2010 Six Nations: Round One Preview, Feb 6th-7th

The oldest and most celebrated international tournament in the world kicks off this weekend, with defending champions Ireland welcoming Italy to their Croke Park fortress to commence 2010 Six Nations hostilities.

England then host Wales at Rugby HQ at Twickenham, and a day later Les Bleus travel to Murrayfield to take on the Scottish.

It is the 108th edition of the championship – and the 11th series of the Six Nations - and there is the typical hype surrounding the premier Northern tournament that has special significance for a host of reasons.

Ireland, reigning Six Nations and Grand Slam champions, will look to defend a Six Nations title for the first time in 24 years and defend a Slam for just the second time, with their last back to back attempt coming 61 years ago. The last time a nation recorded consecutive titles was France in 2006/2007, and the last time a nation recorded back to back Slams was again France, in 1997/98.

Indeed, France is the dominant nation since the game turned professional, winning six titles and four Grand Slams since 1995.

While most betting agencies have France as narrow favourites, Ireland are realistically jointly favoured to claim the title.

Much of this is based on Les Bleus strong (albeit inconsistent) form throughout 2009, being the only nation to beat the Springboks and the All Blacks, the latter in New Zealand.

But Ireland deserve equal status due to the fact that they did finally break their duck last year, and went through the calendar year undefeated with only a 20-20 draw with Australia stopping the first ever “perfect year” by a test nation.

But then there are the rest.

England has the pedigree and many believe they could be close to turning the proverbial corner. Certainly the have the talent to do so, and they were runners up last year.

Wales, twice title winners and Grand Slammers since 2005, have been on something of a slide in recent months, falling behind in the world pecking order. But they did supply as many players to the British and Irish Lions as the Irish last year and surely are but one good game from rediscovering some touch.

As for Scotland and Italy, many believe that they will again fight for the wooden spoon, but both nations are showing hints of progress.

Scotland did beat Australia last year, and have showed some increased starch under new coach Andy Robinson, although their inability to score tries is a glaring Achilles heel.

Italy have a similar problem, but credible showings against all three Tri Nations powers last year, especially up front, shows that they too are beginning to develop as a tier one competitor.

Finally, it is less than two years until the World Cup, so all of Europe’s leading competitors will want to begin finalising the chosen group of men who will spearhead their assault on New Zealand in 2011.

Let’s look at the matches!

Ireland V Italy @ Croke Park, Dublin
Kickoff: 1430 Local time

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 17, Ireland 14, Italy 3
Last match: 15th February 2009, Italy 9 – 38 Ireland @ Stadio Flaminio

Ireland have named a very strong line up for their opening match, and coach Declan Kidney and the squad have made the right noises coming into this match, as has become the Irish modus operandi.

They have stated they are very concerned and focused on maintaining the standards they set for themselves last year, and that they wish to meet their own high expectations.

One suspects that Ireland will have too much class for Italy, particularly in the back division. The current champions based much of their success last year around a balanced and patient game plan, and are buttressed by two of the strongest domestic sides in world rugby.

There is a Munster tight five and halves combination, and a further two Munster players in the squad. A Leinster midfield and six/eight combination is backed by another four players from the reigning Heineken Cup champions. Add to this four key players from Ulster, and Ospreys (and possibly the world’s in form wing) back Tommy Bowe, and it is a side that is completely equipped to make history and cement this Ireland side as possibly the greatest ever.

Their only concern is up front, where Ireland and the Irish provinces occasionally show slight fragility.

Italy is at their best when the game is played tight and up front. Despite the absence of their captain Sergio Parisse, they field an experienced pack and a solid and workmanlike backline.

The Italians, who missed out on entry to the Magner’s League recently, could be smarting from their failure to enter another top tier competition, with many in the Italian rugby fraternity unhappy about that final result.

While they may not field a star studded squad like the Irish, it is the same match day 22 that Coach Nick Mallet used in their last match against Samoa, and is actually second only to Ireland as the most experienced squad named in the Six Nations this weekend.

While Italy haven’t beaten Ireland since 1997 and are on a 13 match losing streak against Brian O’Driscoll’s men, their last trip to Croke Park was a close affair, with Ireland only winning by 16-11.

Ireland: 15 Rob Kearney (Leinster), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ospreys), 13 Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster capt), 12 Gordon D'Arcy (Leinster), 11 Andrew Trimble (Ulster), 10 Ronan O'Gara (Munster), 9 Tomas O'Leary (Munster), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Leinster), 7 David Wallace (Munster), 6 Kevin McLaughlin (Leinster), 5 Paul O'Connell (Munster), 4 Donncha O'Callaghan (Munster), 3 John Hayes (Munster), 2 Jerry Flannery (Munster), 1 Cian Healy (Leinster). Replacements: 16 Rory Best (Ulster), 17 Tom Court (Ulster), 18 Leo Cullen (Leinster), 19 Sean O'Brien (Leinster), 20 Eoin Reddan (Leinster), 21 Paddy Wallace (Ulster), 22 Keith Earls (Munster).

