Six Nations: England V Italy Preview

An unchanged England side will face struggling Italy this Saturday at Twickenham, with English grand slam dreams unexpectedly ignited after victory in Cardiff. It may be Valentine's Day, but there will be no love lost between the sides when they take to the turf, even if one of them wears a red rose above their hearts.

England are the obvious favourites going into this game – even the most passionate and optimistic of Italian fans would admit that – but there is no guarantee that the scoreline will be one-sided. Although the last meeting between these teams ended 11-52 to England, Italy’s last visit to Twickenham was a tight affair, with only seven points between the sides. In the five meetings before that, three were won by five points or less. England should take heed from history – the Azzurri are no pushovers, and only a late flourish from Ireland last week made the scoreline more flattering than perhaps it should have been.

Mike Brown bagged two tries the last time he faced Italy

Having said that, England will be all too aware that points difference could be the deciding factor when they face off against Ireland in Dublin at the end of the tournament, and the men in white will be looking to pile on the points. However, they must not go into the game expecting to score tries from the first minute – Italy are a better side than that. England should aim to strangle the life out of the Italians before looking to ship the ball wide. By relying on another strong forward performance, dominating the set piece and building a lead through penalties, England will put pressure on Italy and force them to start chasing the game. This is when mistakes start to be made, mismatches occur, and the likes of Jonathan Joseph, Jonny May, and Anthony Watson can snap up tries.

As always, Sergio Parisee will be at the heart of this Italian side. The Italian captain has more caps than England’s entire backrow, whilst recalled flanker Mauro Bergamasco has the same amount (100). If the trio of Chris Robshaw, James Haskell, and Billy Vunipola can gain the upper hand over their Italian counterparts, and keep Captain Fantastic quiet, England will have an easier time of it.

James Haskell gave a massive performance last week

There is experience in the Italian backline as well, albeit out of position – fullback Andrea Masi moves into the centres for the injured Michele Campagnaro. This is a somewhat strange choice considering the danger posed by the 10 – 12 combination of Allan and Haimona in the final minutes against Ireland. Having measured up so well against the experienced duo of Jamie Roberts and Jonathan Davies in Cardiff, Luther Burrell and Jonathan Joseph should be full of confidence going into this encounter.

Whilst there have been changes aplenty amongst the Azzurri, it seems like the first time in living memory that Stuart Lancaster has selected the same 23 two weeks in a row. This can only be a good decision following the performance against Wales. If the likes of James Haskell, Jonathan Joseph, and Dave Attwood continue to deliver performances on a level with last week, the absences of sure starters Manu Tuilagi, Courtney Lawes, and Tom Wood will be barely noticeable. It’s a selection headache for Stuart Lancaster, but a delight for England fans who, only a few weeks ago, were so worried about the impact that injuries were having with a World Cup only months away. Hopefully we will get a chance to see what Danny Cipriani and Tom Croft can contribute this week, after they went unused against Wales.

Prediction: The question is not so much who will win, but by how much. Expect England to start slow, accumulating points through the boot of George Ford, before opening up in the second half. Sadly, it’s set to be heartbreak once again for Italy this Valentine’s Day. England by 20.

Match Information:

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 George Kruis, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Nick Easter, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Francesco Minto, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 5 Marco Bortolami, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 1 Alberto De Marchi.

Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Giulio Bisegni.

Date: Saturday, February 14

Kickoff: 14:30 GMT

Venue: Twickenham

Referee: Johnny Lacey (Ireland)

Assistant Referees: Pascal Gauzère (France), Mike Fraser (New Zealand)

TMO: George Ayoub (Australia)

Six Nations: France v Scotland Preview

Both France and Scotland had strong Autumn campaigns, but question marks still remain about their ability to deliver consistent performances. With time running out before the World Cup kicks off, both sides will be desperate to build up some serious momentum and identify their first choice XVs.
 

Both sides have some of the most exciting back lines put out in recent memory, and we’re expecting plenty of tries at the Stade de France this Saturday. The likes of Tommy Seymour, Alex Dunbar, and Tim Visser are all proven try-scorers, whilst Teddy Thomas was a real stand-out for France in the Autumn.

Whilst South Africa import Rory Kockott has been grabbing the headlines, is it the battle between the two massive packs which is likely to matter more come game time. Whilst French stalwarts Nicholas Mas and Louis Picamoles miss out through selection and injury respectively, there is still plenty of power in the French pack, with the likes of Euan Murray, Jonny Gray, and Johnnie Beatie adding similar ballast to the Scottish forwards.

Scotland fans will be hoping that new coach Vern Cotter, making his Six Nations coaching debut on Saturday, will be able to put his experience from coaching Clermont to good use. If anyone has the know-how to out-muscle and out-wit a French side, it’s the New Zealander. For his French counterpart, the pressure is very much on – Saint-Andre has so far failed to lead his side to finish in the top half of the table, and with away trips to England and Ireland, a win on Saturday is essential if France are to have any hope of claiming the title.

Prediction: Scotland have only beaten France once since the Five Nations became Six, and I don’t expect that to change on Saturday. France to win by 7.

France: 15 Scott Spedding, 14 Yoann Huget, 13 Mathieu Bastareaud, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Teddy Thomas, 10 Camille Lopez, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Damien Chouly, 7 Bernard Le Roux, 6 Thierry Dusautoir, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Pascal Papé, 3 Rabah Slimani, 2 Guilhem Guirado, 1 Alexandre Menini.

Replacements: 16 Benjamin Kayser, 17 Uini Atonio, 18 Eddy Ben Arous, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Loann Goujon, 21 Morgan Parra, 22 Rémi Talès, 23 Rémi Lamerat.

