The Big Talking Points Ahead Of The Six Nations Kick-Off This Weekend
Luke Hennessy
Latest posts by Luke Hennessy (see all)
- A Look At The Ever-Changing Role Of The Tight-Five Forward - February 13, 2018
- The Big Talking Points Ahead Of The Six Nations Kick-Off This Weekend - February 1, 2017
With the eagerly anticipated Six Nations fast approaching, some of the key talking points of this years tournament are gradually coming to the fore.
From who will make up the much disputed English back row with some notable absences, all the way to potential Lions selections, this Six Nations is bound to have a talking point around every corner.
Ireland have been the big talking point in the lead up to the championship this year. On the back of an impressive Autumn series, including a first ever (although very conclusive) victory over the mighty All Blacks in Chicago. Despite losing the return fixture in Dublin, the series itself was deemed a success for both results, and the revelation of the incredible squad depth they have has now come to light.
With many pundits predicting a period of unrest and a lack of success for Irish rugby, this Autumn series presented quite the opposite. Seeing players such as Garry Ringrose, Tadhg Furlong and Joey Carberry play so well in the premature stages of what will surely be a lengthy international career for the three, must have surely served up a fairly ample portion of humble pie for the aforementioned pundits who predicted their downfall.
As for Lions selection, this championship is an enormous shop window for a large amount of home nations players. With everything to play for, and nobody’s selection a foregone conclusion, Warren Gatland must be the envy of no man having to pick a squad from such a vast number of in-form, quality players.
Although the likes of Itoje, Hogg, the Vunipola brothers (despite their injury worries of late) are almost a shoe in due to their electric recent form, the rest of the selection, in my humble opinion, is an open book. With players from each country in most positions proving being able to hold their own in both domestic and European competition over the last few seasons, selection should prove a real headache.
My only worry personally, is how high, or low for that matter, will the Scottish contingent be within the touring squad? With arguably one of the best back-lines in the Six Nations this year, will the stigma of being a Scotsman be (however wrongly) held against them? With the likes of Seymour, Dunbar, Scott, Russell, Laidlaw, Visser (the list goes on!) Offering so much behind the pack, I hope they aren’t overlooked by Gatland as they’ve been in such fine form of late, particularly if they perform well during the Championship.
All that’s left to say is roll on Saturday! Im sure the first talking point wont be too far away, and I can’t wait for the action to start!