# Caps Starting Lineup: 608
Avg Age Starting Lineup: 28
Oldest Player: John Hayes (36)
Youngest Player: Cian Healy (22)
Avg Weight Forwards: 110 kg

* Match squad statistics courtesy of IRB.com

Italy: L McLean (Benetton Treviso); K Robertson (Viadana), G Canale (Clermont-Aubergne), G Garcia (Benetton Treviso), Mirco Bergamasco (Stade Francais); C Gower (Bayonne), T Tebaldi (Gran Parma); S Perugini (Bayonne), L Ghiraldini (Benetton Treviso), M Castrogiovanni (Leicester Tigers), C Del Fava (Viadana), Q Geldenhuys (Viadana), J Sole (Viadana), Mauro Bergamasco (Stade Francais), A Zanni (Benetton Treviso) Replacements: F Ongaro (Saracens), M Aguero (Saracens), M Bortolami (Gloucester), P Derbyshire (Petrarca Padova), S Picone (Treviso), R Bocchino (Rovigo), A Masi (Racing Metro Paris)

# Caps Starting Lineup: 553
Avg Age Starting Lineup: 27
Oldest Player: Fabio Ongaro (32)
Youngest Player: Riccardo Bocchino (21)
Avg Weight Forwards: 109 kg

England V Wales @ Twickenham, London
Kickoff: 1700 local time

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 118, England 53, Wales 53, Draw 12
Last match: 14th February 2009, Wales 23 – 15 England @ Millennium Stadium

England and Wales commemorate 100 years of competition at Twickenham with this clash. It is a contest that has changed in recent years.

For years England had the early wood on their western neighbours, before Wales entered their golden eras throughout the fifties and seventies. At the turn of the century though, a rising England consistently beat the Red Dragons, culminating in a 62-5 pummelling in 2007. Since then however, Wales have won three straight.

Wales claim that Twickenham has no fear for them, and they have won 12 and drawn seven over 45 encounters. But of late the laying of such a bogey to bed isn’t accurate. They may have triumphed 26-19 in 2008, but that was their first win in London in ten matches.

England, who still glance up at the heights where they once resided, are far from the superpower that they were seven years ago.

But while they may not have won a Six Nations title since they won a World Cup, and have tasted precious little success over the Tri Nations powers in that time (ironically, Wales did once serve as the barometer England judged themselves by), they are not as forlorn as some would believe.

They have been runners up in the last two competitions, and only a point separated them from the Grand Slammers in Croke Park last year.

One of their attacking linchpins from last year, Delon Armitage, has returned. Add to this the twin Sale threats of Mark Cueto and Mathew Tait, and England may be ready to throw off the shackles.

But the late withdrawal of Riki Flutey will hurt their chances, although Leicester Tigers playmaker Toby Flood is a capable replacement.

While questions may exist over their forwards, they do boast the biggest pack in the Northern Hemisphere, and while they are far from a finished product, there is no denying the gradually increasing hardness of the England forwards under Johnson.

Wales do though have the biggest question mark over them of any side in world rugby.

A coaching team that was peerless during the 2008 Six Nations has had question marks asked of them in recent months, and players who seemed to be cut from the same cloth of the greats of the previous Welsh golden generations suddenly looked one dimensional.

If you are only as good as your last game, then Wales come into this tournament under immense pressure, being thumped by an Australia team that had only just lost to Scotland.

Two of their best players, fullback Lee Byrne and tighthead Adam Jones make a welcome return to the side. But the loss of two thirds of their Lions front row has all but robbed them of an area where they may have expected dominance over England.

Much will depend on their backline, with the biggest move being James Hook’s switch to outside centre. Jamie Roberts, who has had a sub-par time since being transcendent with the Lions, could thrive with a more playmaking orientated number 13 alongside him (as he was with Brian O’Driscoll).

But a Welsh victory here will not come so much from their players, but their coaching staff. They looked uninspired over the autumn internationals, and their once vaunted defensive system looked out of whack.

If Warren Gatland and his team can execute with the precision that won them the Grand Slam two years ago, then the Red Dragons may be able to roar down the valleys again.

UPDATED ENGLAND 22

England: 15 Delon Armitage (London Irish), 14 Mark Cueto (Sale), 13 Mathew Tait (Sale), 12 Toby Flood (Leicester), 11 Ugo Monye (Harlequins), 10 Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), 9 Danny Care (Harlequins), 8 Nick Easter (Harlequins), 7 Lewis Moody (Leicester), 6 James Haskell (Stade Francais), 5 Steve Borthwick (Saracens, capt), 4 Simon Shaw (Wasps), 3 David Wilson (Bath), 2 Dylan Hartley (Northampton), 1 Tim Payne (Wasps). Replacements: 16 Steve Thompson (Brive), 17 Dan Cole (Leicester), 18 Louis Deacon (Leicester), 19 Steffon Armitage (London Irish), 20 Paul Hodgson (London Irish), 21 Shontayne Hape (Bath), 22 Ben Foden (Northampton).

