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Five Guinness Six Nations storylines you must follow this weekend

January 20, 2023 by Eli David Leave a Comment

All six Guinness Six Nations squads have now been picked with the Championship just two weeks away, but first the European club rugby group stages must be decided.

There are Guinness Six Nations stars wherever you look hoping to impress their respective coaches and earn their spot ahead of the Championship’s opening round starting on February 4.

Here, we talk through five Guinness Six Nations stories to look out for this weekend as the European knockout stage becomes clear.

1. Which Smith can lay down a marker for Borthwick?

With Owen Farrell named as captain and his recent form in the No.10 jersey, there is a good chance he will start at fly-half, but one feature of Steve Borthwick’s Leicester Tigers side was the importance of a quality alternative to change the game.

For Tigers it was Freddie Burns, now for England it is a battle of the Smiths.

Harlequins’ Marcus Smith will be the favourite for the role with 17 caps to his name already and with the ability to create something out of nothing, but the form of Northampton Saints’ new fly-half Fin Smith cannot be overlooked.

This weekend will give us a great look at both young fly-halves in extremely difficult matches in their final pool matches of the Heineken Champions Cup.

Harlequins go up against a Cell C Sharks team full of South African internationals, while Fin Smith’s Saints face reigning champions La Rochelle.

Whoever delivers this weekend could put themselves in the perfect position to make Borthwick’s first England 23 against Scotland.

2. Can Russell help Racing past Leinster?

Finn Russell is always a man to keep an eye on, and last week he played a key role in Racing 92’s 30-29 victory over Harlequins.

This week, he has an altogether tougher challenge – facing Leinster in Dublin.

The Parisian side likely need a win to reach the last 16 and Scotland fly-half Russell will be hoping to produce his best form to impress Gregor Townsend.

He will have support either side of him from two players looking to put their hands up for Fabien Galthié – uncapped scrum-half Nolann Le Garrec and centre Gaël Fickou.

The task for Racing will be far from easy – Leinster are almost at full strength even when missing Johnny Sexton and Tadhg Furlong who are nursing themselves back to full fitness, with 14 of their starting 15 included in Andy Farrell’s squad for the upcoming Championship and only Jamie Osborne yet to win a cap.

3. Reffell and Tipuric clash in final audition

Wales have a wealth of back row options, highlighted by the likely fact that one of Tigers’ Tommy Reffell and Ospreys’ Justin Tipuric will not make the starting line-up.

Reffell has been in exceptional form for Tigers in the past 18 months and broke through excellently in the summer against South Africa, while Tipuric has plenty of credit in the bank under Warren Gatland with 89 caps and was captain during the Autumn Nations Series.

What better game to decide who starts at openside than a decisive group encounter packed with internationals on both sides.

Tigers have as many as six England players involved, including newly recalled Dan Cole, while Ospreys have nine Wales stars starting and a welcome sight of George North on the bench.

4. Toulouse look to earn home tie

Five-time winners Toulouse are understandably one of the favourites to earn a sixth star on their jerseys this year and have already booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions Cup.

Led on by their talismanic half-back pairing of Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack, Toulouse host fellow European giants Munster in a critical battle at the Stade Ernest Wallon.

Fellow France squad members Cyril Baille, Julien Marchand, Anthony Jelonch and Melvyn Jaminet are also starting, while there is also a place at openside flanker for Jack Willis, who is eyeing up a slot in England’s back row in the absence of Tom Curry.

The return of François Cros and Thibaud Flament on the bench, not to mention Ange Capuozzo, will have pleased Galthié and Kieran Crowley.

5. Benetton and Stade Français clash in Challenge Cup

Benetton sealed their place in the last 16 of the Challenge Cup with victory over Bayonne last week, but now face an altogether different test against a high-flying Stade Français team.

Crowley will be keeping a watchful eye over his former side with a whole host of key Italy stars playing, including captain Michele Lamaro starting at No.8 and second row duo Niccolò Cannone and Federico Ruzza.

