Ireland begin their historic Six Nations bid for back-to-back Grand Slams on Friday when they take on France in Marseille in a mouth-watering opening game.
Andy Farrell’s Ireland team and Fabien Galthie’s France team both stumbled in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup, losing to New Zealand and eventual champions South Africa respectively.
England were the only Six Nations team to reach the semi-finals.
While Irish and French fans are struggling to swallow the bitter pill of defeat at the World Cup, hosted by France, this year’s Six Nations will see a number of This will be a turning point where his face will be lost.
Ireland stalwart Johnny Sexton is retiring, while talismanic French skipper and scrum-half Antoine Dupont has opted to play rugby sevens at the 2024 Paris Olympics during the Six Nations. There is a high possibility that he will participate in two World Series seven-man tournaments.
Long-time England captain Owen Farrell was also absent, taking a break from international rugby to “prioritise his and his family’s mental health”.
Scottish full-back Stuart Hogg and Welsh fly-half Dan Biggar have retired, while Wales’ star winger Louis Rees-Zammit has been linked with a potentially lucrative move in America’s National Football League. He chose to turn his back on rugby in favor of his career.
Italy’s Michele Lamaro is the only remaining captain from last year’s Six Nations.
It will be Andy Farrell’s final Six Nations before taking up an interim post as head coach of the British Irish Lions ahead of their 2025 tour of Australia.
“The upcoming Six Nations is an opportunity for us to grow and develop,” said Farrell, who avoided making any major personnel changes during his post-Sexton time with Ireland, taking the 33-year-old to the World Cup. 26 players remained.
“The Six Nations is one of the biggest stages in world rugby, and this year’s tournament will be filled with fierce competition.
“It’s not as tough as the away game against France on the opening weekend, but it’s a challenge we have to approach with a positive mindset,” added the former rugby league legend, who has overseen 29 wins in the past 32 Tests. .
The Irish team has a solid and confident feel to it, but with Ross Byrne out with an arm injury, much will be expected from Munster’s Jack Crowley, who is seen as Sexton’s successor.
France were dealt a huge blow with the news that flanker Anthony Geronche, who served as stand-in captain at the World Cup when Dupont was injured, has been ruled out of the Six Nations with a knee injury.
Coach Galthie named talented No. 8 Gregory Aldritt as captain in an effort to restore the French team’s shock after being eliminated early by the Springboks at the World Cup.
“South Africa was tough, but we’ll digest it, analyze it and move on from there,” Aldritt said.
The Stade de France is gearing up for the Summer Olympics, with France playing three home games in Marseille, Lille and Lyon.
Wales and Ireland also have three home games, with Wales hosting Italy on the final weekend, Ireland playing Scotland and England away to France.
Gregor Townsend’s Scotland, who play France and England at home, finished third in last year’s Six Nations but were unable to break out of a tough group at the World Cup.
Full-back Blair Kinghorn, scrum-half Ben White and fly-half Finn Russell have all improved following moves to Toulouse, Toulon and Bath, respectively, and complement what looks like a strong squad.
In a tournament where winning momentum is important, much will depend on whether Scotland, with Russell named co-captain, can get off to a good start against Wales in Cardiff, a match they haven’t won for more than 20 years.
Many observers did not expect England to be the Northern Hemisphere’s best-performing team at the World Cup, but the ever-realistic Steve Borthwick guided them to third place.
However, with Ben Youngs, Courtney Rhodes and Jonny May retiring after the tournament, there is a lot of attention on the possibility that Marcus Smith could hold the key to number 10 in Farrell’s absence.
Wales manager Warren Gatland is managing a significant turnover with 15 players from his World Cup squad absent, including injured flanker and skipper Jack Morgan. There are 12 players aiming to make their first Six Nations appearance.
“You put us at risk,” the New Zealander warned, adding: “You put us at risk.” “I’m definitely thinking about the future.
“The Six Nations is a hugely important tournament for us, but it’s also about how we can give young people experience.
“Our average age is 25, which is very young. They will learn from it and grow from it.”
Italy, who replaced Kieran Crowley with former Racing Stade Français coach Gonzalo Quesada, were a huge disappointment at the World Cup.
Quesada needs key players like Lamaro, Paolo Garbisi and Ange Capozzo to take command in order to avoid the wooden spoon.
© Agence France-Presse
Photo: INPHO/Morgan Tracy