AFTER the positive signs seen from a few teams since last year’s tournament, there’s much anticipation that this year’s 6 Nations will be the most competitive yet since it was renamed in 2000 from the 5 Nations to include Italy.
After a bright patch by France for a few seasons, the last six titles have been won twice each by Wales, Ireland and England but there’s hope that an improving France and Scotland could spoil the party this year.
France looks to be playing much better under new coach Guy Noves and had narrow losses to the Wallabies and All Blacks at home last November.
But late injuries have ruled out a few players, notably centre Wesley Fofana. With the player called into the squad in his place also injured, Noves is left with little choice but to recall the powerful 39-cap Mathieu Bastareaud, who the coach earlier declared didn’t fit into the style of play he prefers.
Scotland too is feeling very optimistic, especially after exiting the last World Cup in the 35-34 controversial defeat to the Wallabies in the quarter-finals, and encouraging performances in the November Tests.
For the first time since 2000 the Scots scored back-to-back victories in last year’s 6 Nations.
They were the last winner of the 5 Nations but since the expanded tournament, have finished in the bottom two every year except in 2013 when they finished third with wins over Ireland and Italy.
Two of the three defeats last year were quite narrow and with two clubs now in the last eight of Europe’s top two competitions, the Scots must feel that this is finally the year they will do better.
But it’s not going to be easy as they open the tournament by hosting Ireland, one of the favourites for the title.
Ireland won back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015, taking over from where Wales had left off. It did as expected at RWC 2015 and then had a good tour of South Africa last June despite missing almost half their first-choice players.
There was more excitement last November when they scored their first win over the All Blacks and also beat the Wallabies.
The bet is on them to be the team to halt England’s string of successes under coach Eddie Jones beginning with last year’s 6 Nations but the initial drawback is the loss of centre Jared Payne through injury and whether first-choice flyhalf Johnny Sexton will be fully fit to take the field in the opening game.
Sexton has not played a full club game since November but is in the 40-man squad.
Italy has never done well in the tournament, finishing in the bottom two every year since 2000, except the fourth place finish in 2007 and 2013.
New coach Conor O’Shea is hoping for better times and the historic first win of 20-18 over the Springboks in November is big motivation but true to form, they lost to lowly Tonga 19-17 a week later.
Wales will again be under the coaching of Rob Howley while head coach Warren Gatland is on Lions duty but there was a similar situation before the Lions tour of Australia in 2013 and they won the title despite this.
However Welsh form has been patchy the last three years despite still having many of the players from the successful sides on 2013 and 2014.
The money from most people though is on England being the dominant force for the second year running. They too have injury concerns but have sufficient depth.
England doesn’t always play pretty but one thing they do know is how to close and win games.
The other plus point about England is that they know how to manage their game and is not easily intimidated and does not often lose their structure or composure.
A good start at home against France on February 4 should set the English on their way to perhaps a climax against Ireland on March 18 in Dublin in the competition’s closing week. Or could the decider be between France and Wales earlier the same afternoon?