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As the countdown to the Six Nations enters its final days, James Harrington takes a closer look at each of the teams, starting with England, who are chasing what would be back-to-back titles for the first time in 16 years.
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What to look out for
More of the same following an unbeaten 2016. But with a little added extra. Coach Eddie Jones is big on ‘evolution’. The first stage was changing the mindsets of the players following a dismal World Cup in 2015. That resulted in that 13-match winning run last year. This Six Nations marks the beginning of stage two in Jones’s four-year plan to the 2019 World Cup.
Strengths
Leaders. There are leaders almost everywhere you look on pitch when England take to the field these days. They are so many that Dylan Hartley, who has retained the captaincy despite recently adding to his disciplinary lay-off time, is arguably the luckiest player in the squad. Jones has said he wants 10 on-pitch leaders by the 2019 World Cup. He’s not there yet, but England are clearly well on the way.
Weaknesses
That injury list. No Vunipola brothers. No Chris Robshaw, who has been rejuvenated since giving up the captaincy (no doubt, with something approaching a sigh of relief). No Anthony Watson for the first couple of matches. How England cope with the loss of key big-game players will dictate their tournament.
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The Man in Charge
Eddie Jones is riding a wave. But he is not getting carried away – and has already said his tenure as England coach will end after the 2019 World Cup. Right now, he is playing a canny pre-tournament media game, voicing his concern over the number of squad members in the infirmary to anyone who’ll listen, and taking the pressure off his squad. While everyone’s focused on what he’s saying (and how he got that black eye) they are doing what they need to do away from scrutiny.
Player To Watch
Alex Lozowski. When Eddie Jones starts enthusing about players the way he has about the 23-year-old son of former Wasps and England centre Rob, the rugby world should sit up and take notice. The coach, who once gave flanker Tom Wood a very public kick up the proverbial by describing him as a ‘distinctly average’ player, said Lozowski – a Wasp like his dad – is “THE find of the Premiership”, who will become “a bloody useful player.” It is generally safe to say that fly-halves are to tackling what starfish are to mountaineering – but the relatively slight Lozowski is a Jonny Wilkinson-style juggernaut in the tackle. And he can play at 12 or 15, too.
This Season’s Big Match
Ireland away on the final day of the tournament has to be the most eagerly awaited match of England’s campaign this Six Nations season. But Jones has already warned against complacency. England cannot afford to get caught cold in the opening game against an apparently rejuvenated France at Twickenham. And Wales in Cardiff could be tricky, too, especially if the roof is closed.
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Prediction
First. England are tournament favourites for a reason. Even with that injury list – and despite Jones’s apparent concern about it in front of the press – they have the strength in depth to win their second Six Nations in a row. Whether they claim a second Grand Slam and break New Zealand’s winning-streak, however, is another question entirely.
Squad
Forwards: Nathan Catt, Jack Clifford, Dan Cole, Charlie Ewels, Ellis Genge, Jamie George, Teimana Harrison, Dylan Hartley, James Haskell, Nathan Hughes, Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury, Courtney Lawes, Joe Marler, Matt Mullan, Kyle Sinckler, Tommy Taylor, Mike Williams, Tom Wood.
Backs: Mike Brown, Danny Care, Elliot Daly, Owen Farrell, George Ford, Jonathan Joseph, Alex Lozowski, Jonny May, Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Ben Te’o, Anthony Watson, Marland Yarde, Ben Youngs.
