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Looking forward to Six Nations 2021...

Tuesday, February 2, 2021 10:02

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Although it does feel as if we have just put the 2020 Six Nations to bed, here we are again with the 2021 incarnation of the competition almost upon us.

A month into another seemingly endless Covid-19 lockdown, if ever we needed the lift of international rugby, it is now.

And so, with preparation limited, with the players facing two months inside their collective “bubbles” and with the prospect of yet more rugby being played behind closed doors (something we have, sadly, become used to), what is it that we can expect?

Predicting the outcome of any Six Nations is never straightforward but, this year, I admit I am struggling to make sense of it all, and that assumes that we get away with an uninterrupted competition, something we certainly cannot take for granted this year.

Nevertheless, here goes…in no particular order:

ITALY

The Azzurri have not won a Six Nations match since 2015 and are currently on a 27 match losing run in the competition. That tells its own story and it is difficult to see where that elusive win may come from this year. Performances in the autumn were not terrible and clearly they are capable of playing some good rugby in patches, but Italy will need to put together at least one 80 minute performance if they are to secure victory against any of their Six Nations rivals, something they have been unable to do for some time now. Their best chances will probably come in Rome, where they will have to hope they can catch one of France, Wales or Ireland cold.

WALES

I think it is safe to say that Wayne Pivac’s tenure as Wales Head Coach has not started as well as he would have liked, with his team disappointing in last year’s Six Nations and also performing poorly in the Autumn Nations Cup. In October and November Wales appeared stuck between Pivac’s instinct to play wide and Warren Gatland more prosaic approach. International rugby, as Pivac has found, is pretty unforgiving unless your players’ skills are absolutely spot on, and I suspect that the next couple of months will see Wales try to adopt a more of a back to basics approach, although I am unconvinced they still have the forward strength to pull that off. Time will tell.

SCOTLAND

With fly half Finn Russell back in the fold, the Scots/Jockboks seem full of confidence going into this campaign, with a competitive forward pack, a lively back division and with Russell pulling the strings. I can’t say I blame them, but would venture to suggest that we have seen this all before. Crowd or no crowd, the opening fixture at Twickenham – where the Scots have not won since 1983 – will be tough and will show us what this Scotland team is made of. I am sure that they fancy their chances but, realistically, I don’t. Nevertheless, if they can iron out their habitual inconsistency, I can see them finishing in the top 3.

FRANCE

France undoubtedly were the story of 2020, with a young vibrant team coached by Fabien Galthie and Shaun Edwards putting in some outstanding performances. Nevertheless they ended up finishing second best to England in both the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup and this year will have to make do without star fly half Romain Ntamack and centre Virimi Vakatawa. So the question is whether the French will be able to kick on from last season and win the Six Nations, or whether we might see something of a “second season syndrome”? Deep down I suspect we will see another impressive campaign from Les Bleus, although whether they can win at Twickenham next month remains to be seen. Definitely top two – well, definitely maybe.

IRELAND

We are a year into Andy Farrell’s tenure as Head Coach but there’s still something of a lack of identity about this Irish team not helped, perhaps, by the influx of a number of “project players” into the squad. The pack, whilst competitive, is no longer the dominant force it once was, the half backs – Murray and Sexton – appear to be past their best with no obvious replacements knocking on the door, whilst the backline seems a little, well, predictable. Will Ireland be dangerous? Yes, especially at home, with England and France having to visit Dublin, but I think it will be between them and Scotland to finish top 3.

ENGLAND

And so to England. A successful 2020 in terms of titles was still met with plenty criticism of England’s style (or lack thereof) of play. I was less bothered by the style as I was by the lack of quality in its execution – a point Eddie Jones has since made. England can, and will, improve although – with some key forwards (Mako, Sinckler, Launchbury, Underhill) missing, there may be some vulnerability for Saturday’s opener against the Scots. Come through that game successfully, however, and I can see this English team going from strength to strength. A Grand Slam remains a tall order with difficult trips to Dublin and Cardiff, but anything less than top 2 would be a major disappointment.

Finger in the air predictions:

England

France

Scotland

Ireland

Wales

Italy

Total Flanker – the older I get, the better I was

Source: https://www.totalflanker.co.uk/2021/02/looking-forward-to-six-nations-2021.html

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