by Coach Steve Borthwick Captain Jamie George Last season Fourth
If it’s change for everyone in these Six Nations, it’s especially so for England. Like all the Italian sides, they have a new captain – and their previous absentee, Owen Farrell, is second in line to France’s absentee captain. They also enter this championship with qualified kudos of bronze medals from the World Cup, a welcome change from the true form of previous Six Nations campaigns. More than that, however, they are without multiple players. Injury crisis? It’s not. These guys have just chosen to play elsewhere. Amidst the changing dynamics of modern rugby, playing in the Six Nations for England is not the attraction it once was. The good news is, George should be a natural as captain. Also in theory England have the easiest opening rounds, meeting Italy and Wales respectively.
Key player George Ford. With Farrell gone, the stage is set. He used to play in his grandmother’s shadow, but Ford is one of the best batsmen in English history.
France
Coach Fabien Galthie Captain Gregory Alldritt Last season Second
If playing club rugby in France trumps playing for England in the Six Nations, playing for France in the Olympics also seems to nudge the old championship down on the list of player priorities. Antoine Dupont, the former captain of France, will not feature this year, as he prepares with the French sevens squad for the Olympic Games in Paris. Not only that, but France has actually nudged the team out of the Stade de France as they also prepare for that event later this year. France will be taking their home games (three of them) across the country, starting with the obvious decision, this Friday evening, when Ireland visit Marseille. Plain sailing all the way to a grand slam for the winner of that one? Perhaps, although France continue with a haphazard second round in Edinburgh. But, even without their respective talismans, France and Ireland are still better than everyone else. Roll on a World Cup final like never before…
Key player Jonathan Danty. Damian Penaud is just as talented as his missing captain, but life will be much easier for him if the Frenchman can release Danty in midfield.
Ireland
Coach Andy Farrell Captain Peter O’Machán Last season Grand slam
At least Ireland have lost their captain and talisman for old fashioned reasons. Even Johnny Sexton has to accept that he can’t go on forever. Ireland’s response to his absence will go some way to determining the direction of this year’s championship. Whoever graduates at half-back (presumably Munster’s Jack Crowley), there will be a huge drop in experience, from three-figure caps to one. That said, even with Sexton’s absence, Ireland have the most experienced squad in the Six Nations and O’Mahony is just the man to ensure there is no drop-off. Can they become the first team in the Six Nations era to win back-to-back grand slams? All eyes on Marseille this Friday evening. Strange time, strange place, strange feeling to be playing without Sexton. If Ireland can make a strange medium fresh, they have every chance.
Key player Caelan Doris. He might not kick goals or dictate plays, but if there’s a relative youngster fit to be a talisman, it’s this dynamic ball player at the bottom of Ireland’s scrum.
Italy
Coach Gonzalo Quesada Captain Michel Lamaro Last season A wooden spoon
From the most experienced squad to, for a long time, the biggest call. At least Italy, unlike anyone else, benefit from the continuity of an experienced captain, but they have a new coach in ex-Puma Quesada. Can we summon the energy again to talk optimistically about a new era in Italian rugby? That 90-point win by the All Blacks was one of the worst results in World Cup history – and a 60-point loss to France made us even more desperate. But the squad is inexperienced as Italy are spreading through some real talent, who have all been scalds in the junior Six Nations in recent years. And it is a squad based on the Benetton Rugby team (Treviso), which is second, behind Leinster at least, in the United Rugby Championship. We can only dream of…
Key player Tommaso Menoncello. Ruled out of the World Cup by injury, the 21-year-old bruiser in the Italian midfield is back. With Paolo Garbisi in there and Ange Capuozzo out, something might be starting to come together.
Scotland
Coach Gregor Townsend Co-captains Rory Darge/Finn Russell Last season Third
Scotland have decided to switch from one captain to two. Townsend has appointed Darge and Russell as co-captains, allowing his predecessor, Jamie Ritchie, to focus on his game. It should mean that Scotland do not lack leadership, even if they also lack a talisman. This will be the first Six Nations since 2011 that Stuart Hogg will not feature. Scotland will feel they are used to their failure to make an impact at the World Cup, but it was a thankless task in reality. They will be looking for their opening assignment in Cardiff, then it will be home games against France and England. It is not entirely out of the question whether they will go into the Dublin final unbeaten. But they have not won on Lansdowne Road this millennium.
Key player Blair Kinghorn. Hogg isn’t, but this guy has been ripe for the picking for a long time. Now that he counts himself among the rock stars at Toulouse, Scotland may find they have a new dimension at the back. He can also run things from half-six if needed.
Wales
Coach Warren Gatland Captain Dafydd Jenkins Last season Fifth
The blows to Britain’s dignity keep coming. Perhaps the person who suffered the most from their absence, Louis Rees-Zammit up and leaving for the NFL on the day of the announcement of the squad. Ouch. This time last year, there were 10 players in their squad with more than 50 caps, three with more than 100, one with more than 150. Now they have five with more than 50 – and two of them that’s playing in the same position. There is a great sense of rebuilding here. Gatland goes the other way from co-captain to sole skipper, picking the man whose anointing was only a matter of time. Over to Jenkins, the youngest Welsh captain since Gareth Edwards. He will find himself in charge of a team stripped of hundreds of experience caps, the exodus following from the World Cup. If Wales have avoided the feeling of a long campaign, Jenkins will probably deserve the honour.
Key player John Lloyd. There are a lot of holes in the Welsh squad where they used to have experienced men. Lloyd is a classic Welsh genius of a playmaker who can play in a variety of positions – and may have to. It won’t be boring.
