RBS Six Nations Preview

The Rugby World Cup may have ended in misery for the European nations but the Six Nations is finally here and, thankfully, it can’t be won by a southern hemisphere nation.

All six coaches have named their squads for the tournament and there is a fresh influx of new talent, all ushered in with the goal of the 2019 RWC in mind. It’s the beginning of a new international cycle and the excitement is palpable.

We will run you through a team-by-team look at this year’s competition, including the state of the nation, players to watch and an assessment of how well they will do in the northern hemisphere’s premiere competition.

England

A disastrous RWC? Check. Coaching team replaced? Check. Veteran players cast aside in favour of a young, fresh side? Check.

England have followed their recent traditions for the first Six Nations of a new RWC cycle and, as per usual, optimism reigns at this point. The arrivals of Andy Robinson, Brian Ashton, Martin Johnson and Stuart Lancaster may have all brought false dawns, but there are plenty of tangible reasons for English fans to be excited about this new era.

Eddie Jones has a plethora of talented individuals at his disposal, most of whom are young and still improving and his coaching team, at least on paper, seems to tick all the boxes. The side’s youthful exuberance and potential should help fans forget the pains of the RWC, but it’s a side which is far from the finished article.

Player to watch – Billy Vunipola

Highly-touted uncapped individuals such as Maro Itoje, Paul Hill and Elliot Daly would be popular candidates for this spot, but look for the rapidly maturing Vunipola to take on a leadership role in the pack. He has been in stellar form for Saracens during their fast start to the season and is developing into one of the best all-round back rowers in world rugby.

Don’t think for a second that Vunipola isn’t aware of Josh Beaumont’s exploits for Sale or the impending naturalisation of Nathan Hughes, so securing England’s eight jersey will be at the top of his priorities for 2016.

Prediction – 1^st. It’s an exciting squad with high skill levels and plenty of edge, and though it lacks the experience that Ireland and Wales have at their disposal, both of those teams have to travel to Twickenham this year. A repeat of last year with the tournament being decided by points difference is very possible.

France

Like England, France have also replaced their coach and will be keen to forget the RWC, with Guy Novès the man charged with ushering in a new era for Les Bleus.

The likes of Mathieu Bastareaud, Rory Kockott and Noa Nakaitaci have been, at least for the time being, cut adrift, with Novès clearly intent on putting his own stamp on the way France will look to play. Jonathan Danty has been drafted into the French midfield, whilst the pack has been given its own injection of fresh talent, with Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat and Paul Jedrasiak all promising a lot after impressing in the Top 14.

Can Novès be the man to get Wesley Fofana to finally replicate his Clermont performances in a blue jersey? That could go a long way to dictating how successful France are at the tournament.

Player to watch – Virimi Vakatawa

The Fijian-born winger moves over from the French sevens team and adds a physical presence to the back three. Before turning to sevens, Vakatawa enjoyed a productive stint with Racing 92, but it will be intriguing to see how he copes with the 15-a-side game again after spending the last two years in the open expanses of the seven-a-side code.

Prediction – 4^th. It seems to be said every year, but with the recent rise of Scotland, this could be the most competitive Six Nations yet. A fourth-placed finish might sound like a disappointment for France (which it would still be) but there’s a good chance that as little as points difference could separate the top four sides. The squad doesn’t look like one which will win the Six Nations, particularly given the issues at fly-half, but it is one which shows some encouraging steps forward for France.

Ireland

Joe Schmidt didn’t pull too many surprises with his squad, naming Rory Best captain and including the uncapped quartet of CJ Stander, Stuart McCloskey, Ultan Dillane and Josh van der Flier – much to the chagrin of Garry Ringrose supporters.

The experienced Irish side will be looking to win their third successive title, but injuries to Peter O’Mahony and Iain Henderson, as well as the retirement of talismanic lock Paul O’Connell, will certainly test the team in the opening rounds of the tournament.

The return to form of the provinces over the last month will be encouraging to Irish fans, although Jonny Sexton’s inconsistent season has shown no signs of abating and no single player is as crucial to Ireland’s prospects as their fly-half.

Player to watch – Simon Zebo

It’s tempting to go with one of the uncapped players, but given the competition in their positions, it’s far from guaranteed any of them will see significant playing time. What Schmidt decides to do with Zebo could have a large bearing on how the Irish back line will look over the next cycle. With increased centre options, does Schmidt move Jared Payne to 15 and use Zebo on the wing? Does Rob Kearney keep his spot at full-back? Or will Zebo be Ireland’s new 15? It should be one of the more interesting position battles during the tournament.

