Ex-Wales star picks ‘most settled’ side for potential Six Nations assault

Former Wales playmaker Dan Biggar believes that Scotland could well be in the best position to finally win their first-ever Six Nations title.

Post-Rugby World Cup tournaments sometimes throw up surprise results and Gregor Townsend’s men could take advantage of the other teams’ lack of continuity.

Some of the sides are in a rebuilding process and Biggar believes that, as a result, Scotland are likely the “most settled” team.

Rebounding after the World Cup

“I suppose I don’t know how any team is going to respond (from the World Cup). If you look at it, Scotland are probably the most settled and probably had the most disappointing World Cup,” he told BBC Radio 5 Live’s The 2024 Guest List.

In some ways, it would be akin to England in 2015, who went from a pool stage exit to Grand Slam winner, despite Stuart Lancaster’s successor, Eddie Jones, not selecting too many new players.

This time around, the Red Rose are set for a changing of the guard after the retirement of Courtney Lawes, Jonny May and Ben Youngs, while the injuries at loosehead have left them short in the front-row.

Steve Borthwick is similarly without captain Owen Farrell and he may also want to look at younger options in 2024, with Joe Marler, Jamie George, Dan Cole, Kyle Sinckler, Billy Vunipola, Danny Care, George Ford and Elliot Daly all the wrong side of 30.

Meanwhile, the two favourites, France and Ireland, will have selection dilemmas, with their key players – Antoine Dupont and Johnny Sexton respectively – out of the Six Nations.

Dupont, the captain and linchpin in Les Bleus’ side, is playing sevens ahead of the Olympics, while Sexton retired following the World Cup.

As for Wales, they saw a number of experienced individuals call it a day prior to the global tournament before Biggar followed them at the conclusion of the World Cup.

The former Test fly-half has since urged head coach Warren Gatland to try out younger options in the upcoming Six Nations

It means that Scotland, who finished third last year, could well be in a good position going into the tournament.

“I genuinely couldn’t tell you how the Six Nations is going to go,” Biggar said. “France are going to be without Dupont and [Romain] Ntamack for the first time in four or five years.

“England are going to be without Owen Farrell and Courtney Lawes as well. How are Ireland going to cope in the first time in what seems like forever in the non-Johnny Sexton era.

“From a Welsh point of view, a lot of players have retired or are not available for the Six Nations.”

Momentum

Biggar says that a good start is vital. Scotland take on Wales in Cardiff before a crunch clash against France at Murrayfield, and two successive wins would put them in a fine spot for the rest of the Six Nations.

“The Six Nations is such a momentum tournament where if you win your first couple of games, it’s such an easier tournament,” he added.

“You’ve got your down week to prep for your next game. Whereas if you lose your first one or two, there’s so much pressure on your next game and your next game and all of a sudden you’re looking at finishing fourth or fifth or bottom of the table.

“Above any other competition I’ve played in, it’s such a momentum tournament and getting off to a good start is so, so important.”

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