6 Nations: Fight for Positions

The Six Nations is always important, but in a World Cup year it takes on a new level of significance. The head coaches have to weigh up the desire to win games and gain momentum for Japan, as well as fine-tuning any elements that require it and giving form players opportunity to stake a claim for September. By now most national teams should know their first choice team and simply be tweaking the game plan a little. However that is never the case, and below I discuss the primary position each Six Nations team needs to sort out before the end of March.

There's a lot riding on this tournament for the head coaches, the will to win, but also to prepare for the World Cup.

England - Centres

Tuilagi is finally back in the 6 Nations.

Eddie Jones has said this is the strongest England squad he's ever been able to select, he's not wrong. Big players are back, and they're going to have to fight for their place. It's safe to say that the chances of predicting England's starting XV correctly are slim to none. There are a lot of positions which have selection question marks, and not the good kind, none more so than the centres. Which due to a horrendous injury curse has meant the English midfield has had more partnerships than Dragon's Den.

Jones can finally choose from depth at both 12 & 13, and with it, he can finally define just how he wants his team to play. Does he want a big bruising midfield to get over the gain line with physical power, does he go for decisions makers who can compliment the kicking game, or some balance of the two? Personally, I would select Tuilagi and Slade, balance is everything, and it would provide the best way to get the likes of the dangerous Jonny May and Jack Nowell into space out wide.

France - Fly Half

Romain Ntamack could push
ahead of Lopez.

France are one of rugby's greatest questions. How does a team with so much unbelievable backline talent, and a pack of forwards so large, and good at scrummaging fail to perform continually? There are many reasons for this, but chief amongst them is the revolving door in the 10 jersey. Without a stable, consistent player pulling the strings, the sheer wealth of talent out wide can't be combined with the raw grunt up front.

No matter who has been head coach in the last decade, there has been no settled player at playmaker to form a game plan around. And nine months out from the World Cup they still have absolutely no idea who is their best fly-half, and this Six Nations they need to pick a man and stick by him. In the last few years the most consistent performer for Les Blues has been Camille Lopez, and if it weren't for injury it's quite possible this discussion would have been over with already, but he is back now and should be selected for all five games. His experience should count ahead of the new kid on the block Ntamack, who will be one for 2023.




Ireland - Second Row
In reality, Ireland look pretty established across the park, with first and second choice players comfortable in the setup and able to slot it with no negative impact. However, in the engine room, there is still a small question mark over who is the first choice alongside the ridiculously talented James Ryan.

It's mostly been horses for courses the last couple of years with three particular players slugging it out for a spot in the starting XV. Each one brings a different strength to the Irish game. Devin Toner provides lineout prowess, Iain Henderson the aggressive ball carrier, and Tadhg Beirne brings a breakdown specialty not often seen in the second row. Schmidt may want to keep his options open and pick which skill he feels he needs most, but I think it will largely be decided by who's in the backrow. With O'Mahony and O'Brien (Schmidt's first choice flankers) he really has no need for Toner and Henderson, and the turnover specialty of Beirne will add an extra dimension to the Ireland game.

Joe Schmidt has incredible depth in the second row, but who is the first choice really?

Italy - Scrum Half
Italy are an odd one, realistically they're not going to compete at the World Cup, nor the 6 Nations, instead they're in the early stages of a build for 2023, as such this selection is more about their long term goal. The scrum-half is the link between forwards and backs, and the player who fundamentally decides the pace of the game the most. It's something at which Italy have often struggled, the opposition often exploiting a lack of fitness by playing a high tempo game and scoring for fun in the final twenty. With a decent scrum-half who can control things, and maintain calm, Italy will be able to keep games close.

Palazzanni has been on form for Zebre this season.

Not only this, but Italy does actually have some talent dotted across their team sheet both in the backs and forwards, and have found two good fly-halves that will force each other to improve. Finding, and settling on, a halfback partner for them will allow everything else to form up around them, and Connor O'Shea could build something special.




Scotland - No. 8
Scotland are a joy to watch these days, molded into an image of Gregor Townsend's championship-winning team of 1999. A team full of exuberance and high-speed attack when they get going. That, however, is their fundamental problem, Scotland often struggle to gain forward momentum and when that happens the likes of Russell, Jones, and Hogg have to face aggressive blitz defences which shut down the wide moves.

Adam Ashe has been at the forefront of Glasgow's
performances this season.

Chief amongst the positions which are responsible for generating front foot ball is the man at the back of the scrum. At No. 8 there hasn't been a stand out player in a long time, Townsend (and Cotter before him) cycling through a few options hoping for one of them to perform. No one has taken the mantle for their own yet: Ryan Wilson playedmost of the games in the Autumn, before Strauss at the end. There is some quiet support for Glasgow's Adam Ashe building in Scotland, with many expecting him to have a breakthrough tournament. I'm a supporter of David Denton, personally, it will be interesting to see if Townsend can settle on one man by the time they play for the Calcutta Cup in March.

Wales - Scrum Half
2018 was probably Wales' most complete year under Gatland, with a strong second place finish in the 6 Nations starting a nine-game winning streak across the summer and autumn. During this time they've also explored the depth of the squad, found some real gems at crucial positions, and even seem to have finally decided on a fly-half that expands their attacking game. That being said there still remain question marks at scrum-half, primarily is Gareth Davies really the correct choice for the starting jersey? His ability to control a game is quite erratic changing week to week, his box kicking often highlighted as a major weakness.

Meanwhile, Tomos Williams is putting out regular top-drawer performances for the Blues but hasn't been given many opportunities to start for Wales. When he did against Tonga, in November, he was responsible for a couple of tries, but also intercepted directly from a lineout. He is often compared to the abrasive Mike Phillips, who was Gatland's favourite for many years. This could be the year Tomos Williams claims the nine shirt, especially with Gareth Davies doubtful for the opening game.

Of course, there is also the nature of the second best scrum-half in the British Isles being unavailable for selection, while he plays in the South of France, due to the Welsh selection policy.

Tomos Williams has got all the requirements of an international scrum half, and established connection with
Gareth Anscombe, if he gets a run of starts at nine he could take the shirt away from Gareth Davies.