Underdogs and overhyped: The big questions ahead of Six Nations kick-off

Thursday night is this French squad’s date with destiny. The French public have had an underwhelming experience since the trauma of the World Cup, last year’s title notwithstanding. 

A view of the Men’s Six Nations Championship Trophy at Edinburgh Castle. Pic: Dan Sheridan/Inpho

Ireland back as underdogs 

Phew! The pressure’s off. No more having to live up to top billing. No more strutting out as world number one seeds with expectations of hitting the high notes every single time. 

Back to boots and bullets and giving it a lash. Well, not quite. Those dismal days are well and truly behind Ireland. Even as they grapple with an injury list the size of Donald Trump’s ego, they still have enough in their locker to lay claim to a decent finish in the Championship. 

Mind you, the odds are lengthening with each bad-news bulletin. And Bundee Aki’s absence for remonstrating with officials points to a growing concern over discipline. 

That lack of control is ruinous for any team. It smacks of arrogance, too, not a palatable trait and very un-Andy Farrell. But it’s there. 

Factor in too that this will be a shortened tournament, from seven weeks to six, putting a strain on those with lesser resources than the likes of big boys, France and England. 

Ireland are at a pivotal moment, recently exposed at the scrum by South Africa, and facing heavy-hitting France. Back to the rallying cry of the underdog, howling for all its worth on a dark Parisian night.

France being France 

These days we really don’t know which French side will turn up given the whims of Fabien Galthie whose Macron-spectacled stare brooks no compromise. It’s his way or the highway as the likes of maverick wing, Damian Penaud, has found out. 

Still, Galthie has riches at his disposal and simply trades one gilt-edged talent for another although getting over the shock of Uini Atonio’s retirement following a heart attack will be a real tester for everyone.

Thursday night is this squad’s date with destiny. The French public have had an underwhelming experience since the trauma of the World Cup, last year’s title notwithstanding.  This is a generation doree and more is expected, all the more so given the free-wheeling exploits in Europe of Bordeaux and Toulouse. 

Galthie needs to bring that elan and potency to the Six Nations. France need to be the France we all love, enraged and empowered. Unless, of course, you happen to be Irish.

When can we go back to disliking England?

Some might put it even stronger than that but there’s little doubt that England are going about their business these days with a straightforward Steve Borthwick demeanour, getting on solely with the job in hand as their run of 11 successive wins shows. 

Sure, they have the TikTok persona of Henry Pollock in their ranks, his pest-like presence infuriating opponents yet winning over even old-school sluggers such as Borthwick who recognises the need for the sport to create ‘superstars’ for these performative Gen Z times. 

Borthwick has also departed from the norm in setting a target for England in this championship, urging them to arrive at the Parisian finale on March 14th with everything to play for. It’s a reasonable statement, stripped of the pomposity and hubris that used to follow England around. 

Even captain Maro Itoje has curbed his irritating arm-waving antics of a few years ago and, as he showed with the British and Irish Lions, is an impressively holistic individual. You might even be moved to wish them well. Or maybe not.

Can the Welsh corpse roll back the stone and rise from the dead?

There was plenty of simmering bad blood between Wales and Ireland during the Warren Gatland years but no rugby follower would wish this Welsh team anything but good following the disastrous manner in which rugby in the Principality has been overseen this last few years. 

It beggars belief that a country in which rugby is the national sport can contemplate having fewer regional sides than Ireland where rugby ranks fourth behind the Gaelic games and football.

As Connacht, under grievous threat themselves of being disbanded just over twenty years ago, open a new facility so west Walian Ospreys are being shunted towards the scrap-heap. 

Wales have not won a single Six Nations game in two years, recording only two victories in their last 21 championship outings. They travel to Twickenham on the opening weekend. 

Buster Douglas beating Mike Tyson, 100-1 shot Foinavon winning the Grand National – Wales have less chance than even those two outsiders. They haven’t got a slugger’s hope. And that’s worrying for the game.

Gregor Townsend opted for experience and reliability by recalling forwards Jonny Gray and Dave Cherry for the Six Nations. 

Will Scotland ever deliver?

So much hope, so much dashed expectation. It’s high time Scotland lived up to the hype that has grown around them in recent years, accompanying the rise of Glasgow Warriors and reflected in their hearty contribution to the ranks of the British and Irish Lions, originally eight players rising to 11 with injuries. 

Yet they have never won the Six Nations and have finished no higher than fourth in the last two tournaments. The last autumn series saw them booed off at Murrayfield after surrendering a 21-0 lead to Argentina to lose 33-24. 

Optimism is in short supply after such a notable flop. Glasgow Warriors unbeaten run into the Round of 16 in the Champions Cup only throws Scotland’s underwhelming international form into sharp relief. 

All of which puts even more focus on the second round of Six Nations fixtures with well-fancied England headed to Edinburgh. It’s a tantalising shot at redemption. Can they take it?