The opening weekend of the Six Nations failed to produce any big surprises – it was largely routine stuff for the six teams involved, perhaps with the exception of England’s convincing victory against Wales.
This Saturday and Sunday will see each of the six nations involved play their second match of the championships; but this time, there are three games which are set to have a key bearing on where the trophy ends up next month.
First up, a battle between two old foes as Wales and Scotland go head-to-head at the Millennium Stadium.
The Scots’ head coach Andy Robinson has helped fan the flames before the big kick-off by insisting that the match is played under a clear sky. The roof at Wales’ national stadium is retractable, but the former England boss feels that this would be handing an unfair advantage to Warren Gatland’s side as they’re used to playing under it.
Rules state that both sides must agree for the game to be played under cover in the event of adverse weather conditions, and Gatland is thought to be unhappy with Robinson’s reluctance.
Both sides will need to improve on their opening weekend performances. Wales were far too error prone against England, while Scotland rarely looked like troubling a far stronger France outfit. Chris Patterson will become the first player in Scotland history to amass 100 caps for the country, and the full-back will be crucial to the team’s hopes on Saturday afternoon.
Meanwhile, fly-half Dan Parks has been handed a recall to the starting line-up and is being heavily relied on to reproduce the Glasgow Warriors form which has served him so well this season. And as for Wales, hooker Gareth Williams retains his place, while Alun Wyn Jones has not been dropped after being sin-binned last weekend at Twickenham.
Based on their recent history at home against Scotland, Wales will go into this match as favourites; but they will need to be far more efficient and less-wasteful in possession to get off the mark in this year’s championship.
The second Six Nations match of the weekend has been billed as the clash of the tournament. It’s certainly a clash between two heavyweights of the sport, and a match which could decide whether the trophy heads to France, or back to Ireland.
The Irish have not beaten France in Paris for 10 years now, and they will need to produce a notably improved performance from last weekend to topple Marc Lievremont’s side on their home ground. With influential captain Brian O’Driscoll in the Ireland ranks, an away win is not beyond the realms of possibility; and head coach Declan Kidney has also put his trust in fellow veteran Ronan O’Gara at fly-half ahead of Jonathan Sexton, who has now recovered from injury.
Ireland have been handed a huge boost with the news that flanker Stephen Ferris will be fit to start at the Stade de France. He will be deployed to make a nuisance of himself, but will be praying for better luck on the injury front – he was eye-gouged twice last year by two Stade Français players. It may be advisable for him to steer clear of Mathieu Bastareaud, then.
Bastareaud was in exceptional form last weekend, as was captain Thierry Dusautoir. Stifling the attacking threat of these two highly-talented individuals will be crucial if Ireland are to win this match and keep their dream of back-to-back Grand Slams alive.
Kidney and the Ireland squad will be fully aware of the threat that France pose - particularly at home. It’s a decade now since the nation last went to Paris and won – before that they hadn’t beaten them since 1972. So when better to end that rut than this weekend?
The third and final match will take place on Sunday as England travel to Rome to take on Italy in a Valentine’s Day encounter.
There will be no love lost between the two sides, however, and England head coach Martin Johnson will be full of confidence that his squad can go to the Italian capital and end the weekend with another vital two points.
The likes of James Haskell and Danny Care were superb against Wales on the opening weekend of this year’s championships and both retain their places. Meanwhile, Johnson is also able to welcome back Riki Flutey, who was prolific in 2009’s tournament.
Things keep going from bad to worse for Italy, though. Beaten last weekend by Ireland – although, they managed to do themselves proud at times – and without their talismanic captain Sergio Parisse, head coach Nick Mallett will also be without lock Carlo Del Fava and scrum-half Simon Picon, after the duo both picked up injuries.
The Italians are yet to beat England in the Six Nations and the visitor’s record is unlikely to be troubled this weekend, but as Jonny Wilkinson said in a recent interview with Sport magazine: “There’s always the feeling that they’re on the verge of absolutely exploding as a side, and you just pray that you’re not the team it’s going to happen against.”
Can Italy really spring the shock of the tournament in the Eternal City this Sunday?
Or will it be a St Valentine’s Day massacre.
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