Le Crunch tops the bill of three massive games for different reasons says Allan Schulz of Jackal Rugby
Rebel French flyhalf Matthieu Jalibert starts in Le Crunch on Saturday.
Round Two of the Six Nations offers up three massive games that will go a long way to determining the outcome of the Championship, with Gatland and Borthwick under huge pressure just one game in.
Wales are so poor that you cannot read too much into France’s thumping of the Dragons in Round One, whilst Italy’s fightback from 19-0 to get it to 19-19 against Scotland showed that Gonzalo Quesada has instilled some much needed confidence into the Azzurri. It was another glorious defeat for England, as they ran out of puff in the second half in Dublin, with Ireland’s bench taking advantage of the wilting intensity of the Poms after a determined first half.
Italy v Wales - Stadio Olimpico, Rome - Saturday 16:15
This is huge! The battle for the wooden spoon will be played early this season and I cannot see anything other than an Italian win. Italy were staring down the barrel of a demoralising defeat last week at 19-0 down, but roused themselves to draw level, helped by Scottish ill-discipline rather than dazzling attacking play. They would concede two quick tries to lose the game but the spirit shown was commendable. Quesada has made this side more pragmatic than the touch rugby Kieran Crowley espoused and they are better for it.
Wales were lucky to get nil last weekend in a listless and pathetic display against the favourites for this year’s title. It is incredible that just four years ago Wales won the Six Nations, and now they are the underdogs against Italy! Gatland has brought back Taulupe Faletau at 8 but he hasn’t played for the national side in over a year and his influence on the game is just not the same as it was. The Welsh backs are average and their attack has been a joke for a couple of years now, just moving the ball side-to-side before putting up an up and under and hoping for the best.
Italy will never have a better chance of beating Wales and I think Italy by 1-12 points is a pretty safe bet.
England v France - Allianz Stadium, Twickenham - Saturday 18:45
France stormed Twickenham two years ago in a brutal display of their power game, which dovetailed so well with their wide attacking threats to hand England their heaviest ever home defeat in a 53-10 thrashing that I still watch replays of.
Out of both 23s that featured on that wonderful day, only NINE are still involved for each side this weekend. Both teams are vastly stronger this weekend than they were then, with France continuing to soar, while England were just getting started under Borthwick in 2023.
Starting with England, the big news in their team selection is Marcus Smith moving to 15 to allow Fin Smith to start at 10 for the first time. Marcus is their biggest attacking threat (not that this is saying much) and Borthwick has shoehorned him in as a nod to his side having to surely play with less restriction if they are to even have a chance against this massive French side. France prefer to kick long from the base and not put up contestables - this should give Marcus more time on the ball from the back. Fin Smith has a good, varied kicking game and I expect him to put in a few dinks over the 14-man French defensive wall for pacey Ollie Sleightholme to run onto as they do for Northampton Saints. In the English pack, Ben Curry drops to the bench, with a positional shift allowing Tom Willis to start at 8, a more dominant ball carrier than the three opensides they had last weekend against Ireland.
France are without Romain Ntamack for two games following his red card last week against Wales and that means that Jalibert will grace us with his presence from the start (he doesn’t sit on the bench) and I am hoping he will carry his excellent club form for Bordeaux into this clash. He will be helped by the return of clubmate Damian Penaud, their link up play is thrilling to watch and I would put big money on Penaud crossing the whitewash this weekend.
If one looks at the benches, France also have a clear advantage here, with six dynamic forwards eager to increase the intensity and gainline dominance that the starting pack are sure to enjoy. I really like the look of Mickael Guillard. England have named Jamie George on the bench, a bizarre call as he is one of the clearest ‘starters’ in the world game. Chandler Cunningham-South will need to be way better this weekend and Harry Randall and Nolann le Garrec should not even be mentioned in the same sentence. Finally, Player #23 pits utility backs on the opposite ends of the age spectrum against each other, with the average Elliot Daly up against exciting Emilien Gailleton.
Whilst I don’t think it will be 50 like last time at the same venue, I expect France to be comfortable winners, their pack laying the foundations for an exciting backline to strut their stuff. France’s bench will finish the job and Les Bleus should easily cover the handicap and Penaud is sure to add to his try tally of 15 so far this season.
Scotland v Ireland - Murrayfield, Edinburgh - Sunday 17:00
Ireland have made two changes to their starting side, with gardening enthusiast Peter O’Mahony starting in the 6 shirt, with Ryan Baird dropping to the bench. Robbie Henshaw comes in at inside centre as Garry Ringrose suffers the same fate as Baird. Ireland go into this as favourites but they will need to be better than just playing for 45 minutes like they did last week against England. Sheehan and Conan are on the bench again and they add proper impetus in the final quarter. Prendergast only got bounced once last week - but it was a big one from Ollie Lawrence. He retains the 10 shirt, but Jack Crowley was excellent when he came on and it will be interesting to see a different threat in the 10 channel this week with Finn Russell pulling the strings for Scotland.
Gregor Townsend has made three changes to his Scottish side. Tom Jordan makes his first start, the brilliant Kiwi who has qualified on residency grounds is usually a 10 but he takes the place of Stafford McDowall at 12 in Tuipulotu’s absence. Rory Sutherland, a British Lion, comes in for Pierre Schoeman on the loosehead, while Jack Dempsey starts at eight, with Matt Fagerson moving to blindside to accommodate the Australian. McDowall , Jamie Ritchie and Schoeman drop to the bench. Also among the reserves is Jamie Dobie who is preferred to George Horne, a bold choice. If Scotland can get close to parity up front then they will have a real chance with their dangerous backline.
There are a number of Lions spots up for grabs in this game and it should be a real Celtic classic to end the weekend, but Ireland should have too much power in the first 60, and their impact off the bench should be enough to see them make it 2 from 2 to start their defence of the title.
