Wales line-up at Twickenham

WALES
15 Lee Byrne (Ospreys)
14 Shane Williams (Ospreys)
13 Sonny Parker (Ospreys)
12 Gavin Henson (Ospreys)

11 Mark Jones (Scarlets)
10 James Hook (Ospreys)
9 Mike Phillips (Ospreys)
1 Duncan Jones (Ospreys)
2 Huw Bennett (Ospreys)
3 Adam Jones (Ospreys)
4 Ian Gough (Ospreys)
5 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
6 Jonathan Thomas (Ospreys)
7 Martyn Williams (Blues)
8 Ryan Jones (capt, Ospreys)

Replacements: Matthew Rees (Scarlets), Gethin Jenkins (Blues), Ian Evans (Ospreys), Alix Popham (Scarlets), Gareth Cooper (Gloucester), Stephen Jones (Scarlets), Tom Shanklin (Blues).

England line-up v Wales

ENGLAND
15 Balshaw
14 Sackey
13 Tindall
12 Flood
11 Strettle
10 Wilkinson
9 Gomarsall
1 Sheridan
2 Regan
3 Vickery
4 Shaw
5 Borthwick
6 Haskell
7 Moody
8 Narraway

Replacements: Mears, Stevens, Kay, Rees, Wigglesworth, Cipriani, Vainikolo.

Italy line-up at Croke Park

ITALY
15 Bortolussi (Montpellier)
14 Robertson (Viadana)
13 Canale (Clermont Auvergne)
12 Mi Bergamasco (Stade Fr)
11 Canavosio (Castres)
10 Masi (Biarritz)
9 Travagli (Overmach Parma)
1 Lo Cicero (Racing Metro)
2 Ghiraldini (Calvisano)
3 Castrogiovanni (Leicester)
4 Dellape (Biarritz)
5 Del Fava (Ulster)
6 Sole (Viadana)
7 Ma Bergamasco (Stade Fr)
8 Parisse (Stade Fr, capt)

Replacements: Festuccia (Racing Metro), Perugini (Toulouse), Nieto (Gloucester), Reato (Rovigo), Zanni (Calvisano), Marcato (Treviso), Galon (Overmach Parma).

Ireland line-up v Italy

IRELAND
15 G Dempsey (Leinster)
14 A Trimble (Ulster)
13 B O’Driscoll (Leinster, captain)
12 G D’Arcy (Leinster)
11 G Murphy (Leicester)
10 R O’Gara (Munster)
9 E Reddan (Wasps)
1 M Horan (Munster)
2 R Best (Ulster)
3 J Hayes (Munster)
4 D O’Callaghan (Munster)
5 M O’Kelly (Leinster)
6 S Easterby (Llanelli)
7 D Wallace (Munster)
8 D Leamy (Munster)

Replacements: B Jackman (Leinster), T Buckley (Munster), M O’Driscoll (Munster), J Heaslip (Leinster), P Stringer (Munster), P Wallace (Ulster), R Kearney (Leinster).

Six Nations Predictions

Here's my predictions for the 2008 Six Nations Championship. I'm guessing they'll provoke a bit of a reaction from some. Just for comparison, here's what the BBC pundits have to say - and it's nothing like mine. Enjoy, and let the battle commence!

France

With a new coach and a raft of retirements, France go into this championship as a bit of an unknown quantity. With six uncapped players, no fewer than ELEVEN of the French World Cup squad have been dropped, including Sebastien Chabal, Jerome Thion, Clement Poitrenaud, Imanol Harinordoquy, Pierre Mignoni, David Marty, Lionel Beauxis, Yannick Nyanga and Remy Martin. The experience of Raphael Ibanez, Fabien Pelous, Christophe Dominici and Serge Betsen is lost through their retirements and lock Lionel Nallet will captain the side.

Starting away from home against Scotland will provide a tough test for this new side, but if they come through that unscathed home games against Ireland, England and Italy follow. Finishing in the Millennium against Wales to win a third successive Six Nations title is a real possibility, and while the side lacks experience and looks to rebound from three defeats at the World Cup – the worst ever showing by a host nation – a Grand Slam looks a real possibility given their schedule.
Predicted finish: 1st

Scotland

Scotland were the toughest side to predict going into this championship, and I genuinely believe they have the potential to do anything this year – from winning a Grand Slam to a second consecutive wooden spoon. What is clear though, is that this is the best Scottish squad assembled since the expansion of the championship in 2000. With only four new caps and less injuries than in previous seasons, coupled with the experience of a World Cup quarter-final Scotland go into the championship with a lot of confidence, the best place kicker in the world, a pack which held its own against the mighty Pumas and (finally) a bit of flair in the backs with the inclusion of Nick De Luca and Rory Lamont, there is a lot of potential in this side.

