The Men’s Six Nations returns this week with a mighty roar. The opening match, the first-ever Thursday-night opener, saw defending champions France dismantle an understrength and aging Ireland team in Paris.
The 36-14 win was every bit as impressive as it sounds, with the exception of about ten minutes in the second half. The French forwards overpowered the Irish and their backs, marshalled by the outstanding Antoine Dupont, proving way too much for the Irish to handle.
France has set the standard. Can any of the four teams playing on Saturday show something similar?
Italy VS Scotland
Saturday, 7 February – Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Scotland finished fourth in the Six Nations table last year and will aim to be in the top half of the log when the 2026 tournament is over. To reach third or better, they will almost certainly have to beat Italy in Rome, a fixture they lost last time they played there in 2024.
It is a Scottish team with some surprising omissions, especially in the backline. Jamie Dobie will make his first start in the Six Nations on one wing, with Kyle Steyn on the other flank. Darcy Graham is on the bench, while there is no room in the 23 for the out-of-form Duhan van der Merwe.
Another player missing that might have been expecting to start is fullback Blair Kinghorn, with the Lion replaced in the side by Tom Jordan.
The win in 2024 was Italy’s first over Scotland since 2015. The Scots lead the overall series with 29 wins to nine.
Scotland were not good in the autumn with major collapses against New Zealand and Argentina. Head coach Gregor Townsend is continually linked with a change, either moving to Newcastle in the English Premiership or being sacked if Scotland underperforms over the next six weeks.
Italy will rarely have a better chance to win back-to-back home games against the Scots. Gonzalo Quesada has his Italy side as a respectable Six Nations outfit. They beat Australia in November, with many thinking their blend of attacking intent and defensive organization positions them to compete with lower- to mid-tier Six Nations opponents.
Take Italy at home with the handicap win, and don’t be stunned if they find a way to win straight up.
England VS Wales
Saturday, 7 February – Twickenham Stadium, London
This one has the potential to get ugly. England is more than a four converted try favorite against Wales, and many expect that number to still be low.
Wales haven’t won a Six Nations match since 2023, and they have won just two of their last 23 Tests. One bright spot is the return to Six Nations action of the game-breaking Louis Rees-Zammit. Rees-Zammit will be making his first appearance in the comp in three years after a break from rugby ,where he tried his hand at the NFL.
Rees-Zammit will start at fullback, the position he has been playing at for the Bristol Bears this season. On the flip side, Wales’ best player and captain will be missing through injury. This Welsh side doesn;t have the resources to play without a forward of the calibre of Jac Morgan, but they will be forced into that predicament on Saturday.
England faces a fitness doubt over wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso after he left training early on Thursday. Options if he cannot go include switching Tommy Freeman from 13 to wing or using the versitile Elliot Daly on the outside.
George Ford retains his spot in the No. 10 shirt, with Ben Spencer and Marcus Smith the only backs on the bench in a 6/2 split.
England are the form side in this Six Nations and are the only team expected to compete with France. Steve Borthwick’s men have won 11 on the bounce, with wins over Australia and New Zealand as part of that run.
Wales have been called wounded in the build-up to this, but that overstates where Welsh rugby is right now. England by at least 30 points here.
