Closing Up to date on 24 Jan 2022 1:09 pm (UK Time)
There’s a explanation why they name it ‘Rugby’s Biggest Championship’. Different tournaments may accommodate extra groups, boast extra status and even, say it quietly, show off a extra horny taste of rugby, however there’s one thing intangibly particular about The Six Countries. A mix of the steadiness of 5 well-matched facets (and Italy), the proximity of the contributors to each other and the most obvious historical past shared between each and every country combines for a potent recipe slightly observed somewhere else in game. Merely put, there are not any lifeless rubbers within the Six Countries. Italy apart.
With the match simply across the nook and able to banish the crushing blues of a British February, right here and the fits that might finally end up defining the Six Countries and doubtlessly offering lovers with a few of this yr’s largest rugby moments.
Spherical 1 – Scotland v England (Murrayfield)
Eire’s conflict with Wales is all the time a deal with, a show off of 2 of the match’s most threatening and well-organised facets, however the Calcutta Cup nonetheless holds extra emotive sway than the conflict of the Gaelic international locations which, surprisingly sufficient, doesn’t even advantage its personal bespoke trophy.
This yr’s Calcutta Cup guarantees to be a defining fit of the Six Countries. While as soon as it was once a foregone conclusion that the Scots would as soon as once more succumb to their larger brother south of the border, Scotland’s golden technology have carried out sterling paintings lately of making sure that the fixture isn’t any lifeless rubber. If best they’d a extra considerable trophy to turn for going the entire distance.
England more than likely has the threshold with regards to squad intensity, however Scotland truly does possess some world-class operators, from stalwart Stuart Hogg to the in-form Ali Worth, Finn Russell and Hamish Watson. If Scotland can disrupt the English set-piece and have the opportunity of having the ball in hand with regularity, they may reason a transitional England aspect some actual issues.
Spherical 2 – France v Eire (Stade de France)
The match’s two favourites? Primarily based purely on fresh type, I’d be shocked if we didn’t see such a groups lifting the Six Countries trophy aloft come March.
Eire was once wonderful worth for his or her win towards the Kiwis in November of 2021, showing tactical nous, steely resolution and authentic talent to stroll away with the entire marbles on the Aviva ultimate November. Eire performed with the brutal pace on the ruck, slightly taking any time to recycle the ball with a purpose to generate fluid momentum. France, in the meantime, exhibited predatory aptitude and heart-stopping boldness to easily outplay the second-best defence in global rugby.
The French victory towards the similar titanic opponent will have to cross down as one in every of Les Bleus’ all-time nice victories. French aptitude is a pleasure to look at however it’s exhausting to make use of if they are able to’t ever get the ball in hand, particularly difficult towards an Irish aspect who love to stay ownership. If France can get the likes of Dupont, Ntamack and Alldritt taking part in as they did towards the All Blacks, this can be the unstoppable pressure going through the immovable object.
Spherical 3 – England v Wales (Twickenham)
England is overrepresented in this checklist for 2 excellent causes. One, they’re, all of us have to simply accept, an excessively, very gifted rugby aspect stuffed with very, excellent gamers. Secondly, England had been, are, and all the time would be the scalp that each aspect within the Six Countries desires to take. That is the fee you pay for 800 years of home imperialism and a complete put out of your mind for regional sovereignty.
As an Englishman, I will be able to say with self belief that Eire hates the English. Scotland hates the English. The French hate the English, and also you’d higher consider the Welsh hate the English. If there’s ever an opponent to convey the most productive out of a frankly depleted Wales aspect, it’s those dressed in the white shirts and making a song ‘God Save the Queen’.
England, alternatively, has a house benefit. The Millennium Stadium has a name for being a furnace of hostility for somebody now not donning a purple jersey, so England might be mightily relieved that one in every of their maximum difficult fixtures might be some of the acquainted shores of West London. Putting off Wales’ house benefit must swing the chances firmly within the hosts’ favour.
Spherical 4 – Wales v France (Millennium Stadium)
Talking of Millennium Stadium, this could be essentially the most attention-grabbing conflict of all. The whole document between France and Wales is strikingly even, the French claiming 47 wins and the Welsh 51 around the fixture’s historical past. Within the ultimate two decades, alternatively, a trend of swinging momentum has emerged wherein one aspect takes a string of 4 or 5 wins after which so does the opposite. From 2012-2016, Wales received 5 consecutive video games towards the French, whilst the French received 4 at the jump between 2009-2011, together with a Global Cup semi-cup ultimate win at Eden Park, and France is now these days playing a three-win streak over Cymru going again to early 2020.
Video games between the 2 facets also are nearly invariably shut this present day as France has grow to be resurgent as an international rugby pressure. From 2012-to 2016, Wales recorded victory margins of seven, 10, 21, 7 and 9. Extra not too long ago, the choice of issues keeping apart the perimeters from 2018 onwards were 1, 5, 1, 4, 3 and a couple of. Regardless of the outcome, invested lovers can be expecting to mention good-bye to their fingernails for this yr’s Six Countries conflict.
The French stereotype about ‘which aspect will flip up at the day’ that must be arbitrarily trotted out every year through no less than 5 pundits a week turns out to have misplaced its moorings in fact not too long ago. France’s mastermind defensive trainer Shaun Edwards merely doesn’t tolerate capitulations beneath his watch.
If ever there was once a spot to re-open the previous cracks within the supposedly fragile French psyche, alternatively, it will be the Millennium Stadium. While the proud Welsh lovers may not be as antagonistic in opposition to their Gallic cousins as they’d be in opposition to their English neighbours, heading to a most probably chilly, damp Cardiff with roughly 70,000 passionate Welshmen urging their boys on isn’t conducive to champagne rugby. If the wheels come off for France, don’t be shocked if it’s within the Welsh capital.
Spherical 5 – France v England (Stade de France)
If France are gunning for the Six Countries name at this level, they’ll be overjoyed to be taking part in on house soil. England, then again, without reference to how their match has panned out, might be anticipating to return to France to show over one of the vital flashiest facets in global rugby.
England must nonetheless be thought to be nicely within the operating to excel at this yr’s match, and there’s as a lot probability that this may well be their defining fit because the French’s. As an Englishman, I’ll be hoping that the sport at the 19th is if truth be told the lads in white’s probability to wrap up a titanic grand slam victory on overseas soil towards Le French. Do I consider that would be the case? Question me on March 20th.
If we take the previous 3 years as being extra indicative of a real illustration of this present French aspect, England has claimed 3 wins from 5 and France two, even though the cut up is even between Six Countries wins at two apiece. Taking into consideration that France just about felled the English within the Autumn Countries Cup Ultimate with a workforce of global beginners, alternatively, must inform you that Les Bleus don’t combat for squad intensity or precocious uncooked ability.
Le Crunch may come right down to easy recreation control. If Farrell returns from damage, be expecting him to kick tactically to stay the French pegged again in their very own territory after which pressure errors through squeezing the blues with an competitive defensive position, making dominant tackles at the first receivers and disrupting the momentum of Dupont and Ntamack. More straightforward stated than carried out, after all.
