TEAM BY TEAM GUIDE TO THE 2014 SIX NATIONS
BY JOSHUA PEARCE
SCOTLAND
2013: 2013: 3rd place was the prize for Scotland in last year’s Six Nations. On reflection they flattered to deceive and can thank poor French & Irish form for their relatively lofty finish. In the summer, with a few players like Ryan Grant on Lions duty, Scotland were comfortably outplayed by Samoa and South Africa - you imagine the former being the most disappointing - before edging out Italy by a single point. In the autumn a defeat-to-nil by South Africa preceded a loss to Australia where they were outmuscled; a comfortable win over a ridiculously poor Japan side barely deserves much credit.
Scotland have two home games this time around, against England and France, and you get the sense that a shock at Murrayfield, where some visiting teams do struggle in adverse weather, isn't entirely out of the question. Similarly, there is a chance of Scotland reversing their slight underdog status in Rome on the 22nd February. But that's all it amounts to; hope and not expectation. Scotland will be "hoping" in all five of their games, chiefly because they are underdogs for all five and that,they have the weakest squad of all the teams on paper. Scotland's lack of heavy weaponry in the backs is the primary concern
Prediction 6th.
Key Player:
Kelly Brown. The captain of Scotland is a powerful and mobile flanker; a leader who is full of the right positive mental attributes. In other words, he is the exact kind of player that Scotland need if they have ambitions of claiming a scalp or two this year.
Six teams, Six weeks of action...plenty of reasons to watch. In just a couple of days time the 2014 Six Nations will get underway. This years could be the closest yet with 4 teams more than capable of winning it. Wales head into the tournament as favourites following two consecutive title wins and with the potential to create history should they win a 3rd. Snipping at their heels are a resurgent England, rejuvinated Ireland and a French determined to turn things around. Thrills and spills are bound to be a plenty....passion, hard hitting challenges & game changing tries all par for the course.
FRANCE
The 2013 Six Nations for the French team was one that they would rather forget. A humiliation in Rome during the opening weekend was further compounded by losses against Wales and England. A win against a poor Scotland side did nothing to cure the ignominy of finishing last in the table. Three clear defeats in the summer against New Zealand, whilst probably expected, did nothing to heighten the mood of Les Bleus either. Nor did a frustrating autumn campaign where they endured another defeat against the world champions and were edged out a couple of weeks later by the Springboks.
It is often said that France prosper in the Six Nations following a Lions tour. History does indeed show that to be true: France have triumphed in 2002, 2006 and 2010 in the Six Nations, all of which were during years following Lions tours. However, the rugby of today is not played on a historical field. France are currently struggling with injuries, and are encountering heavy weather form-wise. Home advantage against Ireland may just boost them up a place though.
PREDICTION = 3RD
Key Player:
Wesley Fofana. The very epitome of French flair. The man who scored a wonderful solo try at Twickenham last year, leading the English defenders on a merry dance. A lot of France's attacking expectation will fall on this 26-year-old.