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Six Nations 2017: The Tournament Starts Here

Ireland's Paddy Jackson

We look at the key battles in the opening three matches of the 2017 Six Nations.

Scotland vs Ireland at Murrayfield (Saturday, February 4, 10.25pm HKT)

What we can expect
The Six Nations kicks off in Edinburgh with a match that is much harder to call than it has been in recent seasons.

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Scotland
Once upon a time, not so very long ago, visitors headed to Murrayfield with great expectations. Not any more. Confidence is high in the Scotland camp after an impressive November international season, while Glasgow Warriors – who have supplied the bulk of the squad – are a force to be reckoned with in Europe and the Pro 12 this season. Coach Vern Cotter has said two wins would constitute ‘a pretty good Six Nations’ for a side that has in recent years found wins hard to come by. He may change his tune if they can open with a win against one of the pre-tournament favourites.

Ireland
Ireland have their eyes on a third Six Nations title in four years following a historic 2016 when they beat the southern hemisphere’s big three for the first time in a calendar year – and only a fool, or an England fan, would bet anything other than small sums of money against them. They boast serious strength in depth, in particular the back row, while the three-quarters are as quick-witted as they are fleet-footed.

All eyes on
Paddy Jackson. The 25-year-old Ulster fly-half steps once more into the breach left by the injured Johnny Sexton, who sits out this match with a niggling calf injury. Jackson has been here before, of course, having very successfully filled in for the influential Leinster man during the summer tour of South Africa. This, however, is the ground, and the match, at which Jackson endured a torrid international debut back in 2013. He will be looking to lay the ghost of that 12-8 defeat to rest.

Key battle: The front row
Scotland’s props – Zander Fagerson and Allan Dell – have seven caps between them, while hooker Fraser Brown has 20. There’s no doubt the Scottish front row has plenty of promise, but they face more experienced members of the 1-2-3 club at the coalface in Tadgh Furlong, Rory Best and Jack McGrath.

Prediction
A tough one, but Ireland have the strength in depth to handle what is sure to be an epic Scottish challenge. Ireland’s Munster-based scrum-half Conor Murray is bound to be a target, having accused the Glasgow contingent of deliberately targeting him during the two Pro 12 club’s Champions Cup pool 1 game. He may as well have painted a big target on his chest. If Scotland can torment the Murray-Jackson axis, things will get a little difficult for the visitors. Ireland by 5.

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England vs France at Twickenham (Sunday, February 5, 12.50am HKT)

What we can expect
It’s Le Crunch. Enough said.

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England
After that 2016, many people are asking whether Eddie Jones’s England are capable of improvement, or if they have reached a plateau. A lengthy injury list has not helped the English cause as they chase down New Zealand’s winning-run record. Even some players who are returning – notably James Haskell and Dylan Hartley – have played little rugby this year, so there’s a danger England could be a little undercooked.

France
This is not the France of recent years. This is a reboot. Less bosh and crash, more flair and derring-do. What fans want now are results as well as flair. It’s time for Guy Noves to deliver on his – and his team’s – promise.

All eyes on
The entire French team. Have they really rediscovered that long-forgotten flair?

Key battle: Owen Farrell and Jonathan Joseph v Gaël Fickou and Remi Lamerat
That midfield battle looks very tasty indeed. Farrell and Joseph cannot give either Fickou or Lamerat an inch because they are both capable of stealing a mile. And watch out for those offloads. But, then, Fickou and Lamerat cannot give Farrel or Joseph an inch for much the same reason…

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Jonathan Joseph starts at centre
Jonathan Joseph starts at centre for England

Prediction
For the first time in a decade, France are, genuinely, an unknown quantity. The question this time is not which France team will turn up, but whether they have taken the next step from the promise of the November internationals. Because nobody can still quite believe what they saw back then.

England probably have enough to weather a French February storm – but there could well be a few scares along the way. Don’t expect this game to be a done deal until very close to the final whistle. England by 7.

Italy vs Wales at Stadio Olimpico (Sunday, February 5, 10pm HKT)

What we can expect
If Italy are to spring a shock, this is the match to do it. If they catch Wales cold, it could be a long afternoon at the Olimpico office for the men in red.

Italy
Inconsistency dogs the Azzurri. They almost beat Argentina in June and did beat the Springboks for the first time in November. But those performances sandwiched other less-impressive results, including defeat to Tonga a week after knocking over South Africa. Coach Conor O’Shea’s decision to leave Exeter Chiefs’ Italian centre Michele Campagnaro on the bench has stopped more than a few people in their tracks. And no wonder. He’s impressed in both the Premiership and Champions Cup.

