With simply two video games to go, the Six Nations seems very a lot as you’d anticipate: Pre-tournament favourites Eire stay unbeaten, France and England are snapping at their heals, Italy and an injury-hit Scotland look to complete on a excessive, and Wales are nonetheless hoping to finish an undesirable dropping streak.
This weekend’s penultimate spherical of video games will reply heaps extra questions, notably with a mouthwatering contest in Dublin between Eire and France.
Forward of that, although, ESPN writers Tom Hamilton and James Regan weigh in on the match up to now and grade either side.
Soar to:
England | Eire | Wales
Scotland | France | Italy
England
Hamilton: After a collection of slender defeats in autumn, England have discovered a technique to swing the stability of tight matches again of their favour. They have been comprehensively outplayed within the second half of their opener towards Eire, and issues have been wanting ominous. However then got here their 26-25 win over France due to Fin Smith’s administration and Elliot Daly’s late attempt — keep in mind how profligate France have been — and the nail-biting victory over Scotland, to take again the Calcutta Cup for the primary time in 5 years.
There are caveats to each victories, however England will not care a jot: They’re discovering a technique to win. Tom Curry has been utterly magnificent within the back-row whereas they’ve additionally ushered within the begin of the Fin Smith period at No.10. There have been different spectacular performers like tight-head Will Stuart, captain Maro Itoje and Tommy Freeman. They’ve additionally had just a few key gamers absent, however Steve Borthwick’s England have, crucially, discovered a technique to win. They might but take an unlikely title if outcomes go their method.
Regan: A very powerful factor for England this 12 months has been to get wins by any means vital. Have they been at their finest? No. However the frustrations of dropping so many shut video games final 12 months have been eased with victories over France and Scotland. Had these outcomes been totally different — they usually simply may have been — and the narrative round England could be very totally different.
The problem now’s to trip that momentum and enhance. They nonetheless want to indicate extra in assault. England have so many proficient gamers who can break a recreation open and the subsequent step for this aspect is seeing them take management of the sport and put factors on the opposition. The crew is basically settled, with Fin Smith wanting more likely to take over at No. 10 for the foreseeable future, so Steve Borthwick will wish to see his gamers look extra comfy and managed on either side of the ball within the final two video games.
Hamilton: B-
Regan: C
Eire
Hamilton: Three from three and historical past awaits for Simon Easterby’s crew. Easterby has been the interim coach whereas Andy Farrell’s on British & Irish Lions obligation, however the crew have barely missed a beat. They opened with a complete victory over England, floor out a win in Edinburgh after which received in Cardiff with a much-changed aspect. Scrum-half Jamison Gibson-Park has been the excellent No.9 on this 12 months’s match, whereas they’ve additionally managed to climate the absence of captain Caelan Doris, Tadhg Furlong and Ronan Kelleher for a few of their matches. Bundee Aki has once more been magnificent, as has James Lowe, however that is the match the place Sam Prendergast introduced himself because the long-term successor to Johnny Sexton at fly-half.
Up subsequent is France, and that’s the place their total championship hinges. In the event that they beat Les Bleus, then it’s off to Rome to finish their Grand Slam. In the event that they find yourself with the title, then after all it is an A+ match. Obtain that, they usually would be the first aspect within the males’s match to win three Six Nations titles on the bounce.
Regan: There have been just a few questions round Eire heading into the match and each single one has been answered emphatically. Sure, they regarded beneath their finest in November, however to a person, each participant has stepped up these previous weeks.
Sam Prendergast seems settled at fly-half, and if you happen to have been to pick a British & Irish Lions pack with eight Irish gamers, it would not even be outrageous at this stage. With Simon Easterby taking up on an interim foundation, you get the sensation their senior gamers have actually stepped up off the pitch as properly. The veteran trio of Peter O’Mahony, Cian Healy and Conor Murray will say goodbye to Eire after the match. A Grand Slam could be the icing on the cake of three stellar careers.
Hamilton: A-
Regan: A
Scotland
Hamilton: However for the width of a Twickenham submit, they might be two wins from three heading into the ultimate two rounds, however luck has been towards Scotland on this match. They began off by grinding out a complete win over Italy of their opening match with Darcy Graham wanting elegant. Then got here a weak, insipid efficiency towards Eire in Spherical 2. Extra lately, towards England, they misplaced by a degree however missed three kicks at objective. They’ve been hamstrung by accidents, together with the absence of captain Sione Tuipolutu, whereas they misplaced each Graham and Finn Russell towards Eire within the first half.
This was meant to be the championship the place Scotland confirmed forged iron progress. As an alternative, it has been an inconsistent Six Nations, and you are feeling they’re caught in a Sisyphean loop of flirting with progress however not fairly attaining it.
Gregor Townsend badly must beat Wales of their subsequent match, and to trigger France some bother of their closing video games of the championship.
