Six Nations 2020: Which Nation will take the trophy home?

The Six Nations is already here, and six of Europe’s best rugby playing nations are once again going to find out who is the continent’s best Rugby Union side.

We’ve put together this quick guide to each nation to help you pick which side you think will take the trophy home this time around.

England

If England can keep playing like they played against the All Blacks, then they could be serious contenders in this competition. England’s core has a lot of quality and consistency at their disposal, and that stable base should give them a platform to build upon. Matt Proudfoot and Simon Amor look like safe and smart additions to Eddie Jones’ squad.

Many are expecting Maro Itoje to make some standout performances in this competition. He started the World Cup final looking like one of the best Union players in the world but had a torrid time and finished the game looking like a shadow of his former self. He will be looking for the opportunity to recover some of his confidence and prove a few points, and maybe score a few points too. He should also have more of a leadership role in this campaign and help Owen Farrell to muster the troops and keep the standards high, and the players focused.

England are aiming to win this competition, and so they should be. Looking through the team there is an embarrassment of riches, with even the young back row players oozing talent and looking like world-beaters in waiting. With other sides in various states of transition and rebuilding, this looks like England’s Six Nations to lose.

Scotland

Scotland used to be a fierce team that could give anyone a game, on any pitch, at any time. Now they are in a strange state. Scotland should have started this competition with some advantages over their opponents, but the ‘Finn Russell affair’ has left them without a star playmaker and with the remaining squad disrupted and unsettled.

The coaching situation that Scotland are in is also a cause for concern. Gregor Townsend is expected to leave in 2021, and Scotland now has a group of coaches beneath him trying to make a name for themselves, hoping that name will be added to the shortlist of Townsend’s possible replacements.

If all this disruption isn’t enough to unsettle Scotland’s consistency, their defence has become a constant cause for concern. Too many early tries are conceded by this Scotland side, and Steve Tandy hasn’t had the time or the resources to come up with a solution.

This side should be challenging for the top, but even the most die-hard Scottish Rugby Union fans are fearing a bottom place finish. If the defence can fix itself in the next game or two then they might be able to salvage some points and finish in the top three, but most fans think this Six Nations is a write-off for Scotland.

Wales

This squad is in a period of transition, but despite this, the omens look good for Wales to develop into a quality Rugby Union side that can challenge for the top honours, but not in this Six Nations competition.

The Warren Gatland era of Welsh Rugby Union came to an end, and now Wayne Pivac has the honour and privilege of shaping and developing Wales into serious contenders for the top Rugby titles. Even with the level of dedication and drive that Pivac has always been known for, he cannot possibly turn this squad into Six Nations winners in such a short amount of time.

The development of this Welsh side over the next year or two will be interesting to watch. Wales games are definitely worth a watch for neutrals and die-hards alike, and it is still not too late to grab some RBS Six Nations tickets. There are still Six Nations tickets available on Ticket-Compare.com for the England v Wales game, which should be a cracker, and a real test for Pivac’s young Welsh side.

Ireland

This squad still has a few wounds left to lick after their World Cup outing but expect to fare well in this year’s Six Nations competition. Another team in transition, some of those close to the team think that this competition is just what they need shed the memories of a poor World Cup campaign and breathe some new life into the Irish playing style.

Most fans will be pleased with a return to form, with Andy Farrell’s tactics likely to give the players some direction going forwards and some defensive nous to give them confidence and consistency when they are on the back foot. If Ireland can keep their heads and get some positive results, they will be set up nicely to develop further and become serious contenders on Rugby Union’s world stage again.

The schedule has been kind to Ireland too, with two home games to kick off the competition, helping them find their feet in familiar surroundings before they make their journeys to London and Paris. Rory Best’s departure leaves some huge boots to fill in the hooker position. All eyes will be on Jimmy Sexton to see how he reacts to his new role. Many Ireland fans feel that if Sexton has a good game, so do Ireland. How he reacts to the pressure and the spotlight of being Ireland’s first-choice hooker could decide what position this team finish the competition in.

Italy

Italian fans don’t have high hopes for this Six Nations. Scotland’s visit to Rome is probably their best chance of getting a win from their games. Italy lost all the games they played last year, but aside from their comprehensive annihilation at the hands of a dominant England side and a poor showing against Scotland, all those games were very close.

Matteo Minozzi was sorely missed last year, and his return could make a big difference to results and the rest of the squad. With Minozzi firing on all cylinders, those close results can be converted into wins. He looks ready to cause defences some problems, so maybe Italy could cause a few upsets and grab some more points from their other home games.

France

France had a poor 2019, by French Rugby Union standards at least. Their defence has improved a lot over the winter, so expect them to ship far fewer tries and for their games to be a lot closer. Fabien Galthie has become very popular with the French fans, and even when they are chasing a deficit, France have become an exciting team to watch.

This team should be able to give any side a good game, even England, and with so many other nations in a state of flux, second place to England looks like France’s likely outcome. With discipline, structure, and the right game plan, they could even upset England’s plans and make a push for the top spot if they can keep their cool against Wales and Scotland.

This Six Nations looks set to be a classic competition. England are the dominant side, but no one is unbeatable, and France and Wales could give them a few headaches. Even Scotland could cause a few upsets if they can focus and work together. This may look like England’s competition to lose, but no one has won it yet.