The key battle involves Crowley’s centre pairing however, comprising of Tommaso Menoncello and Ignacio Brex.

They will have a job on their hands going up against the in-form Julien Delbouis, who has recently been called into the France squad, as they look to get the psychological edge over one and other before Italy and France clash on Sunday February 5.

Filed Under: NEWS

Guinness Six Nations: Top 10 coaches

January 20, 2023 by Eli David Leave a Comment

Over the past two decades, some of rugby’s greatest coaches have taken on the challenge of coaching a team during the Guinness Six Nations.

Some of the sport’s biggest names have made their names or cemented their legacies in the Championship, with a select few winning multiple titles as coach.

But who is the greatest Guinness Six Nations coach of them all?

Here are our picks for the ten of the greatest coaches in Guinness Six Nations history, in alphabetical order.

Fabien Galthié (France)

Galthié was a legendary player and captain for France during his career and has already made his mark since becoming coach in 2020.

In his first two Guinness Six Nations campaigns in 2020 and 2021, France finished second on both occasions – after having only finished fourth in 2019.

And in 2022 the nation returned to the top of the Championship for the first time in more than a decade, winning all five matches in a victorious campaign.

One of just two current Guinness Six Nations coaches on this list, Galthié has transformed Les Bleus in just three years in charge.

Warren Gatland (Ireland and Wales)

Gatland is undoubtedly one of the greatest rugby coaches in history, and some of his finest moments have come in the Guinness Six Nations.

After leading Ireland to a runner-up finish in 2001, Gatland took Wales to triumphs in 2008, 2012 and 2019, winning the Grand Slam on each occasion.

Those milestone moments, coupled with further runner-up placings with Wales in 2016 and 2018, have sealed his place in both Welsh rugby and Six Nations folklore.

And having returned as Wales head coach ahead of 2023, who knows where he could lead them next.

Eddie Jones (England)

After Rugby World Cup disappointment in 2015 England turned to Jones to lead them into a new era, and it proved to be an incredibly fruitful one.

In his first Championship campaign in 2016, England won the Grand Slam, and Jones led them to further Championship victories in 2017 and 2020.

Jones was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2017, while he also led England to second place in 2019 and the Rugby World Cup final later that year.

Add in a record-equalling 18 successive Test victories, and it is clear how big an impact the Australian had in seven years in charge.

Declan Kidney (Ireland)

There is a strong case to include Eddie O’Sullivan on this list, the Ireland boss might be the best coach not to have won the Six Nations. His successor ended the drought, Kidney leading Ireland to a first Grand Slam in 61 years.

The former Munster and Leinster head coach did that in his first year in charge, getting Ireland over the hump in 2009, with a win over France to open their campaign and a dramatic victory in Wales to close out the Slam.

While he never got back to those heights again, Kidney’s Ireland finished in the top half of the table in every year he was in charge bar his final campaign in 2013.

Bernard Laporte (France)

One of the greatest eras in France’s rugby journey came under the stewardship of Laporte in the mid-2000s.

Laporte oversaw two Grand Slam triumphs in 2002 and 2004, and two consecutive Championship triumphs in 2006 and 2007.

France also finished second in 2000 and 2005 during his spell in charge, while outside of the competition he also led them to consecutive Rugby World Cup semi-finals in 2003 and 2007.

Marc Lièvremont (France)

One of the more unusual characters in Championship history, former France flanker Lièvremont enjoyed a successful four-year stint in charge of Les Bleus.

Taking over from Laporte, he launched a new generation of French players including Morgan Parra, François Trinh-Duc and Louis Picamoles.

After successive third-place finishes, he led Les Bleus to the Grand Slam in 2010, having already achieved the feat as a player in 1998. Add in a runners-up finish the following year and a run to the World Cup final, beaten by hosts New Zealand by a single point, and you can argue that Lièvremont deserves greater recognition for his spell in charge.

