SIX NATIONS PREDICTIONS
ROB ROBERTSON
FrANCE will be champions provided they overcome Scotland at BT Murrayfield in the third game of the tournament. Gregor Townsend’s team should run them close as they have an injury free squad and all eight of their British and Irish Lions start in the opener against England. Eddie Jones’s side were fifth in the last Six Nations but will improve this time round. Ireland are a decent side but this won’t be their year. Wales only won
CALUM CROWE
IF Scotland perform to their capabilities, all roads should lead to a Grand Slam decider in Dublin on the final weekend of the championship. They’ve ticked off so many boxes over the past 18 months or so — winning away in Wales, in Paris, at Twickenham, along with a strong contingent making it on to the Lions tour last summer. Home games against England and
ANDY NICOL
THIS is the strongest squad Scotland have ever had and this is their time to be right in the mix at the final weekend. They need consistency of performance to make that next step of being genuine title contenders. Scotland can challenge but I can’t see past France as champions, although I don’t see them completing the grand slam. They are strong in every area and have the best player in the world in Antoine Dupont, who has huge influence on any game he plays.
CLIVE WOODWARD
IT’S going to be hugely competitive and a Grand Slam is unlikely, but I think this exciting France team will finally claim some silverware, an important staging post en route to the 2023 World Cup. Ireland will match them all the way and their head-to-head in Paris next week is the key game. England could go well but need to win in Edinburgh today. Scotland and Wales are dangerous floaters, they can beat anybody on their day, but it is a THIS falls down if England are beaten at Murrayfield today, but their rookies can trump the Scots and then the whole campaign opens up. Ireland are fancied to challenge strongly but they face trips to Paris and London — and by the time they come to Twickenham, England could have Manu Tuilagi and Courtney Lawes back and at full throttle, with a title to aim for. Andy Farrell will also fear the implications if Johnny Sexton’s injuries force him out again. against Scotland at BT Murrayfield last season because Zander Fagerson was sent off after just 53 minutes and even then they just squeezed home by a single point. Italy will simply make up the numbers again.
France hold the key. Wales have some horrendous injury problems and should be there for the taking in Cardiff next weekend, while Italy speaks for itself.
They also have home games against Ireland and England which gives them the edge. England seem to be in a bit of transition with injuries and younger players getting selected. They still have so much quality so they should be better than last year when they finished fifth. savage tournament this year. No hiding place. Bonus points and even points difference will come into play so every side must scrap for everything, which is very bad news for Italy. All the main containers must beat the Italians by the biggest possible margin.
France are the clear favourites so stand by for a classic Super Saturday finale when they edge out England to win the title and — if they properly harness a vast array of talent — a Grand Slam too. As usual, Italy are certainties for the wooden spoon and Wales are too weakened to compete.