What is also clear is that the schedule favours Scotland too. Playing France at home in their opening fixture before the French find a rhythm is a bonus, although I think France will still edge that contest. A trip to Cardiff follows, where Scott Murray’s red card dented their hopes two years ago. Croke Park is the venue in Dublin for their third match, which may prove useful in lifting the Landsdowne jinx before a Calcutta Cup clash at Murrayfield. I fancy them for that, and a win in Rome would be enough to secure Scotland’s highest finish since winning the final Five Nations Championship in 1999.
Predicted Finish – 2nd

England

Despite an adventure which took them from a 36-0 mauling by South Africa to a World Cup Final defeat by the same side, England are not the force they were prior to their 2003 RWC win. Stalwarts like Dallaglio, Catt, Corry and Robinson have retired, the experiment with Andy Farrell seems to have failed and full-back/ wing Josh Lewsey has been left out altogether. In their place, Ashton has picked a squad on form, and there are real questions as to whether this is a side which can challenge for the title. In come Tongan Lesley Vainikolo, Tom Croft and Danny Cipriani, with Dave Strettle returning from injury to regain his place in the squad.

While I don’t see any problem for them at home to Wales or away to Italy, trips to Paris and even Edinburgh might pose problematic, and finishing at home against Ireland will probably decide whether England’s campaign is deemed a success or failure. I think they’ll come through that final challenge, but will end up in mid-table – by my qualification, a successful campaign on the back of a relatively new squad. But how will the media see that?
Predicted finish: 3rd

Ireland

With France and England opting for fresh blood, Ireland retain a lot of experience in their Six Nations squad. Tony Buckley, Jamie Heaslip, Bernard Jackman, Mick O'Driscoll and Robert Kearney are the new faces in a squad which includes 15 of the squad that faced Argentina in Ireland’s final World Cup match. With coach Eddie O’Sullivan under enormous pressure to get the side to perform, expect the side to come under increased media scrutiny.

With Ireland’s “Golden Generation” slowly passing its peak after a disappointing World Cup and their failure to win the Six Nations Championship despite three Triple Crowns in the past 4 years, Eddie O’Sullivan’s job is on the line and a disappointing tournament this time around will almost certainly spell the end of his tenure as coach. Starting out at home to Italy should be an opportunity to get a win on the board, followed by a tough trip to Paris. Scotland come to Croke Park next and may spring an upset after a close contest at Murrayfield last year. Wales at home will give an indication of the hunger of the side, before a trip to Twickenham might be a match too far. With only two wins, it looks like another unsuccessful tournament for the Irish.
Predicted finish – 4th

Wales

With a new coach and the disappointment of their World Cup exit to Fiji almost behind them, Wales approach the Six Nations Championship with more confidence than they may merit. With Martyn Williams returning from retirement to feature under Warren Gatland and the Welsh regions doing well in Europe, there is a mood of optimism in the Welsh camp. However, the question marks over key positions – Peel or Philips at scrum-half, Jones or Hook at fly-half, Henson, Parker or Shanklin at centre – remain unanswered. Competition for places is one thing, but when you don’t know your best side it makes consistency in tactics a tough ask.

The schedule is not kind to the Welsh either. A trip to Twickenham – where they have not won in 20 years is a tough opener which is followed by the visit of Scotland and Italy to Cardiff. Ireland are next at Croke Park, and while last year’s match was a tight affair, with home advantage the Irish should grind out a win. Wales close against France in a match which should see the World Cup hosts clinch their third successive championship.
Predicted Finish – 5th

Italy

While Italy improved no end in the 2007 championship, Italy’s early World Cup exit may have dented their confidence and set them back a wee bit. The retirement of scrum-half Alessandro Troncon – the star of last year’s victories over Scotland and Wales - who retired after the World Cup , and the absence of Roland de Marigny, Paul Griffen and Marko Stanojevic make a repeat of last year unlikely.

Led by Stade Number 8 Sergio Parisse and with the star Bergamasco brothers in the line up, they will be a dangerous opponent but one which most sides should overcome. A tough assignment in Dublin is followed by England’s visit to Rome. Italy’s best chance of a win should come at the Millennium in week three, but I think the Welsh will have too much for them. Expect France to trounce them in Paris before Scotland complete the whitewash with their visit to Rome. Without the experience of the past, the Italians will take a step backwards in this championship.
Predicted finish – 6th

2008 RBS Six Nations Championship - Fixtures

With February just around the corner & the Six Nations set to begin, I thought I'd start by including the fixture list for the championship, followed by (hopefully) a round-up of how I think the sides will perform.

2008 Six Nations Fixtures

WEEK 1
Saturday, 2 February 2008
Ireland v Italy, 14:00
England v Wales, 16:30
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Scotland v France, 15:00

WEEK 2
Saturday, 9 February 2008
Wales v Scotland, 14:00
France v Ireland, 16:00
Sunday, 10 February 2008
Italy v England, 14:30

WEEK 3
Saturday, 23 February 2008
Wales v Italy, 15:00
Ireland v Scotland, 17:00
France v England, 20:00

WEEK 4
Saturday, 8 March 2008
Ireland v Wales, 13:15
Scotland v England, 15:15
Sunday, 9 March 2008
France v Italy, 15:00

WEEK 5
Saturday, 15 March 2008
Italy v Scotland, 13:00
England v Ireland, 15:00
Wales v France, 17:00