Sir Ian McGeechan (Scotland)

McGeechan is one of the most revered rugby coaches in history and has led Scotland with distinction in two separate spells throughout his career.

His most recent period as Scotland coach came at the very beginning of the Guinness Six Nations in 2000, leading the country until 2003.

During that time he guided his country to a third-place finish in 2001, while he also helped Scotland seal a famous Calcutta Cup triumph in 2000.

Going back to his first stint in charge, McGeechan was also at the helm the last time Scotland won the Grand Slam, back in 1990.

Mike Ruddock (Wales)

Ruddock’s time as Wales head coach may have been short, but it was certainly sweet.

Wales had just finished fourth in the 2004 Championship when Ruddock took over, and he led them on a memorable run the following year.

The nation went on to win a first Grand Slam in 37 years in 2005 under his stewardship, and though he left the role the following year there is no doubt he made a hugely significant impact.

Joe Schmidt (Ireland)

Ireland were unstoppable at times in the 2010s and Schmidt was the man at the helm for some of their greatest triumphs.

The New Zealander guided them to consecutive Championship victories in 2014 and 2015 before a Grand Slam triumph in 2018, with Ireland also finishing second in 2017.

Schmidt was awarded World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2018 after Ireland’s Grand Slam success, and he was the first coach to lead Ireland to the top of the world rankings.

He left his role at the end of 2019 but is still fondly remembered at the Aviva Stadium.

Sir Clive Woodward (England)

Though Woodward may be best remembered for England’s Rugby World Cup triumph in 2003, he also made an indelible mark elsewhere.
Woodward coached England to Six Nations victories in 2000, 2001 and 2003, winning the Grand Slam on the latter occasion.

He also guided the team to a runner-up finish in 2002, as well as two second places in the Five Nations in 1998 and 1999, and a third-place finish in 2004.

Arguably England’s greatest ever coach, Woodward’s achievements stand the test of time.

Filed Under: NEWS

Wales stars shine and England contenders impress before squad selection

January 15, 2023 by Eli David Leave a Comment

The anticipation is growing ahead of the start of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations and the return of European rugby saw a host of players put their hands up for selection.

Returning Wales coach Warren Gatland will have been thrilled at how the regions fared, winning four from four across the Heineken Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup, while players old and new staked a claim to new England boss Steve Borthwick.

England and Wales, as well as Scotland, will all be naming their squads for the Championship next week, so for many this was the final chance to make an impression and they certainly did.

Tipuric serves timely reminder of all-round skill

Few people who have been watching international rugby for the past decade will have missed just how rounded a player Justin Tipuric can be, but for that small minority, Saturday evening’s clash in Swansea showed what he can do.

Against French champions Montpellier, Ospreys found themselves trailing, but a brilliant kick to the wing from Tipuric for Keelan Giles eventually ended with the flanker sprinting onto Giles’ kick back inside.

FAO: Warren Gatland
Tipuric at ?? Something to think about… ?

A deft kick to Keelan Giles on the wing before following the play and bullying the defender off the ball to score.

Leadership personified ?#HeinekenChampionsCup | @ospreys pic.twitter.com/GgaMtZ51Vm

— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) January 14, 2023

Tipuric captained Wales in November in the absence of Dan Biggar and the question now for Gatland will be whether to stick with the experienced flanker or to look elsewhere. Even with Wales’ vast back-row riches, this performance showed why Tipuric has been one of the first names on the teamsheet for so long.

He was far from the only standout for the Ospreys, who came away with a 35-29 success, with Alex Cuthbert scoring two tries and Adam Beard standing up well to the powerful Montpellier pack.

Gatland must have enjoyed the weekend as a whole, with Dragons, Scarlets and Cardiff also victorious in Challenge Cup action, Owen Lane, Josh Adams and Rhys Carré among the try-scorers for Cardiff in a convincing win over Newcastle.

