How the other coaches shape up on eve of battle

ROB HOWLEY (WALES)

AFTER distinguished service to his country and the Lions as a player, Howley is now a veteran coach. This is his 10th Six Nations, appointed as one of Warren Gatland’s assistants at the start of 2008.

With Gatland on sabbatical owing to touring responsibilities, Howley reprises his caretaker role, but Wales were poor through the November window. They have started to move away from the power game on which Gatland has always depended for success, with Jamie Roberts the most famous casualty as a result.

Howley is well liked and respected, but there are doubts about his ability as a head coach at this level.

VERN COTTER (SCOTLAND)

THIS has been an odd sojourn. Cotter was enormously respected on account of years of good work with Clermont, and he has definitely improved the Scots. They defeated France for the first time in a decade in last season’s championship, a notable achievement even allowing for the straitened times in French rugby. They will worry Ireland next Saturday, too.

It is to the French game Cotter returns next season as head of Montpellier. He will have spent three seasons in Scotland, but their decision not to renew his contract has everything to do with how well successor Gregor Townsend has managed at Glasgow.

GUY NOVES (FRANCE)

NOVES looks a man out of his time. He was revered in the years he spent at Toulouse, building some of the best teams the world has ever seen. But he has not inspired much of an improvement in France, now almost a decade in decline.

His team, in contrast to the Toulouse sides, are grim to watch, prioritising power over everything else. They battered Ireland last year to win by a point, but lost a Test on tour to Argentina last summer. A narrow defeat to Australia in November and losing by five points to New Zealand were hailed as signs of progress.

France should be a whole lot better than that.

CONOR O’SHEA (ITALY)

HE is the man very likely to succeed Schmidt as Ireland coach. That sounds a big statement given he has taken charge of Italy in six Tests, winning three and losing three. The defeats include a 58-point loss to New Zealand and a two-point defeat to Tonga.

However, they also beat South Africa last November, a result that indicated there are continuing reserves of quality in the squad. His job in Italy will also involve introducing a way for young talent to be nursed to Test class, but that can’t happen without their unconvincing professional club structure being reformed.

His job is a great one, but as he proved at Harlequins, O’Shea has the class to succeed.