Blow The Roof! The Six Nations Are Back!

We are just SEVEN months away from the World Cup, which marks this Six Nations as one of the important in the tournament’s history and it all kicked off last night at the Millennium Stadium as England were able to beat the demons of 2013 and leave Wales with their heads held high winning 21 - 16. Today meanwhile, Italy welcome tournament favourites Ireland and this evening Scotland travel to Paris to go up against France.

Here’s a preview of today's games with team line ups.

Italy v Ireland

Not trying to sound disrespectful to Italy but this is a nail on win for Ireland at the Stadio Olimpico.

However, with Jonny Sexton out injured this is a great opportunity for Munster’s Ian Keatley to make a mark as Sexton’s number two and he face competition from Ulster’s Paddy Jackson and Ian Madigan from Leinster.

Coach Joe Schmidt has picked Sean O’Brien after the openside played 50 minutes for Ireland Wolfhounds last week. Meanwhile, Italy coach Jacques Brunel will be looking to home wins to help improve from the five defeats last year which won them the wooden spoon.

Brunel side will be boasting 660 caps in total with George Fabio Biagi filling in at second row and Francesco Minto taking over at openside.

Team Line - Ups

Andrea Masi - 15 - Rob Kearney

Leonardo Sarto - 14 - Tommy Bowe

Michele Campagnaro - 13 - Jared Payne

Luca Morisi - 12 - Robbie Henshaw

Luke McLean - 11 - Simon Zebo

Kelly Haimona - 10 - Ian Keatley

Edoardo Gori - 9 - Conor Murray

Matias Aguero - 1 - Jack McGrath

Leonardo Ghiraldini - 2 - Rory Best

Martin Castrogiovanni - 3 - Mike Ross

Josh Furno - 4 - Devin Toner

George Biagi - 5 - Paul O'Connell (c)

Alessandro Zanni - 6 - Peter O'Mahony

Francesco Minto - 7 - Sean O'Brien

(c) Sergio Parisse - 8 - Jordi Murphy

Replacements

Andrea Manici - 16 - Sean Cronin

Alberto De Marchi - 17 - James Cronin

Dario Chistolini - 18 - Marty Moore

Marco Fuser - 19 - Iain Henderson

Marco Barbini - 20 - Tommy O'Donnell

Guglielmo Palazzani - 21 - Isaac Boss

Tommaso Allan - 22 - Ian Marigan

Giovanbattista Venditti - 23 - Felix Jones

France v Scotland

Much like the whole roof discussion between Wales and England in France they’re breaking away from tradition by wearing their new red shirts because Adidas needs the sells. Meanwhile, in team news coach Philippe Saint – Andre has picked his 14th half – back pairing with Rory Kockott and Camille Lopez teaming up.

This will be a debut for Kockott as the South Africa – born scrum half will be joined by fellow countrymen Scott Spedding while inexperienced Samoan – born La Rochelle prop Uini Atonio is on the bench.

Scotland coach Vern Cottler has selected Glasgow Warriors fly – half Finn Russell and centre Mark Bennett will be joined by London Irish back-row Blair Cowan to make their Six Nation’s debuts.

The inclusion of Russell and Bennett makes the spine of the Scotland is Glasgow Warriors with eight members from the Pro12 side and for this reason I can see Scotland getting a result.

Team Line - Ups

Scott Spedding - 15 - Stuart Hogg

Yoann Huget - 14 - Tommy Seymour

Mathieu Bastareaud - 13 - Mark Bennett

Wesley Fofana - 12 - Alex Dunbar

Teddy Thomas - 11 - Tim Visser

Camille Lopez - 10 - Finn Russell

Rory Kockott - 9 - Greig Laidlaw (c)

Alexandre Menini - 1 - Alasdair Dickinson

Guilhem Guirado - 2 - Ross Ford

Rabah Slimani - 3 - Euan Murray

Pascal Pape - 4 - Richie Gray

Yoann Maestri - 5 - Jonny Gray

(c) Thierry Dusautoir - 6 - Rob Harley

Bernard Le Roux - 7 - Blair Cowan

Damien Chouly - 8 - John Beattie

Replacements

Benjamin Kayser - 16 - Fraser Brown

Uini Atonio - 17 - Gordon Reid

Eddy Ben Arous - 18 - Geoff Cross

Romain Taofifenua - 19 - Jim Hamiton

Loan Goujon - 20 - Alasdair Strokosch

Morgan Parra - 21 - Sam Hidalgo - Clyne

Remi Tales - 22 - Peter Horne

Remy Lamerat - 23 - Dougie Fife