Six Nations: Week 1 Preview
Saturday
France v Italy- Kick off: 14:30
The first game of this year's Six Nations tournament sees World Cup finalists France host Italy at the Stade de France. New coach Philippe Saint Andre has handed centre Wesley Fofana his first cap after the 24 year-old has shown some impressive form for Clermont. 10 players from France's World Cup final defeat to New Zealand are in the team to face the Azzurri this weekend as the new coach looks to get Les Bleus' Six Nations campaign off to a winning start. Francois Trinh- Duc will start at fly-half for the French and Biarritz scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili gets the nod at number nine ahead of Morgan Parra. The other notable change is the inclusion of Toulouse's Louis Picamoles who has been named to play at number eight at the expense of Biarritz forward Imanol Harinordoquy.
The Azzurri will be hoping to emulate last year's famous 22-21 victory over France when they travel to Saint Denis. However, Italy have never beaten their opponents on French soil in the Six Nations so new coach Jacques Brunel would do very well to repeat the achievements of then coach Nick Mallett's side that day. The biggest surprise to come from the Italian team sheet is the inclusion of Aironi winger Giovanbattista Venditti. The 21 year-old will be making his international debut in what is a very young Italy side. Brunel's decision to omit the experienced Gonzalo Canale from the starting line-up highlights the intentions of the Italians for the forthcoming tournament. Alberto Sgarbi and Tommaso Benvenuti will play at centre and Treviso's Edoardo Gori will play at scrum-half in a much changed Italy side.
Both managers are taking charge of their sides for the first time but unfortunately for Brunel, the World Cup runners-up will probably take full advantage of a very inexperienced Italy side and start their tournament with a comfortable victory.
Scotland v England- Kick off: 17:00
Scotland coach Andy Robinson has named his squad ahead of his side's Calcutta Cup clash against England on Saturday. Edinburgh winger Lee Jones will earn his first international cap in the Six Nations opener at Murrayfield after impressing in the Pro12 this season. Max Evans will fill the other wing position with Rory Lamont playing at full-back. Joe Ansbro's injury means that Edinburgh's Nick De Luca will play at centre alongside Sean Lamont. One of Robinson's biggest calls sees Cardiff Blues' Dan Parks taking the number 10 shirt following the retirement of Chris Paterson. Paterson's namesake Chris Cusiter plays at scrum-half to complete the back-line changes. The biggest announcement amongst the forwards is the inclusion of David Denton. The Edinburgh man, who turns 22 on Sunday, will be hoping to celebrate his birthday with a win over England as he starts in the back-row.
Stuart Lancaster will take a new-look England side to Murrayfield as he looks towards the 2015 World Cup. The interim Head Coach has named three uncapped players in his side for the trip to Edinburgh as he aims to regain the confidence of the England faithful following last year's World Cup debacle. Saracens pair Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell have earned call-ups to the England back-line after showcasing some impressive form at club level. Northampton Saints' forward Phil Dowson takes the number eight jersey to complete the trio of uncapped starters. The replacements bench is also dominated by uncapped players. Ben Morgan, Rob Webber, Lee Dickson, Jordan Turner-Hall and Geoff Parling will all make the trip North as England aim to prepare for the future. Elsewhere, Charlie Hodgson comes in at fly-half to replace the injured Toby Flood after the Tigers' man suffered ligament damage on club duty.
Unsurprisingly, only six players remain from the England side that featured in the 19-12 quarter-final defeat to France at the World Cup but Lancaster will be confident that his side can get off to a winning start against a Scotland side that are desperately struggling to score tries.
Sunday
Ireland v Wales- Kick off: 15:00
Brian O'Driscoll's injury and the late withdrawal (due to family reasons) from Keith Earls means Fergus McFadden will partner Gordon D'Arcy at centre for Ireland's opening Six Nations encounter against World Cup semi-finalists Wales. Andrew Trimble's impressive form for Ulster has seen him earn a starting place on the left wing for Sunday's game at the Aviva Stadium. Declan Kidney has chosen to play Jonathon Sexton at fly-half instead of the more experienced Ronan O'Gara as he aims to beat the side that dumped them out of the World Cup at the quarter-final stage. The pack is unchanged from that defeat in New Zealand, but there has been one forced change, a change that means Paul O'Connell will captain the Irish due to O'Driscoll's absence.
Warren Gatland has received a huge boost ahead of the game in Dublin as centre Jamie Roberts and fly-half Rhys Priestland have both been declared fit to play and will start on Sunday. Leigh Halfpenny will play at full-back with George North and Alex Cuthbert playing on the wings. Matthew Rees' injury means Huw Bennett will continue at hooker and Rhys Gill moves into the front-row in the absence of the injured Gethin Jenkins. Long term absentee Ian Evans will partner Bradley Davies in the second-row as Wales aim for a repeat of their quarter-final performance against the Irish in New Zealand last year.
Both sides are missing key players so Kidney and Gatland will be hoping their replacements can take a hold of the game. Ireland will look to use their home advantage to avenge the 22-10 defeat to Wales in last year's World Cup in what promises to be a very tight encounter in Dublin.
