Six Nations: Six storylines to look out for in this year’s Championship

Stan Wilson
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The wait is almost over as this Saturday, the Six Nations returns to our screens and with fan-filled stadiums to boot.

After last year’s tournament was played behind closed doors, players, coaches and fans will be thrilled that all matches are set to feature no such restrictions after the Welsh government dropped relevant Covid-19 rules in time.

This year, the tension and atmosphere will raise to pre-lockdown levels, making our selected storylines at play even more important.

Can young Italy finally break their losing run?

The job for Kieran Crowley is far from an easy one. For the Azzurri to succeed and for him to keep his job, he must redefine Italian rugby for good.

This means winning, something that is not customary to Italian rugby. In years past, the Italians have been a joke, the little brother in the tournament, permanently being shoved around by their older and stronger siblings.

With the help of his dangerman at fly-half, Paolo Garbisi, Crowley must make a statement within the Six Nations this year to put some respect on Italy’s name when it comes to international rugby.

His choice of captain, Michele Lamaro, is just 23 and only received his first senior cap in November 2020. Lamaro’s age is reflective of Crowley’s squad: young.

It is highly unlikely that Italy will fare well in this tournament but should they aim to snap their losing run, their best bet is against the injury ridden Welsh.

This team is one to look out for in a few years time when players have more Test experience, but until then it is likely that Italy remain owners of the Six Nations wooden spoon.

Scotland to succeed as the underdog once again

To everyone, save fans of the home nations, Scotland is the favourite underdog story in recent tournament history.

Their relentless aggression and perseverance as a team is embodied well by their star flanker, Hamish Watson, who won Player of the Championship in 2021.

If Watson and the Scots can keep up their plucky and fierce style of rugby, they could push the more fancied sides in the tournament and if anyone was to disrupt a team with Grand Slam potential, we all know who it would be.

Another asset Scotland have is Duhan van der Merwe, who was top try-scorer last year and delivered the winning five points when they came from behind to stun the French.

Behind him in the backline is captain and full-back, Stuart Hogg, a Hawick born Scottish hero and like Van der Merwe he has a nose for the try-line.

With the only questionable dynamic being between Finn Russell and head coach Gregor Townsend, who’s tif led to Russell being kicked out of Scotland camp in 2020, Scotland fans will be relishing the opportunity to see their team live in the flesh as they seek their first Six Nations trophy.

The individual star players, and new revised style of play, could help Townsend’s team to a Calcutta Cup victory and maybe even more…

Who will step up within the injury hit Welsh pack?

No Alun Wyn Jones. No Ken Owens. No Taulupe Faletau. No Justin Tipuric. No Josh Navidi.

Injuries have simply decimated the Welsh pack and left gaping holes in it and to fill those gaps will be a hard task for last year’s winners.

Head coach Wayne Pivac will have to depend upon the experience of Wyn Jones and Tomas Francis, while Ellis Jenkins’ return – after a lengthy spell out through injury – could be exactly what the Welsh need in the depleted back-row.

Resident wizard, Louis Rees-Zammit, may be required to conjure more rabbits from his hat than usual this tournament to equate for the injury losses across the team.

Despite a step back in terms of production this season, a “Rees-Lightning” master class on try-scoring is exactly what Wales need.

Captaining this seemingly sinking ship is veteran fly-half Dan Biggar, and his game management skills will be required as ever but even more so than usual.

Surrounded by inexperience and would-be bench players, Biggar has a hard task ahead of him – Wales will likely be in contention with Italy for the wooden spoon.

Can France find consistency and win a Grand Slam?

Last achieved by Wales in 2019, the Grand Slam is the ultimate way to finish the Six Nations. For Fabien Galthie’s giant-slaying French team to etch their names into the history books, they must execute consistently across the whole field.

For their electric Antoine Dupont-led attack, it’s imperative for the rest of the French backs to enable the scrum-half’s creativity through support lines, attacking space and securing the tackles necessary for a strong kicking game.

Galthie is blessed with two valid options at fly-half with Romain Ntamack and Matthieu Jalibert which allows him to diversify his offense from game to game should he choose, or even in game.

Flexibility is a common theme across this team which is full of athletes able to complete a plethora of roles across the field.

With a Grand Slam in his sights, Galthie must be wary of the ever contending Irish and underdog Scots, who seem the biggest threats to their five win aims.

Should their goal be achieved, this would set France in fantastic stead for years to come, including the next World Cup where they could soon emerge as favourites.

England’s progress with Marcus Smith in charge

Harlequins poster-boy and rugby prodigy Smith is set to finally be trusted with the reins to the English attack this weekend.

After some years of questionable omissions, Eddie Jones has buckled at last and handed Smith his golden ticket.

With Smith running the show, you can expect a faster paced attack with the fly-half being the focal point of the attack rather than just as a facilitator, which we have seen with George Ford for a while.

Smith’s ability with ball in hand will be huge for England, but let’s not forget his underrated kicking game.

The Anglo-Filipino is a very talented kicker when it comes from his hand, for territory, and from the tee, for points, this will mean no fall off from the Ford-Farrell combination of years past.

All of these skills and factors to Smith’s game bode well for England, who have been in dire need of change following the recent Six Nations and of course the World Cup final.

England may not be ready to contend immediately, but they will still be able to put on a show with their shiny new weapons, Smith being the most deadly.

Will Ireland experiment or stick to old heads in title push?

Andy Farrell is faced with a real challenge in the coming weeks, and for once, that will not be dethroning last year’s champions.

The job of the men in green is to fend off the world rugby superpower of France who are coming off a stellar Autumn Nations Series campaign.

In terms of squad selection, Farrell can either stick or twist, to think of it in terms of playing cards.

He can stick with the old guard who still have gas in the tank to contend, or twist and opt for new faces who could make the difference between second and first place should the risk pay off.

The likes of Ulster centre James Hume and Leinster fly-half Ross Byrne are primed and ready to step in should the likes of Garry Ringrose and Johnny Sexton not cut the mustard this tournament.

This would be a case of high risk and high reward, a decision Farrell will be reluctant to make, but may have to should his side struggle to gain momentum against teams like France.

Their opening match against Wales could serve as a proving ground for their young talent with Gavin Coombes and Cian Prendergast no doubt hungry for international action.

Should everything go to plan, Ireland will largely stick with their trusty veterans, with perhaps the addition of Mack Hanson on the wing, but the option of making changes is there and starting jobs are no longer safe.

READ MORE: Expert Witness: Six Nations video preview with former England number eight Nick Easter

 

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Expert Witness: Nick Easter on the Six Nations

Former England number eight Nick Easter previews the Six Nations with us.

England Marcus Smith