# Caps Starting Lineup: 426
Avg Age Starting Lineup: 28
Oldest Player: Simon Shaw (36)
Youngest Player: Daniel Cole (22)
Avg Weight Forwards: 115 kg

Wales: L Byrne (Ospreys); T James (Cardiff Blues), J Hook (Ospreys), J Roberts (Cardiff Blues), S Williams (Ospreys); S Jones (Scarlets), G Cooper (Cardiff Blues); P James (Ospreys), G Williams (Cardiff Blues), A Jones (Ospreys), A-W Jones (Ospreys), L Charteris (Newport Gwent Dragons), A Powell (Cardiff Blues), M Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Jones (Ospreys, capt). Replacements: H Bennett (Ospreys), R Gill (Saracens), B Davies (Cardiff Blues), J Thomas (Ospreys), R Rees (Cardiff Blues), A Bishop (Ospreys), L Halfpenny (Cardiff Blues).

# Caps Starting Lineup: 542
Avg Age Starting Lineup: 28
Oldest Player: Martyn Williams (34)
Youngest Player: Leigh Halfpenny (21)
Avg Weight Forwards: 114 kg

Scotland V France @ Murrayfield, Edinburgh
Kickoff: 1500 local time

HEAD TO HEAD: Played 82, Scotland 34, France 45, Draw 3
Last match: 14th February 2009, France 22 – 13 Scotland @ Stade de France

France head north as title favourites, and on evidence of their displays against the All Blacks at Carisbrook and the Springboks at Toulouse, why shouldn’t they?

But this was the same France that was hammered 34-10 by England and 39-12 by the All Blacks in 2009.

Last year demonstrated the classical inconsistency that is now a product of French test rugby, and heaven help any rugby nation when they manage to start stringing the performances together.

With a massive amount of depth, Lievremont has again opted away from consistency and kept only five players that started in the Marseille slaughterhouse against New Zealand. More telling is that only six players remain from the win over the Springboks.

Still, there is so much uncertainty over the team, with Fabien Barcella, Romain Millo-Chluski, Sébastien Chabal, Maxime Mermoz and Damien Traille all injured, while Julien Dupuy is serving time for an eye ban. They are six men that have served key roles for France and Lievremont, and their presence will be missed.

Furthermore, world class players such as Maxime Medard, Cedric Heymans, Florian Fritz and Stade Francais' out-half Lionel Beauxis are not even in the match day squad. If the IRB granted such dispensation, most nations would select those players in their starting XV’s tomorrow.

On paper and in theory, this French side should be too much for Scotland.

If they bring the same power game they utilised against the All Blacks and the Springboks, they will win by a big margin. If they run and attack with the same precision and flair that they did against Fiji and Italy last year, they will tear Scotland to pieces.

But this Scottish team is under a new coach, with Andy Robinson already making the right noises with those in the know.

They may have to address one of the more deficient try scoring strategies in world rugby, but the belief could be creeping back to the Scottish teams.

For a number of years now Edinburgh and Glasgow have footed it in the Magners League, and both of those sides wield capable offensive strategies. Add to this the heart and defensive fortitude that Scotland demonstrated to upset the Wallabies, and they could again surprise a French team that rarely responds well if things don’t go to plan.

But by the same token, the Scots lag behind in the Heineken Cup, and looking over their match day squad, it doesn’t wield the class that the French can call upon, and still seems to be bereft of those one or two x factor players that seem to be a necessity at the highest level.

However they are at home, and if they can quickly stop France from finding their deadly patterns, then they could pull of the shock of the opening round.

Scotland: 15 Chris Paterson, 14 Thom Evans, 13 Max Evans, 12 Graeme Morrison, 11 Sean Lamont, 10 Phil Godman, 9 Chris Cusiter (c), 7 John Barclay, 8 Johnnie Beattie, 6 Kelly Brown, 5 Alastair Kellock, 4 Nathan Hines, 3 Moray Low, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson. Replacements: 16 Scott Lawson, 17 Allan Jacobsen,18 Richie Gray, 19 Alan MacDonald, 20 Rory Lawson, 21 Alex Grove, 22 Hugo Southwell.

# Caps Starting Lineup: 419
Avg Age Starting Lineup: 27
Oldest Player: Nathan Hines (33)
Youngest Player: Richie Gray (20)
Avg Weight Forwards: 110 kg

France: C Poitrenaud (Toulouse); B Fall (Bayonne), M Bastareaud (Stade Francais), Y Jauzion (Toulouse), A Rougerie (Clermont); F Trinh-Duc (Montpellier), M Parra (Clermont); T Domingo (Clermont), W Servat (Toulouse), N Mas (Perpignan), L Nallet (Racing Metro), P Pape (Stade Francais), T Dusautoir (Toulouse), F Ouedraogo (Montpellier), I Harinordoquy (Biarritz). Replacements: D Szarzewski (Stade Francais), L Ducalcon (Castres), J Pierre (Clermont), J Bonnaire (Clermont), F Michalak (Toulouse), D Marty (Perpignan), V Clerc (Toulouse), S Marconnet (Stade Francais).

# Caps Starting Lineup: 418
Avg Age Starting Lineup: 27
Oldest Player: Lionel Nallet (33)
Youngest Player: Benjamin Fall (20)
Avg Weight Forwards: 105 kg