Regan: This will likely be remembered as a match the place Scotland will really feel exhausting executed by. Accidents created a sense of instability earlier than a ball was even kicked. They need to have been higher towards Eire, however take Russell out of any crew and there will likely be points. Regardless, the clock is ticking for Scotland’s “golden technology.”
Because of elements past his management, it would not really feel like there’s strain on Townsend, however he will likely be cautious of the wheels falling off of their final two video games. Scotland want a convincing win over Wales and to scrap towards France to have one thing to cling to going into subsequent 12 months.
Hamilton: C-
Regan: D+
France
Hamilton: France ought to actually be three from three. They began with the 43-0 victory over Wales, and dismantled Italy, operating in 11 tries for a report win, of their third match. However sandwiched between the 2 is that defeat to England, the place they dropped the ball at the least 4 occasions for walk-in tries.
Fabien Galthie learn the crew the riot act after the match and has been brutal together with his inner-squad self-discipline, as he dropped Damian Penaud forward of that hammering in Rome. They’ve made some collective and particular person foolish errors — for the latter, learn that as Romain Ntamack’s pink towards Wales — however a win in Dublin in Spherical 4, they usually have the factors distinction behind them to take the title with a victory in Paris on the ultimate day.
There have been some excellent performances of their back-row, after all from Antoine Dupont, and moments of breathtaking rugby, so it’s miles from doom and gloom. It’s properly poised for them, however that defeat in Twickenham has taken a complete load of gloss off their match up to now.
Regan: In some methods, France have been a pleasure to look at. In others, you are left tearing your hair out (see Spherical 2 towards England.) They will completely beat Eire in Dublin — and Antoine Dupont and co. will likely be praying they do each to banish the ache of the Twickenham defeat and to place themselves within the field seat to win the match.
This squad deserves greater than the one title they claimed in 2022, but when they end empty-handed this 12 months, they are going to be left with a brutal reminder of why the Six Nations is so powerful. You may’t have an off day. The wins over Wales and Italy have been as routine as they need to have been, however victory over Eire is a should for a squad with this a lot expertise. Till then, it is exhausting to evaluate precisely the place France are at.
Hamilton: B-
Regan: B
Wales
Hamilton: First up, the naked info: Wales are with no win in 15 matches. They misplaced in Paris and Rome, and their head coach Warren Gatland resigned. These opening two performances have been fairly insipid and you would see one thing wanted to vary. So it was below interim Matt Sherratt the place they pushed Eire shut, however ultimately misplaced out 27-18 in Cardiff in spherical three. There are little shoots of optimism for round this group, particularly the efficiency of Ellis Mee towards Eire, however they’re but to win and appear destined for the picket spoon.
Given the upheaval, no matter occurs in the remainder of this championship is a bonus for Wales. They should look to the long run, develop Check mainstays for 12 months to return, whereas discovering a technique to get out of this gap. It is an unenviable activity. Sherratt may but be the fitting man to take them ahead and he is already impressed, however Wales must take their time to plot out the post-Gatland period and guarantee that is their lowest level.
Regan: It feels merciless to kick a crew once they’re down, particularly when the issues with Welsh rugby go a lot deeper than the boys’s first crew. You may’t fault the gamers’ efforts, and it was unhappy to see a legend like Gatland go the best way he did. The one hope is issues cannot get any worse.
They have been poor towards Italy, regardless of scoring two tries to at least one, however confirmed indicators of life towards Eire. The reality is that this aspect simply would not know the way to win Check matches. They’ve some good, younger gamers who simply aren’t as much as Six Nations normal fairly but. It should come ultimately, however Wales are up to now off the tempo on the minute it is exhausting to see the place the subsequent win is coming from.
Hamilton: E
Regan: F
Italy
Hamilton: That is the twenty fifth 12 months anniversary of Italy becoming a member of the Six Nations they usually promised a lot. However although we have seen glimpses of the Italy we hope they will develop into, they’re nonetheless a irritating bunch. They have been good for one half towards Scotland, ought to’ve crushed Wales by way more, and have been totally dismal towards France. We’ve got had the reaffirmation their centre partnership is likely one of the finest in world rugby, however they’re nonetheless somewhat method away from consistently difficult the highest groups within the match.
What they want subsequent is consistency. They’ve England at Twickenham and Eire in Rome to return, and you’ll see them dropping each, which might lead to an underwhelming match. You may see they’ve the elements there to trigger bother, however they only must deliver them collectively and discover some rhythm.
Regan: A dismal first half towards Scotland and an underwhelming attacking efficiency towards Wales — albeit in terrible circumstances — have made Italy look underwhelming after the highs of final 12 months. Bear in mind the best way they have been crushed at house to France and there are extra questions than solutions for Gonzalo Quesada’s aspect.
They may see the conflict towards England at Twickenham as an opportunity to go toe-to-toe and make life tough for an enormous aspect. Nevertheless, failure to take action will depart a bitter style within the Azzurri’s mouth, with Eire to return within the finale week too.
Hamilton: C
Regan: D
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