England

Steve Borthwick served as the coach while Jamie George was the captain during the previous season. The team finished in fourth place.

For this year’s Six Nations tournament, there are many changes happening for all teams, but especially for England. Except for Italy, all teams have a new captain, and England’s previous captain, Owen Farrell, is only second in terms of popularity to France’s missing captain. Additionally, England comes into the competition with the added prestige of winning a bronze medal at the World Cup, a pleasant change from their poor performances in previous Six Nations. However, England is facing a different challenge as they are missing several players, not due to injuries but because they have chosen to play for other teams. The landscape of modern rugby has changed, and playing for England in the Six Nations is no longer as desirable as it once was. The good news is that George, their new captain, is a natural fit for the role. On top of that, England has a relatively easier start to the tournament, facing Italy and Wales in the first two rounds.

The main contributor, George Ford, becomes a crucial player with Farrell’s absence. He has often been overshadowed by his former teammate, but Ford is considered one of the top fly-halves in English rugby history.

France

Last year, Grégory Alldritt was the captain under Coach Fabien Galthié’s leadership. Their team finished in second place.

If playing for a French club in rugby is considered more important than playing for England in the Six Nations, then playing for France in the Olympics would also seem to be a higher priority for players. Antoine Dupont, who was previously the captain of France’s team, will not be participating this year as he is preparing with the sevens squad for the Olympics in Paris. Additionally, France’s national team has been displaced from the Stade de France as it prepares for the upcoming event. France will be hosting their home matches (three in total) in various locations across the country, starting with a crucial match against Ireland in Marseille this Friday. It may seem like smooth sailing for the winner, potentially leading to a grand slam victory. However, France will face a challenging second round in Edinburgh. Despite the absence of their star players, both France and Ireland still reign supreme over other teams. We can only hope for a World Cup final between these two powerhouses that never came to be.

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French team’s star player, Jonathan Danty. While Damian Penaud is highly talented like his absent captain, unleashing Danty in the center position will greatly benefit France.

Ireland

Last year, Captain Peter O’Mahony led his team to a Grand Slam victory under the coaching of Andy Farrell.

Unfortunately, Ireland will be without their captain and key player for traditional reasons. Even Johnny Sexton has come to terms with the fact that he cannot continue forever. How Ireland handles his absence will greatly impact the outcome of this year’s championship. The replacement for fly-half (most likely Jack Crowley of Munster) will have significantly less experience, going from a player with hundreds of caps to only one. However, despite Sexton’s absence, Ireland still has the most experienced team in the Six Nations and Peter O’Mahony is the perfect leader to ensure there is no decline. Can they be the first team in the Six Nations era to win consecutive grand slams? All eyes will be on Marseille this Friday night. It’s a strange time, a strange place, and a strange feeling to play without Sexton. But if Ireland can turn weird into a positive, they have a great chance at success.

Prominent athlete Caelan Doris. While he may not score points or lead strategic moves, there is a young player who shows potential to become a key figure – this energetic individual who controls the ball at the foundation of Ireland’s scrum.

Italy

Last season, Coach Gonzalo Quesada led the team while Captain Michele Lamaro served as the team’s leader. The team unfortunately finished last and received the Wooden Spoon award.

The Italian team, while being the most experienced in comparison, is also significantly younger than others. However, Italy has the advantage of having a familiar captain, but their new coach is the former Puma Quesada. Can we find the motivation to hope for a new era in Italian rugby once again? The loss of 90 points to the All Blacks was one of the most disheartening outcomes in World Cup history, and following it up with a 60-point defeat by France only added to our despair. Despite their lack of experience, the squad is filled with talented players who have proven themselves in the junior Six Nations tournament. The team is largely made up of players from Benetton Rugby (Treviso), who are currently in second place in the United Rugby Championship, behind only Leinster. We can only imagine what this team can achieve.

Tommaso Menoncello, a key player in the Italian midfield, has returned after being sidelined due to injury for the World Cup. Alongside Paolo Garbisi and Ange Capuozzo, there is potential for a strong dynamic on the field.

Scotland

Rory Darge and Finn Russell will serve as co-captains under the leadership of Coach Gregor Townsend. They previously finished in third place during the previous season.

Scotland has chosen to switch from having one captain to having two. The coach, Townsend, has named Darge and Russell as co-captains, allowing their previous captain, Jamie Ritchie, to solely focus on his personal performance. This change should ensure that Scotland has strong leadership on the field, even though they will also be without their star player. This will be the first time since 2011 that Stuart Hogg will not be participating in the Six Nations. Scotland may still be feeling disappointed about their performance at the World Cup, but it was a challenging task for them. They will have high hopes for their first game in Cardiff and then will have home matches against France and England. It is possible that they could go into their final game in Dublin with an undefeated record, but it should be noted that they have not won at Lansdowne Road in any matches this millennium.

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Blair Kinghorn is a key player on the field. While he may not be Hogg, he has been a top choice for quite some time. With his recent success at Toulouse, Scotland may have discovered a new star in their backline. He is also able to take charge as a fly-half when needed.

Wales

Coach Warren Gatland Captain Dafydd Jenkins Last season Fifth

The hits to Welsh pride continue to happen. One of the most painful absences is Louis Rees-Zammit, who decided to leave for the NFL on the same day as the squad was announced. Ouch. Last year at this time, they had 10 players on their team with more than 50 appearances, three with more than 100, and one with more than 150. Now they only have five players with more than 50 appearances, and two of them play in the same position. It definitely feels like a rebuilding period for Wales. Instead of having co-captains, Gatland has chosen to have a single captain, who has always been destined for the role. Jenkins, the youngest Welsh captain since Gareth Edwards, will lead a team that has lost hundreds of caps worth of experience due to players leaving after the World Cup. If Wales can avoid feeling like it’s a long season, Jenkins will have proven himself worthy of the honor.

The star player Ioan Lloyd stands out in Wales’s team, which now has significant gaps where experienced players once were. Lloyd is a talented Welsh playmaker who excels in multiple positions on the field and may be called upon to do so. This is sure to bring excitement to the game.

Source: theguardian.com