NATIONS2018 Irish can’t stop Jones making history
Start your day off with a buzz as opposed to a siren! Simply set your desired wake up time and place under your pillow, to wake even the deepest sleeper without disturbing your slumbering partner. I AM backing England to rewrite the record books by winning a third successive Six Nations and while Ireland are being put forward as the biggest danger to Eddie Jones’s team, I cannot see them winning at Twickenham.
The Six Nations that follows a Lions tour is always intriguing because the players know so much more about each other – both strengths and weaknesses.
The biggest stumbling block for England will be Scotland at Murrayfield – because it is a bloody awful place to play your rugby! While I am confident of another title I don’t know if it will come with a Grand Slam.
While Eddie Jones is missing ball carriers Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes, their strength in depth is huge and I am excited to see how Sam Simmonds goes at No 8.
There is no injury crisis for England and some of the missing men will be back to make the squad even stronger. Player to watch: Sam Simmonds Prediction: Winners It is a real body blow to lose players such as Dan Biggar, Rhys Webb, Rhys Priestland, Taulupe Faletau and Sam Warburton, which breaks the experienced link between the forwards and backs.
Wales need to win that first game against the Scots and they will be looking to the Scarlets players to provide some confidence.
I am nervous for Wales because they cannot afford to start badly or suffer any more injuries. Player to watch: Josh Navidi Prediction: Fifth Last season I was excited about seeing the Scots taking on England at Twickenham and there was genuine disappointment when they were taken apart.
They had played much better than that but it came down to strength in depth and that remains a key factor with just two professional teams in Scotland.
They have exciting backs who are prepared to take chances and run from deep, but if they don’t beat Wales the wheels might come off. Player to watch: Stuart Hogg Prediction: Third The Irish have to go to Paris in their first match – which is a really tough start – and if they lose that one they definitely won’t beat England at Twickenham. Losing Sean O’Brien is very significant and maybe I am writing their title hopes off at my peril, because they still have very good players in their back row. I expect them to push England hardest. Player to watch: Jonny Sexton Prediction: Second They have included Matthieu Jalibert, the young outside-half, in their squad but he will be relying on the experience of Maxime Machenaud, the scrum-half who is their most influential player.
He controls the game so well and his kicking is also crucial.
There are so many distractions for the players in France at the moment and, hopefully, they can deliver some quality performances. Player to watch: Maxime Machenaud Prediction: Fourth They have great coaches in Conor O’Shea and Mike Catt but they are going to finish bottom again without a win.
That will, once again, ignite the debate over the question of whether there should be relegation to allow teams such as Georgia, who are developing their game, a chance to play in the Six Nations.
Italy may have caused England problems at Twickenham last season and that tactic was sheer genius, but the bottom line is they are just not strong enough. Player to watch: Sergio Parisse Prediction: Sixth