Six Nations: Capsules on all 6 teams

ENGLAND COACH:

Eddie Jones

2019 SIX NATIONS: BEST SIX NATIONS RESULT:

2000, '01, '03, '11, '16, '17

OUTLOOK:

Preparing for a match against a new-look France in Round 1 might be the least of the challenges facing Eddie Jones. Top of his immediate priorities will be ensuring a huge scandal in the English Premiership doesn't spill over into the international squad. Saracens players will make up at least a third of England's starting team during the Six Nations while the north London club reels from a salary-cap saga that will see it relegated from the country's top division at the end of this season. Players from rival teams might harbor some resentment and ill-feeling toward their Saracens counterparts, which could affect the atmosphere in the England squad when they link up for international duty, so Jones is planning clear-the-air talks over a beer before the tournament. "If players are angry about it, then say it, get it out," Jones says. "We've got players from potentially 12 different clubs. That's 12 different ideas of what's right and what's wrong." Also not helping matters is the broken arm suffered by Billy Vunipola that has ruled out the powerful No. 8 from the whole Six Nations. Jones didn't select a genuine No. 8 in his 34man squad, so the back row that was so effective at the World Cup will be reshuffled. There are eight uncapped players, with back-rower Ben Earl the most likely to be the first getting into the 23. England has a tough start, with away matches against France and Scotland followed by home games against Ireland and Wales, but is the team to beat after reaching the World Cup final less than three months ago.

NEW FACE:

2nd

Champion

Jacob Umaga. His father played for Samoa and his uncle was a captain of the All Blacks. So what is Jacob Umaga doing in the England squad? Well, he was actually born here, after his parents moved to England in 1995 so that father Mike could play rugby league for Halifax in the north of the country. Jacob's heritage suggested he'd always become a rugby player and he was at the Leicester Tigers academy before joining Wasps in 2016. Having played for England Under-18s and Under-20s, he made his English Premiership debut this season and, after just four starts, is in the senior national squad as the third-choice flyhalf behind Owen Farrell and George Ford. The 21-year-old Umaga is a goalkicker who is also comfortable at center and fullback, so offers Eddie Jones the kind of versatility which makes him an option on the bench. Because, except for injuries, he is unlikely to be getting ahead of Farrell or Ford anytime soon despite his famous surname.

QUOTE:

"My aim is to make England the greatest rugby team the world has ever seen. That's my mindset." England coach Eddie Jones.

ODDS: FRANCE

4-5

COACH:

Fabien Galthie

2019 SIX NATIONS:

2002, '04, '06, '07, '10

OUTLOOK:

4th

BEST SIX NATIONS RESULT:

Champion

The general view was that Fabien Galthié was pulling the strings behind the scenes during the Rugby World Cup before officially replacing the ineffective Jacques Brunel after the tournament. Working in Brunel's shadow, Galthié was widely credited with improving the flagging fitness, lack of sharpness, and low confidence in the side. Now the former standout scrumhalf — he won 64 test caps with Les Tricolors — has a chance to stamp his identity on a team which looks to be on the way up following years of misery under Brunel and predecessors Guy Noves and Philippe Saint-André. Galthie's clearly looking longterm because he's selected seven uncapped players in his squad of 28. Just four players have 30 test caps or more, and only center Gaël Fickou has 50. Several thirtysomethings have been shown the exit, and some a little harshly such as fullback Maxime Médard, winger Yoann Huget and flyhalf Camille Lopez, who were among France's best players in the World Cup quarterfinal loss to Wales. No. 8 Louis Picamoles and captain Guilhem Guiardo retired, leaving Galthié to shape his side around 20-yearold flyhalf Romain Ntamack, a rising star who impressed at times during the World Cup with some slick passing, tactical maturity and cool penalty kicking. Galthié has shown he is ready to take risks, naming the relatively inexperienced back-rower Charles Ollivon as his new captain, despite the fact he has only 11 caps. He made made new additions to the backroom staff, too, with former hooker Raphaël Ibanez the general manager and Shaun Edwards the defense coach adding steel and experience. Galthié's approach is a refreshing change from the diehard conservatism shown by Brunel and, at times, Noves. Now it's down to the players to justify Galthié's faith in them, although a first Six Nations title since the 2010 Grand Slam looks beyond them. They could not have a more demanding first match than Rugby World Cup runnerup England.

NEW FACE:

Although Matthieu Jalibert has been capped, his international career lasted 30 minutes before he sustained a serious knee injury being tackled by Ireland's Bundee Aki. That was in 2018 and, after almost one year without playing, the 21-yearold flyhalf is keen to make up for lost time.

Only one problem: He's competing for a starting place with another slick young gun in Ntamack. It's a nice dilemma to have for new coach Fabien Galthié, who has been impressed with Jalibert's performances this season for Union Bordeaux-Bègles, the leader of France's Top 14. Jalibert has shone with the precision of his kicking game. In a recent win against Pau he set up two tries for winger Santiago Cordero with different types of kicks.

QUOTE:

"A successful championship is a championship that is won." France coach Fabien Galthié.

ODDS: IRELAND

6-1

COACH:

Andy Farrell

2019 SIX NATIONS:

2009, '14, '15, '18

OUTLOOK:

3rd

BEST SIX NATIONS RESULT:

Second favorite looks right, thanks to a good schedule. Ireland start at home against Scotland and Wales, has two weeks to plot how to topple favorite England at Twickenham, then another two weeks to recover before welcoming Italy, followed by a finish against France in Paris. The same schedule earned Ireland the championship in 2014, ahead of England on points difference. That was Joe Schmidt's first Six Nations. With the trophy-laden Schmidt gone, former assistant Andy Farrell has been quick to make his mark. With a more relaxed attitude, he turned over a couple of available training days to the squad to rest before it jetted off to Portugal for a warm-weather training camp. The first-time head coach has also decided to name his match teams on Tuesdays, two days earlier than previously; he wants his players to have time to get their minds and