Scotland: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Tommy Seymour, 13 Mark Bennett, 12 Alex Dunbar, 11 Tim Visser, 10 Finn Russell, 9 Greig Laidlaw (c), 8 Johnnie Beattie, 7 Blair Cowan, 6 Rob Harley, 5 Jonny Gray, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Ross Ford, 1 Alasdair Dickinson.

Replacements: 16 Fraser Brown, 17 Gordon Reid, 18 Geoff Cross, 19 Jim Hamilton, 20 Alasdair Strokosch, 21 Sam Hidalgo-Clyne, 22 Peter Horne, 23 Dougie Fife.

Date: Saturday, February 7

Venue: Stade de France, Paris

Kick-off: 18:00 local (17:00 GMT)

Referee: Nigel Owens (WRU)

Assistant Referees: Glen Jackson (NZRU) Mike Fraser (NZRU)

Six Nations: Wales V England Preview

Picture a scene: the final whistle has been blown at the Millennium stadium. Men, women and children all dressed as daffodils sing and chant in unison as their counter parts dressed up like Richard the Lion heart make a quick exit out the stadium. A team stand centre stage holding yet another Six Nations trophy aloft for all to see after dispatching their old rivals at home, barely without getting past a canter in the process and cruelly snatching a grand slam away from them on top of that. Can you recall a sweeter feeling? Probably, if you're an England supporter. I for one have watched clips of child birth on telly and still been less perturbed by what I saw on the screen in comparison that night in the Welsh capital. 

Game on

What can we expect two years on from the same fixture? Both teams come into the first game of rugby's greatest championship after a disappointing Autumn series bar a pride restoring final fixture for each against a Southern Hemisphere foe. On top of that, both share a pool in eight months time and will be desperate to gain bragging rights when the prize steps up from Europe to the World. 

However, where the two teams start to differ is squad availability as Wales seemingly already benefitting from their newly established Central Player Contracts have a fully fit squad to draw from. The same most certainly cannot be said for England who limp into Cardiff with half of their preferred starting XV receiving medical treatment for one ailment or the other. That being said, a wounded lion is still a lion, capable of inflicting a mauling to an adversary who doesn't take it seriously. England, after all, claim the largest squad depth out of all the home nation teams and so where one player falls, likely clutching his knee or shoulder, another can step in to fill the gap.  

For this reason expect both sides to approach this game with the upmost respect and preparation regardless of circumstances. You only needed to pick up a newspaper this week to hear talk of Hymns and Arias omitting from Pennyhill Park, as well as the expected pre-game rhetoric from Warren Gatland. This i one of the fieriest rivalries in sport writing its most recent chapter in the most important of all years.

As mentioned above, Wales are capable of fielding a full strength team as opposed to a new look England side – in fact nearly 300 international caps separate the two teams. The scrum, however, is perhaps one place where England can claim a slight advantage as British and Irish Lion Dan Cole returns to the fold due to the late withdrawal of David Wilson. His opposite number Samson Lee is the man Gatland has tasked with the daunting challenge of taking over the mantel from Adam Jones as the lynchpin of the welsh pack. If the last two meetings of these sides has taught us anything, the scrum could go a long way to determining who comes out on top overall. 

Another key battle will be between the two number eights; the cousins who opted to play their rugger on different sides of the Severn Bridge will surely put all family ties to one side in what is primed to be an earth-shattering contest for the gain line. Taulupe Faletau is maturing into a truly top class backrow forward and is perhaps the first name on the team sheet, consistently influential and always top of the stat charts. Billy Vunipola, on the other hand, has been far from consistent since his international debut and all wearing white will be hoping his barnstorming performance against Munster wasn't simply a false dawn.

In the backs all eyes will be on Rhys Webb and George Ford as these are the two men tasked with providing some creative dynamism for their respective backlines. Webb seems to have finally ousted Mike Phillips for the scrum half position and hasn't looked back since. Currently in the form of his life, possessing a fizzing pass combined with a sharp eye for a break he'll certainly keep the English on their toes for the full 80. Ford too possesses sharp reflexes when attempting to pick apart defences and will be hoping his club form alongside team mate Joseph will translate effectively to the international stage. If his nerves hold and he kicks his goals an upset could well be on the cards.

Prediction: It really is hard to see past Wales for this one as Cardiff is starting to look a mightily daunting place to visit, especially for an injury plagued England side. As such it's the men in red's match to lose in the first fixture of 2015. Sam Warburton and co have issued an almighty call to arms this year and so expect a 70,000 strong Millennium stadium to answer it. Wales to win by 6

Match Information:

Wales: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Alex Cuthbert, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 George North, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Rhys Webb, 8 Taulupe Faletau, 7 Sam Warburton (c), 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Jake Ball, 3 Samson Lee, 2 Richard Hibbard, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Replacements: 16 Scott Baldwin, 17 Paul James, 18 Aaron Jarvis, 19 Luke Charteris, 20 Justin Tipuric, 21 Mike Phillips, 22 Rhys Priestland, 23 Liam Williams.

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 6 James Haskell, 5 George Kruis, 4 Dave Attwood, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Dylan Hartley, 1 Joe Marler.

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Nick Easter, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.

Date: Friday, February 6
Venue: Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Kickoff: 20:05 GMT

Referee: Jérôme Garcès (FFR)

Assistant Referees: Romain Poite (FFR), Mathieu Raynal (FFR)
TMO: Simon McDowell (Ire)

Article by Alex Dodd