Wales's <a href=
Ross Moriarty starts at number eight” width=”800″ height=”402″ /> Wales’s Ross Moriarty

Wales
Three wins from four November internationals seems, on the face of it, a pretty solid return – but there are jitters among the Welsh faithful that something is rotten in the state of Cardiff. Having named seven uncapped players in his extended Six Nations’ squad, acting coach Rob Howley has pretty much stuck with the tried and tested.

All eyes on
Sergio Parisse. Who else could it be? The player who became a leader. The leader who became a legend. Italy are a different, more difficult proposition whenever he is on the field.

Key battle: Sergio Parisse v Ross Moriarty
No Taulupe Faletau for Wales means two ends of the international age range clash at the Stadio Olimpico. Eleven years and 109 caps separate the two nations number eights, but the young Gloucester man has done everything right while covering for Faletau.

Prediction
This could be close – too close for Welsh comfort. Italy have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so there could be trouble ahead for the visitors – especially if they are even just a little tentative. Wales by 6.

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Oh no, not him again? 2 hours ago
England internationals disagree on final play execution vs All Blacks

Okay, so we blew it big time on Saturday. So rather than repeating what most people have all ready said, what do I want to see from Borthwick going forward?


Let's keep Marcus Smith on the pitch if he's fit and playing well. I was really pleased with his goal kicking. It used to be his weakness. I feel sympathy for George Ford who hadn't kicked all match and then had a kick to win the game. You hear pundits and commentators commend kickers who have come off the bench and pulled that off. Its not easy. If Steve B continues to substitute players with no clear reason then he is going to get criticised.


On paper I thought England would beat NZ if they played to their potential and didn't show NZ too much respect. Okay, the off the ball tackles certainly stopped England scoring tries, but I would have liked to see more smashing over gainlines and less kicking for position. Yes, I also know it's the Springbok endorsed world cup double winning formula but the Kiwi defence isn't the Bok defence, is it. If you have the power to put Smith on the front foot then why muzzle him? I guess what I'm saying is back, yourself. Why give the momentum to a team like NZ? Why feed the beast? Don't give the ball to NZ. Well d'uh.


Our scrum is a long term weakness. If you are going to play Itoje then he needs an ogre next door and a decent front row. Where is our third world class lock? Where are are realible front row bench replacements? The England scrum has been flakey for a while now. It blows hot and cold. Our front five bench is not world class.


On the positive side I love our starting backrow right now. I'd like to see them stick together through to the next world cup.


Anyway, there is always another Saturday.

7 Go to comments
C
CO 3 hours ago
Scott Robertson responds to criticism over All Blacks' handling errors

Robertson is more a manager of coaches than a coach so it comes down to intent of outcomes at a high level. I like his intent, I like the fact his Allblacks are really driving the outcomes however as he's pointed out the high error rates are not test level and their control of the game is driving both wins and losses. England didn't have to play a lot of rugby, they made far fewer mistakes and were extremely unlucky not to win.


In fact the English team were very early in their season and should've been comfortably beaten by an Allblacks team that had played multiple tests together.


Razor has himself recognised that to be the best they'll have to sort out the crisis levels of mistakes that have really increased since the first two tests against England.


Early tackles were a classic example of hyper enthusiasm to not give an inch, that passion that Razor has achieved is going to be formidable once the unforced errors are eliminated.


That's his secret, he's already rebuilt the passion and that's the most important aspect, its inevitable that he'll now eradicate the unforced errors. When that happens a fellow tier one nation is going to get thrashed. I don't think it will be until 2025 though.


The Allblacks will lose both tests against Ireland and France if they play high error rates rugby like they did against England.


To get the unforced errors under control he's going to be needing to handover the number eight role to Sititi and reset expectations of what loose forwards do. Establish a clear distinction with a large, swarthy lineout jumper at six that is a feared runner and dominant tackler and a turnover specialist at seven that is abrasive in contact. He'll then need to build depth behind the three starters and ruthlessly select for that group to be peaking in 2027 in hit Australian conditions on firm, dry grounds.


It's going to help him that Savea is shifting to the worst super rugby franchise where he's going to struggle behind a beaten pack every week.


The under performing loose forward trio is the key driver of the high error rates and unacceptable turn overs due to awol link work. Sititi is looking like he's superman compared to his openside and eight.


At this late stage in the season they shouldn't be operating with just the one outstanding loose forward out of four selected for the English test. That's an abject failure but I think Robertson's sacrificing link quality on purpose to build passion amongst the junior Allblacks as they see the reverential treatment the old warhorses are receiving for their long term hard graft.


It's unfortunately losing test matches and making what should be comfortable wins into nail biters but it's early in the world cup cycle so perhaps it's a sacrifice worth making.


However if this was F1 then Sam Cane would be Riccardo and Ardie would be heading into Perez territory so the loose forwards desperately need revitalisation through a rebuild over the next season to complement the formidable tight five.

28 Go to comments
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