Neil Squires’ Six Nations Verdict
ENGLAND
Coach: Eddie Jones Captain: Owen Farrell Key man: Billy Vunipola Title odds: 3/1 Verdict: Power-packed squad destined to improve on last season’s dismal showing, with some big names – and big men – back. The Vunipola brothers and Manu Tuilagi (right) return, so three Twickenham wins should be ticked off comfortably – but trips to Ireland and Wales are true tests.
FRANCE
Coach: Jacques Brunel Captain: Guilhem Guirado Key man: Morgan Parra Title odds: 18/1 Verdict: France have finished in the bottom half of the table for seven of their past eight seasons, which is a criminal waste of the talent that Les Bleus have available. World champions at Under-20s level, they kick off on Friday night against Wales in Paris – which Dragons coach Warren Gatland is desperate to win. The French are likely to fall short this time once again.
IRELAND
Coach: Joe Schmidt Captain: Rory Best (below) Key man: Tadhg Furlong. Title odds: 5/6 Verdict: Green is the colour in northern hemisphere rugby, with Ireland No.2 in the world rankings, having beaten the All Blacks in the autumn. They are defending champs and favourites again, but if it comes down to the final weekend, Schmidt must win in Cardiff. That is something he has never done in the Six Nations.
ITALY
Coach: Conor O’shea Captain: Sergio Parisse Key man: Tommy Allan Title odds: 500/1 Verdict: The wooden spoon collectors are hot favourites to bring up the rear again with the vultures circling around coach Conor O’shea, although they do have some sort of building block for once this season with Treviso’s decent showing in the Pro 14. The Italian side provide 18 players to the squad, but would Treviso actually beat an international team? No.
SCOTLAND
Coach: Gregor Townsend Captain: Greig Laidlaw Key man: Stuart Hogg Title odds: 10/1 Verdict: A coming force under Townsend and cheered by Edinburgh and Glasgow’s European success, but hit hard by a lengthy injury list. The Scots will not win the title but, with boom-and-bust Finn Russell pulling the strings at stand-off, they will score some great tries.
WALES
Coach: Warren Gatland Captain: Alun Wyn Jones Key man: George North Title odds: 9/2 Verdict: Wales arrive in serene form after nine successive wins, having beaten South Africa and, finally, Australia in the autumn. Injured No.8 Taulupe Faletau will be sorely missed, but Wales have enviable back-row resources. Potential winners of a first championship for six years in what is the Dragons head coach Gatland’s (left) last Six Nations campaign.