Scots provide the first real test for Farrell

IRELAND will open their Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Lansdowne Road on February 1 next year. Incoming head coach Andy Farrell will be bidding to secure silverware at his first attempt as he makes the step up from his role as assistant to the outgoing Joe Schmidt. The Englishman faces a tricky opening encounter with the Scots, a team Ireland will be familiar with following their Pool A meeting in the World Cup in Japan. Ireland then welcome Wales and their new head coach Wayne Pivac to Dublin on February 8. Like Farrell, Pivac takes charge of the Grand Slam champions after the World Cup and will look to preserve predecessor Warren Gatland’s preeminence in a championship he has won four times, including three Grand Slams. An afternoon of mixed emotions lies ahead for Farrell when he faces off against his countrymen and former employers — as well as his son, England out-half Owen Farrell — when Ireland visit Twickenham on February 23. The climax to the tournament will be on March 14 when France meet Ireland in Paris at the unusual time of 8pm, meaning it could be late into the night before the final outcome is known. Organisers have described this unprecedented move as an appearance on Saturday night ‘prime time’, but it is sure to be unpopular amongst many. The 2021 Six Nations will also finish with an 8pm kick-off when France host Wales on March 20. Friday night games have been abandoned for both years. Meanwhile, Welsh rugby will continue to be represented by the same four regions for the 2020-21 season after the Professional Rugby Board ruled out a merger. The announcement means the Ospreys and Scarlets will not join forces and also puts the proposal to establish a team in north Wales on indefinite hold. The Scarlets and Ospreys fiercely opposed a deeply unpopular merger as part of so-called Project Reset.