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| The 6 Nations is a tournament beloved by all, why is this year more exciting than ever? |
Bonus Points are IN
The headline news for 2017: four try and losing bonus points are there to win. In short, this is brilliant for every team. Off the bat we should see teams looking to score more tries and play with more ball in hand, possession becoming more important than territory. The talents of Wesley Fofana, Jonathan Joseph, and Michele Campagnaro will look to create chances and break lines, while the likes of Stuart Hogg, Simon Zebo and Liam William will return kicks with interest.
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| Tries will be aplenty this year as teams try to score the bonus point. |
On the flip side gone will be the days we see a team with zero points after five round. A depressing statistic which so easily removes any concept of performance or competition to fixtures. Multiple teams have been awarded the dreaded Wooden Spoon in the past, so often the "award" being decided on a single fixture. Now teams that find themselves in the bottom half come the final week will still have something to fight for as every point could make the difference.
Despite all this the Grand Slam will remain the overall goal of the teams, guaranteeing the trophy despite the introduction of bonus points. A loss in the first round no longer guarantees a failed campaign, but the Grand Slam incentive remains.
England on course to break history
The 6 Nations has existed since the turn of the millennium. And yet despite the Clive Woodward era of England success; or the rampaging Wales post RWC2011, or the shrewd tactics of Joe Schmidt with Ireland no team has ever completed back-to-back Grand Slams.
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| England look to do what no one else as ever done. |
Four teams have done back to back championship wins, but the double Grand Slam remains an elusive goal. Despite the trend this year looks like the one where it might finally go. England under Eddie Jones has completed an undefeated calendar year, including felling Australia four times. With a combination of aggressive defence and excellent tactical kicking, they've put all who came against them to the sword. Now they are favourites heading into 2017 too. The welcome the return of star quality in their backline with Nowell and Watson, and despite a catalogue of injuries in the pack there is talent beneath the surface ready to take the chance afforded to them.
Of course, every other team will look at England and see the chance of a major upset. England will be targetted and be seen as the team to beat, the question is can they beat the pressure?
Positive Autumns for all Six
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| Ireland defeated a fearsome All Black side in Chicago in November. |
England completed a clean sweep, never looking uncomfortable even being a man down for the majority of a game against Argentina. Ireland beat both Australia and New Zealand in a historic November campaign which saw the emergence of some stand out players for years to come. France while suffering more defeats than they wanted, pushed even New Zealand to the edge, and showcased a more controlled version of the wild offloading game we saw last spring. Italy defeated South Africa, Scotland fought their way to beating Argentina, and Wales won 75% of their fixtures.
As such, all the teams can look back on the Autumn with a positive attitude, even if they are all aware there are areas to work on. This means that on the opening weekend everyone will feel they have a chance to go 1-and-0, while trying to work on the areas they need to develop. It will ensure an exciting and tense opening weekend, the perfect way to start the tournament.
Lions Selection
Adding to the pressure each team is under not to lose, every player in the home nations will be out to prove their individual worth. The Lions squad will be decided primarily on the results from this years 6 Nations, with the winning side likely to provide the majority of the touring team. Head Coach Warren Gatland, along with this subordinates will be at every relevant game finding out who is worthy of consideration.
This competition for places is only going to raise the performance levels of every British player, and the derbies which decide the Triple Crown will be fierce as hell. Individual matchups will be watched with interest by pundits, coaches and fans alike. Itoje vs Alun Wyn Jones; Stuart Hogg vs Mike Brown; Jonny Sexton vs George Ford; and more are going to make every game that little more interesting as we watch players try to show off their skills.
Then there are the likes of Rory Best, Alun Wyn Jones, and Dylan Hartley all hoping to showcase their leadership skills as well and be named as the Lions captain for the biggest tour in recent memory. The Lions is unlike anything else in world rugby if it can't spark players to perform nothing can.
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| These are the men that will decide who goes on a once in a lifetime tour with the Lions to New Zealand. |
Women's Rugby
This for me is the biggest news story in recent weeks, every single Women's 6 Nations game will either be televised or live streamed by the tournament organisers. They are doing their part to expand and develop the women's side of the game, ahead of the World Cup in Dublin this summer. After thehuge success of the 7's at the Olympics, women's rugby has exploded, in the home nations especially.
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| Women's rugby got global exposure at the Rio Olympics. |
This year all the teams will be building up to their appearance at the World Cup, so the intensity will be equally ramped up. The women's game is seriously worth a watch for anyone for enjoys rugby, the skill levels are excellent, and I would argue that it is actually more aggressive and combative than the men's game. Women's rugby still stands by the age old principle of "all shapes and sizes" with fast paced wingers lining up alongside the tough as nails backrowers.
I cannot recommend the women's game enough, and now there is no reason you will miss out on the games with them all live. Some of the games will also be played nearby or in the actual stadiums of the men's senior teams, so if you're going to watch a game live, check out the availability of tickets for the corresponding women's game happening that weekend too.
The Fans
Finally, as with every year, the reason to get truly excited for the 6 Nations is the fans from every nation coming together to celebrate good rugby. No sport does it as well as rugby with the intermingling of fans, and both still proudly and loudly supporting their team. You'll find people on the streets outside the stadium meeting fans from other cultures, laughing and joking.
The competitiveness is dealt with on the pitch by the rugby players, while the fans get to enjoy the entertainment and each other. No tournament brings such a diverse range of supporters together like the 6 Nations. If you have tickets to the matches enjoy the atmosphere, and make sure you lose your voice by the end.
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| The fans are what make the 6 Nations so great - kilts and all. |
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