Dubai: Six Nations headlines should be centred around Ireland’s crack at a record third consecutive title ahead of February 6 to March 19’s tournament.
But following England’s woeful performance in September’s World Cup where the hosts failed to get out of the group for the first time, the focus is on whether the Red Roses can now redeem themselves under new coach Eddie Jones.
The no-nonsense Australian, who replaced Stuart Lancaster in November, led Japan to a shock 34-32 victory over South Africa at last year’s World Cup. Now all eyes are on the 56-year-old to see if he can perform similar miracles with England.
They start their campaign away to Scotland on Saturday, against a side that despite finishing rock bottom without a win at last year’s Six Nations, went onto impress at the World Cup, narrowly missing out on reaching the semi-finals for the first time after losing 35-34 to Australia following a controversial late penalty call.
“We have selected a squad of players who we think can go to Murrayfield and win,” said Jones of England. “This is our number one priority, to start with a win, so we have picked a squad which is a mix of experience and potential.
“The long-term strategy for England is to develop a side who can be the most dominant team in world rugby, so we have chosen a lot of new players on the growth we see in them.
“Since 2003, England are ranked fourth in the Six Nations and that’s not reflective of the talent in the country so we have to change history.”
Scotland wing Sean Lamont says Vern Cotter’s side are also looking for redemption in the Six Nations, using their recent resurgence at the World Cup as a springboard.
“If we don’t improve on last year’s Six Nations then the World Cup means nothing,” he said. “We know we’re capable of doing well - now we just have to realise it.
“Last year’s whitewash [in the Six Nations] was one of the most soul destroying moments of my career. These things stay with you. They [really] hurt.
“If we suffer something similar this year it will mean we haven’t moved forward at all in the last year and that will be hard to take.
“I want us to perform the way I know we can play. Unfortunately in the past, we’ve always fallen short. A grand slam would be a dream come true - even a win. But to be honest a [really] good performance would be good enough for me.”
Ireland should, in theory, be the ones to watch following their past two consecutive Six Nations wins, but injuries and retirements off the back of a tiring World Cup, where they ambled out to Argentina 43-20 in the quarter-finals, has worn them thin.
“To be as candid as I can, I think a top-half finish would be a good Six Nations for us,” said Ireland coach Joe Schmidt.
“We start with Wales and France in a six-day turnaround and then go to England. That could put us in a very tough position before we’ve even got our feet fully rounded in going forward.
“If we could be in the top half that means we’d have to be in front of three pretty good teams.
“I think being realistic, our dream would be to do what no team has done before [win three times in a row], and we’re not going to give up the dream but we’re also reasonably pragmatic and practical in what we try to deliver.
“And I think it would be unfair on the players if I said the only way to be successful is to win the championship.”
Ireland are at home to Wales first up, who bravely overcame an injury crisis to get out of their World Cup group before losing to South Africa 23-19 in the quarter-finals. Out of every side, they have arguably weathered the last few months better than most and fly in under the radar.
“In the past, we have come in and felt that we maybe had to do a bit more conditioning than we would have liked,” said Wales coach Warren Gatland. “Having had the last four or five months of preparation before the World Cup, potentially, we are set up nicely going into this Six Nations. Hopefully, we can pick things up a little bit more quickly than we normally do,” he added of his traditionally slow-starting side.
Like England, France also underfired at the World Cup and were knocked out by champions New Zealand 62-13 in the quarter-finals. But under new coach Guy Noves, they will also be looking to restore pride, starting with their home tie with Italy.
“We’re trying to mobilise the players for this match and we’ll try to meet the expectations of those who picked us,” said Noves. “In the short term, what I’d like to see [from the players] is an attitude. It’s about giving your best from the first to the last minute, almost without worrying about the result, the points scored and conceded.
“It’s about taking to the pitch with one single desire, to push your own machine to its extremes for 80 minutes. It’s about showing the French public they can be proud of their team.”
Italy, traditional also-rans in this competition, who also failed to get out of their group at the World Cup, will once again be hoping to show they are not just here to make up the numbers. However, with usual fellow cannon fodder Scotland on the up, this could be a difficult competitionfor them.
“Obviously for us as an Italian team, it is really, really tough, this tournament,” said captain Sergio Parisse. “But it is going to be a good opportunity for the young players to show their talent and show they can play for the Italian team.”
