wrestled the trophy again with a one-point victory at Twickenham final 12 months however have gained at Murrayfield solely as soon as since Eddie Jones’s first sport in cost.
France
Fixtures: 5 Feb, Eire (h); 15 Feb, Wales (a); 22 Feb, Italy (h); 7 Mar, Scotland (a); 14 Mar, England (h)
Final 12 months’s end: 1st
Fabien Galthié has disbursed with greater than 200 caps by omitting Damian Penaud, Grégory Alldritt and Gaël Fickou, which constitutes a radical overhaul by any measure. Halfway by way of the World Cup cycle, Galthié evidently believes now could be the time for change. You sense that Galthié has been spooked by the way wherein France have been dismantled by South Africa within the autumn however Les Bleus are the defending champions and, with three dwelling fixtures, they’re favourites with the bookmakers. The determined information about Uini Atonio, who has retired after a coronary heart assault, might function a motivating issue and France have some fantastic younger abilities to introduce to the facet, none extra so than the 20-year-old Kalvin Gourgues. Antoine Dupont is again after struggling a long-term knee harm in final 12 months’s event whereas it will likely be fascinating to see if Galthié trusts Matthieu Jalibert at fly-half and, if that’s the case, whether or not he can replicate his Bordeaux type in nationwide colors. France was once bankers within the Six Nations after Lions excursions – they gained the primary three in a row – and it shouldn’t be ignored that their most up-to-date grand slam got here in 2022.
Participant to look at: Théo Attissogbe. The 21-year-old Pau winger is the beneficiary of Galthié’s resolution to jettison Penaud, not least as a result of he has aerial abilities to die for. If France are to kick to compete greater than they historically do, Attissogbe can cement his place within the facet.
Key match: Eire. The previous two fixtures towards Eire have been definitive for France. Two years in the past they by no means recovered from a complete beating in Marseille, final 12 months they exacted revenge in Dublin. One other emphatic win would set them up properly.
Eire
Fixtures: 5 Feb, France (a); 14 Feb, Italy (h); 21 Feb, England (a); 6 Mar, Wales (h); 14 Mar, Scotland (h)
Final 12 months’s end: third
A litany of accidents in key positions, disciplinary issues and the nation almost certainly to really feel the consequences of a Lions hangover, Eire start the championship in troubled waters already. They’ve been badly hit by accidents up entrance and within the again three, with Hugo Keenan’s absence a selected blow. Bundee Aki has been despatched a transparent message with the way wherein his transgression has been handled however he is a well-liked determine among the many gamers and will probably be missed. On high of that, Andy Farrell has a squad stuffed with ageing gamers and some younger thrusters who want extra publicity at this stage. As has been the case since Johnny Sexton’s retirement, the query of who begins at fly-half is the supply of a lot intrigue, with Sam Prendergast getting the nod in Paris. Two years in the past, the suspicion was Eire would nonetheless be getting World Cup disappointment out of their system however they proceeded to thump France away of their opener. Repeating the trick this 12 months, nonetheless, is an altogether tougher activity.
Participant to look at: Joe McCarthy. The hulking second-rower was monitoring so properly on the Lions tour till harm struck and Eire will desperately want his heft in what guarantees to be a bruising championship.
Key match: England. France away first up is an almighty problem and by the point Farrell’s facet arrive at Twickenham they might properly be enjoying to maintain their marketing campaign alive.
Italy
Fixtures: 7 Feb, Scotland (h); 14 Feb, Eire (a); 22 Feb, France (a); 7 Mar, England (h); 14 Mar, Wales (a)
Final 12 months’s end: fifth
A 3rd straight event avoiding backside spot would be the purpose for Italy and Gonzalo Quesada, who has spoken of the necessity for consistency. That would appear an altogether tougher activity in a truncated event wherein back-to-back journeys to Dublin and Paris look perilous. The injury-enforced absence of Ange Capuozzo is a disgrace however in Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello, Italy have a centre pairing that’s the envy of all different sides within the competitors. An autumn marketing campaign wherein they defeated Australia and averted a shellacking by South Africa is a trigger for a level of optimism however final 12 months’s 73-24 defeat by France was an illustration of the gulf between Italy and the elite after they hit their straps. Nonetheless, Italy will all the time be value a watch and can you should definitely give a number of the massive boys a scare or two.
Participant to look at: Louis Lynagh. Made a quick begin to his Italy profession within the competitors two years in the past and the previous Harlequins man confirmed his class with a attempt towards Australia – the nation with which his father, Michael, gained the World Cup – in November.
Key match: Scotland. Italy beat Scotland in Rome two years in the past but when they fall to Townsend’s males, with journeys to Dublin and Paris to comply with, it’ll appear like an extended event for the Azzurri.
Scotland
Fixtures: 7 Feb, Italy (a); 14 Feb, England (h); 21 Feb, Wales (a); 7 Mar, France (h); Eire (a), 14 Mar
Final 12 months’s end: 4th
As positive as dying and taxes, we arrived in late January with the nagging suspicion that this could possibly be Scotland’s 12 months. Gregor Townsend may need come underneath appreciable stress in an autumn marketing campaign wherein Scotland missed a obvious alternative towards the All Blacks and let a sizeable lead slip towards Argentina however Glasgow’s type within the URC and the Champions Cup provides rise to optimism. It could be typical, then, if Scotland proceeded to lose their opening fixture to Italy. Come by way of in Rome and proceed their spectacular run at dwelling to England, nonetheless, and abruptly Scotland are firmly within the combine. The fear for Townsend is that he doesn’t have the power in depth in key positions to deal with the sort of harm toll that feels inevitable in a contest that now options just one relaxation week.
Participant to look at: Jack Dempsey. The Australia-born back-rower was in devastating type when Glasgow despatched Saracens homeward final month and provides Scotland a welcome hard-nosed edge.
Key match: England. If Finn Russell can mastermind one other Murrayfield victory over the auld enemy then optimism will probably be rife that that is lastly Scotland’s 12 months.
Wales
Fixtures: 7 Feb, England (a); 15 Feb, France (h); 21 Feb, Scotland (h); 6 Mar, Eire (a); 14 Mar, Italy (h)
Final 12 months’s end: sixth
The stats paint a bleak image for Wales – they haven’t gained a sport within the Six Nations since 2023 and haven’t gained a couple of in a championship since 2021 (after they gained the event). But that hardly scratches the floor. Uncertainty round the way forward for the areas led to the gamers’ affiliation to problem a thinly veiled menace of commercial motion and whereas that seems to have been averted for now, the panorama is an unholy mess in Wales. Compounding issues, their tireless captain, Jac Morgan, is absent injured from a contest that begins with fixtures towards the 2 favourites for the event. If we’re on the lookout for positives, they scraped dwelling towards Japan within the autumn and in Tomos Williams they’ve a scrum-half of real high quality. It’s simple to see their ultimate match towards Italy as a shootout to keep away from the picket spoon, nonetheless.
Participant to look at: Olly Cracknell. The Leicester Tigers back-rower has few frills however has exceptional consistency and was man of the match in his first begin towards Japan within the autumn.
Key match: Scotland. Cardiff was once the unhappiest of searching grounds for Scotland and Steve Tandy will probably be concentrating on this fixture for a morale-boosting victory after matches towards England and France to start Wales’s marketing campaign.
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