Big decisions for Borthwick

The Steve Borthwick era will start to take shape on Monday when he names his first England squad, and one man who could not have done more to earn selection is Elliot Daly.

The Saracens man grabbed a hat-trick as his team made it three from three in Europe, beating Lyon 48-28.

His three tries came in seven first-half minutes, and after falling out of favour under Eddie Jones, this could be his chance to come back into the fold.

Daly has spent most of the season switching between full-back and centre, and in the midfield he might face some competition from the uncapped Dan Kelly. The Leicester Tigers centre has been pushing for selection for a while now, with some untimely injuries hurting his cause.

But he is fully fit now and played a big role in Tigers winning 44-29 away to Clermont to become the first team to book their place in the last 16.

A standout under Borthwick at club level previously, Kelly will be looking to do the same on the Test stage if given the opportunity.

The question of who will start at ten is another big one, with Marcus Smith impressing on his return to action. Having been sidelined with an ankle injury since England’s defeat to South Africa, Smith caught the eye for Harlequins in a heart-breaking 30-29 defeat away to Racing 92, making one stunning break to set up Cadan Murley for one of their four tries on the day.

Ireland depth on show

The Irish provinces came very close to imitating their Welsh counterparts with four wins from four, Ulster just denied by a last-minute try away to champions La Rochelle in torrential conditions.

Munster, Leinster and Connacht were all victorious though, with Gavin Coombes particularly impressive for the former as he grabbed two tries against Northampton Saints.

Reduced to 14 men in the first half, Munster were still able to come out on top to put themselves in a good position to reach the last 16.

Coombes will face plenty of competition in the Ireland back row however, with Caelan Doris and Josh van der Flier among those on the scoresheet for Leinster in a 49-14 win away to Gloucester, achieved without Tadhg Furlong and Johnny Sexton, both of whom should be fit for the start of the Championship.

Scots looking good in France

Edinburgh and Glasgow Warriors both came away from France with bonus-point successes, the former in Castres and the latter in Perpignan.

While he has often been used at fly-half by Scotland, Blair Kinghorn kicked 14 points from the wing for Edinburgh, and may be an option out wide with Darcy Graham and Duhan van der Merwe both currently out.

Richie Gray helped himself to a try for Glasgow as they romped past Perpignan, and elsewhere Matt Scott’s double for Leicester will have helped his cause in a bid for selection, while Finn Russell had some fine moments, as well as a couple of late mistakes, in Racing’s narrow win over Quins.

Azzurri front five on song

There are concerns about Italy’s options at fly-half at the moment with Paolo Garbisi injured and Tommaso Allan picking up a knock last weekend.

It is a different story up front though, with Niccolò Cannone helping himself to two tries as Benetton claimed a 26-7 win over Bayonne that clinched a place in the knockout stages.

While Zebre were beaten by Bristol Bears, there were also tries for two props plying their trade in England. Tighthead Marco Riccioni got over in Saracens’ big win over Lyon, while Danilo Fischetti got a late score for 13-man London Irish against the Stormers.

Willemse back on form as Dumortier pushes for debut

While Montpellier had to settle for two bonus points from their trip to Wales, one man who really impressed was Paul Willemse.

The lock crashed over twice in the first half, and his power will not have gone unnoticed by Fabien Galthié, after he missed France’s three wins in the Autumn Nations Series.

Another man who scored two tries was Ethan Dumortier, the Lyon flyer who shifted to full-back at Saracens.

Even as his team were overrun in the first half, Dumortier was able to shine. The Top 14’s top try-scorer went over late in the first half before adding a stunning solo second.

And with Damian Penaud and Gabin Villière both currently injured, albeit the former should be back in plenty of time for the Championship opener, it was a timely showing from Dumortier as he looks to earn a first cap. this article

Filed Under: NEWS

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Five Guinness Six Nations storylines you must follow this weekend

Guinness Six Nations: Top 10 coaches

Wales stars shine and England contenders impress before squad selection

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