Prediction – 2^nd. Ireland have maintained their core group of players and added a sprinkling of fresh talent on the fringes. Their continuity should see them remain well in the hunt for the trophy but the depth of the tight five will be tested and could be the difference between top spot and runners-up this year.

Italy

The Azzurri have opted for 10 new caps in their overall squad, but many of their stalwarts over the last few seasons have been retained, so don’t expect to see a radically different side when they kick off their campaign against France.

Zebre’s Carlo Canna looks to be the latest fly-half to be given a shot to win the Italian 10 jersey for the long-term, whilst call-ups in the pack for Andrea Lovotti, Ornel Gega and Matthew Zanusso suggest that succession planning is in place for the rapidly ageing Azzuri tight five.

The dice have been rolled in the back line with David Odiete, Mattia Bellini and Tommaso Castello all called-up from the country’s national championship, rather than the PRO12 regulars of Zebre and Treviso.

Player to watch – Matteo Zanusso

With Martin Castrogiovanni and Lorenzo Cittadini both now north of 33, Italian rugby has to look for new blood to lead their once-vaunted tight five forward and that could well be Zanusso. The young prop is unlikely to start for the Azzurri, but if he can make an impression from the bench, he may well work his way into the starting XV by the end of the tournament.

Prediction – 6^th. It’s hard to see where Italy have improved since their RWC campaign last year and that makes finding possible victories for them difficult. They have rattled France previously but with that game being held in Paris this year, the ageing Azzurri pack will be up against it. An improved Scotland side will visit Rome in the middle of the championship and, as ever, it will be a fixture circled by the Italian team.

Scotland

Arguably the pick of the home nations at the RWC, Scotland have some real momentum to build on when they begin their Six Nations against England on the 6^th February.

The trouble for Scotland is that when they’ve had optimism or momentum over the last few years, they’ve tended to lose it shortly thereafter. They are already without star outside centre Mark Bennett for at least their first two games and he is the centrepiece of the much more clinical back line that Vern Cotter has worked hard to develop.

The pack is also much improved and will no longer be bullied by the bigger units in the competition, but whether or not it’s as yet capable of outperforming the other sides in the tournament is debatable. An inconsistent season thus far from Glasgow, who contribute so many of Scotland’s starting XV, is also a concern.

Player to watch – Duncan Taylor

The centre has been in exceptional form for Saracens and with Bennett missing the beginning of the tournament through injury, chances are Taylor will be given a chance to stake a claim for a jersey. Bennett is the present and the future for Scotland at 13, but Taylor can firmly put his hand up for consideration as Scotland’s long-term 12 with an impressive showing. His defensive work and relish for straightening the line could prove a fruitful partnership alongside Bennett.

Prediction – 5^th. This will seem harsh given that Scotland were the closest any European side came to making the RWC semi-finals, but being able to maintain that high level of performance has been Scotland’s Achilles’ heel for the past few years. They have it in them to beat any side in the Six Nations on their day, but will that day come when they travel to Cardiff and Dublin this year? It’s hard to see.

Wales

Warren Gatland is rugby’s answer to Old Faithful. You know what you’re going to get and that was the theme of Wales’ squad for the Six Nations, with little to no surprises.

Impressive Cardiff Blues winger Tom James wins a recall to the side, while scrum-half Aled Davies is the only uncapped player included. It’s a squad built with continuity in mind but the lack of changes to the front row could lead to Wales’ downfall in the tournament, with the same unit that was picked apart at the RWC retained.

A fit-again Samson Lee will help bolster the set-piece and if he can ensure Wales have parity in that area, then they look a much more dangerous side, with the likes of Dan Biggar, Jonathan Davies and George North all playing on the front foot.

Player to watch – Gareth Anscombe

Leigh Halfpenny is ruled out of the tournament through injury, whilst Liam Williams is in a race against time to be fit, potentially allowing Anscombe to cover duties at full-back during the opening games of the competition. It’s a position he excelled in for the Chiefs during his time in New Zealand and is probably where he’s at his best, despite Gatland’s hopes for him at fly-half. He’s not quite as ambitious as Williams, nor quite as territorially dominant as Halfpenny, but represents a happy medium between the two.

Prediction – 3^rd. It’s a squad overflowing with experience and one that will certainly be the race for the title, but it’s a team that can be attacked at the scrum and on the wings. Having to make trips to Dublin and Twickenham could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for this veteran Welsh side.