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The favourites to win the Six Nations

(Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Guinness Six Nations Championship has a cherished and permanent place on rugby union’s global landscape.

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But as the European game’s blue riband tournament prepares for its 2020 edition, there is also an exciting new feel to it.

It might be barely 10 months since Wales signed, sealed and delivered a dream farewell gift to departing head coach Warren Gatland in the form of a Grand Slam, yet so much has changed.

The turnaround in coaches is such that only England boss Eddie Jones and Scotland’s Gregor Townsend remain in their positions from last season’s Six Nations showpiece.

Continue reading below…

WATCH: Head coach Eddie Jones and captain Owen Farrell hold a press conference in London ahead of the start of the Six Nations tournament.

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Gatland’s prodigious 12-year Wales reign came to an end after the World Cup in Japan, as did that of his fellow New Zealander Joe Schmidt, who left the Ireland job.

Add Conor O’Shea’s departure from Italy and Jacques Brunel stepping down in France, and this year’s competition promises to be a whole new ball game.

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Wales have entrusted life after Gatland with another New Zealander – former Scarlets head coach Wayne Pivac – while Andy Farrell has been promoted from within to succeed Schmidt, Fabien Gathie has the reins in France, where ex-Wales defence guru Shaun Edwards is among his assistants, and South African Franco Smith leads Italy.

All the newcomers will be looking to make an immediate impression following contrasting World Cup campaigns, and it is what gives the tournament’s 21st staging a fresh dimension.

England, unsurprisingly given their status as 2019 World Cup runners-up, are firm favourites with the bookmakers.

It is something they are afforded pretty much for every Six Nations, although the last nine years of championship action have produced an equal three-way split in title terms between England, Wales and Ireland.

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England’s demolition of World Cup semi-final opponents New Zealand three months ago underlined what a force they can be, and despite being overpowered by South Africa a week later, Jones’ men arrive on the Six Nations stage accompanied by familiar expectation levels.

Two of their main rivals – Ireland and Wales – will be faced at Twickenham, and if England emerge unscathed from two early February away days in Paris and Edinburgh, then they could take some stopping.

But imagining the competition as one that might merely be England’s to lose, blissfully ignores claims of others – Wales, especially.

Pivac is a rookie in Test match terms, yet a five-year stint at the Scarlets underlined an attacking rugby mantra that is illustrated by his first Six Nations squad.

World Cup top try-scorer Josh Adams leads an armoury of game-breakers, and while Wales will miss injured midfield talisman Jonathan Davies’ presence, they are strengthened by scrum-half Rhys Webb’s recall and fit-again number eight Taulupe Faletau returning after injury.

In addition to a new head coach, Ireland have a change of captain, with fly-half Johnny Sexton taking over from the retired Rory Best.

An injury-free and fully firing Sexton enhances any team he plays in, and Farrell can call on a sizeable contingent of Leinster stars – Sexton included – that marched imperiously through the European Champions Cup pool stages as unbeaten top seeds.

France’s Six Nations campaign, meanwhile, could stand or fall on the outcome of their opener against England.

Les Bleus have only beaten England twice in the last eight Six Nations meetings, but a win on home soil following Galthie’s strong injection of youthful talent would ignite French revival hopes, whereas under Galthie’s predecessor Brunel, ordinary performances became the norm.

Ireland and France both made World Cup quarter-final exits, but Scotland did not get that far, crashing out at the pool stage when Japan defeated them in Yokohama.

Townsend has turned to full-back Stuart Hogg – Scotland’s biggest single attacking threat – to lead the side, yet a lack of consistency remains an issue, and they could find themselves in a scrap with Italy to avoid collecting the wooden spoon.

PA

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JO 28 minutes ago
URC teams aren't proving Stephen Donald wrong

BREAKING: NZ Rugby Launches National "Rebuilding Era" Hotline for Devastated Fans Calls triple after another loss to a Tier 1 nation with a functioning lineout.

In a bold move aimed at tackling a growing national crisis, New Zealand Rugby has unveiled a new 0800-REB-UILD hotline to offer emotional support to fans still trying to cope with the fact that the All Blacks are no longer the indestructible force of yesteryear.

Following yet another "promising" performance that ended in tears and post-match excuses, the hotline will be staffed by former All Blacks who’ll gently whisper “It used to be better” and play reruns of Richie McCaw highlights to soothe callers through the pain.

From Dynasty to "Developing Nation"?

Once feared like a Haka in a silent room, the All Blacks have now become the international equivalent of a banana peel — occasionally threatening, but mostly stepped over by teams with better coaching and a functioning scrum.

Rugby pundits are beginning to ask the real questions:

Should New Zealand be classified as a Tier 1.5 nation?

Is “We’re building for 2027” the new national anthem?

And most importantly: How many more assistant coaches do they need before they stop blaming the weather?

Fans Feeling the Burn

Die-hard Kiwi fans, long used to smugly reminding the world of their World Cup count, now find themselves angrily Googling the phrase "how to handle sporting mediocrity." Even the most loyal supporters have been caught muttering the unthinkable: “Maybe South Africa is just better now.”

In response, social media has been flooded with support messages like:

“At least you’re not Australia.”

“Remember 2011?”

“Hey, there’s always the Crusaders... oh wait.”

A Look to the Future (Or Just the Past Again)

New Zealand Rugby has reportedly asked Peter Jackson to create a new fantasy trilogy titled "The Return of the Glory Days," with Sam Cane playing Frodo — a brave but slightly out-of-depth hero wandering through the Northern Hemisphere hoping someone still respects him.

Meanwhile, the NZRU has committed to innovation, announcing a new strategy based on ancient Maori wisdom: when the canoe is sinking, blame the oars.

Conclusion: Still Dangerous, But Not Scary

Let’s be clear — the All Blacks can still turn up on their day. But these days, "on their day" feels more like a national holiday than a regular occurrence. Until then, enjoy the trolling, stay humble (unlike them in 2015), and remember — world rugby is more fun when New Zealand isn't always winning.

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Pablo King 36 minutes ago
Don't get out over your skis on the Highlanders

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