Six Nations Takes Week Off For Half - Term

After two cracking opening rounds of this year’s Six Nations the tournament takes the weekend off this week as fringe players can go back to their clubs to stake a claim to represent their country.

So what have we learned from the last two rounds well, we’ve learned how good it is to hear ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ around Millennium Stadium. Jonathan Joseph has become a star in an England shirt with the 23 year old has even been compared to Jeremy Guscott and what links these two centres they both play/played for Bath.

However, I do think there are some positions under treat and the first is Jonny May and it’s a shame because we know how good he could be when the Gloucester winger scored that great try against New Zealand in the Autumn but since then he’s done nothing. His most recent contribution was the break, which set up Danny Cipriani to score against Italy.

Minus that I think he should be dropped and it looks like Jack Norwell will be filling his place, but personally I think it should be Christian Wade because his pace will scare teams. The second doubt is how badly Mike Brown’s head injury is because despite looking fine sitting on the bench and walking around after the Italy game the medical staff and Stuart Lancaster could play it safe and just have Alex Goode playing fullback with Brown on the bench. 

Speaking of the Italians, last week they exploited some poor defending when they came to Twickenham we saw Sergio Parisse showcase why he’s one of the best number eights in the world (behind All Blacks' Kieran Read and the Springboks’ Duane Vermeulen) and differently the best number eight in the Six Nations.

Even though the Azzurri have conceded 73 points (26 v Ireland and 47 v England) it looks worse than it seems because they’ve looked impressive this season and I can see them getting a win, maybe at home against France as they look to have a new star in Luca Morisi who opened the England defence. 

The only thing they need to build from  is having a good fly half because Kelly Haimona missed 10 points which is not good so maybe give young Tommaso Allan the 10 jersey and give him a chance to build in the role.

Next up for the Italians is Scotland who could have easily been 2 – 0 rather than 0 – 2 losing by seven points v France and three points v Wales and since Vern Cotter has taken charge they’ve completely changed and could beat anyone on their day and it’s a huge difference from a year ago when people were talking about kicking them out of the tournament.

However, thanks to the Pro12 sides Glasgow Warriors who are top and Edinburgh have also done well, beating Muster on the opening day, winning against rivals Glasgow and defeated Ospreys last weekend. The Scots could have a big say who will win the Six Nations this year as they have to travel to England (14th March) and host Ireland at Murrayfield on the final weekend. I can see this nation getting back up the table and will be defiantly challenging for the top three next year.

Unfortunately Scotland will be without forwards Richie Gray and Gordon Reid for the rest of the tournament with Gray damaging an arm tendon during the 26 – 23 defeat to Wales and will be joined by Warriors’ Reid as the 27 year old tore his medial knee ligament in the same game and they’ve both been replaced by Reid’s Warriors teammate second row Tim Swinson.

Now, after losing their first game against England, Wales made sure they made amends in the hard fought victory against Scotland, but it seems they’re still finding their way into the tournament and they have a great opportunity against France in a fortnight’s time. I’m hoping to see a much improved performance from two players in particular and they are Alex Cuthbert and George North.

Both wingers seem to be struggling to find form for their country when a player like North is scoring tries in the Premiership while Cuthbert was the hero of their 30 – 3 victory against England two years ago, but since then neither haven’t performed and they’re both under treat of losing their place to Liam Williams.

However, Wales can make some improvements away to France as Philippe Saint – Andre side are in the same boat as Warren Gatland’s men as they too are won one and lost one.

Overall, I’ve been unimpressed by this French side because despite so many decent players, they don’t look like they play as a team which is frustrating as they could be fighting for the grand slam but I get the feeling they’ll be competing for the wooden spoon instead. 

France need their top players to perform and maybe promote Uini Atonio and Benjamin Kayser from the bench to starting 15. As they dominated the scrum when they came on against Ireland but it’s hard to say which French side will be playing and if they lose, then they have a very tricky away game against Italy, but if they play like they did in the final 10 minutes last weekend then they’ll give Wales a good battle.

Ireland, meanwhile, will be pleased to have Jonny Sexton back, but the knock to Jamie Heaslip will be a disappointment to Joe Schmidt as Heaslip is a leader on the pitch. However, after winning against Italy and France, the home game against England will be a battle of which nation will win the grand slam and they know they’ll make England’s life hard as the Irish have the best defensive record in world rugby.

However, I think Ireland does have a weakness out wide because much like Cuthbert and North, Simon Zebo hasn’t been able you use his pace down the wing and I can see players like Anthony Watson, Joseph and Luther Burrell testing him. I still think Ireland will be incredibly hard to beat and will punish England if they get out of the blocks slowly and if it happens Ireland could be three tries up by 20 minutes.