The Six Nations 2024 begins tomorrow with France hosting Ireland in Marseille with plenty of change following the Rugby World Cup.
England have embraced evolution, without Owen Farrell and the now injured Marcus Smith, meaning Steve Borthwick has named a team to face Italy with an emphasis on the future, including debutants Ethan Roots and Fraser Dingwall.
Scotland and Wales, also looking to rebuild, have announced their teams for their head-to-head clash in Cardiff on Saturday.
While Ireland have named a new-look side as they look to move forward without Johnny Sexton, with Munster wing Calvin Nash and Leinster lock Joe McCarthy making their Six Nations debuts. France scrum-half Maxime Lucu replaces the absent Antoine Dupont with the superstar looking to focus on sevens ahead of this year’s Paris Olympics.
You can find all the team news and reaction ahead of tomorrow’s opening match below:
Six Nations team news
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Six Nations 2024: Who are The Independent’s writers tipping for success?
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Wales name team to face Scotland with full-back Cam Winnett set for debut
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Finn Russell to lead Scotland with Millar-Mills and Hepburn to make debuts
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England confirm team to face Italy, including Ford at fly-half
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Six Nations 2024 schedule in full: Fixtures, kick-off times and results
Six Nations 2024
Thursday 1 February 2024 16:27 , Jack Rathborn
That’s it from us across a busy day for Six Nations news with each team confirming their lineups for the opening round of fixtures.
George Ford has been selected to start at fly half for England in their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday, in a starting XV that also includes a pair of uncapped players – Ethan Roots and Fraser Dingwall.
While young full-back Cam Winnett will make his Wales debut with Warren Gatland trusting the 21-year-old in the back three for their Six Nations opener against Scotland.
And recently-appointed co-captain Rory Darge has not recovered from a knee injury in time to feature so Finn Russell will lead the side. Previous skipper Jamie Ritchie, who lost the role last month, has been named in the back-row alongside Matt Fagerson and Luke Crosbie, while Ben White has got the nod to start at scrum-half ahead of Ali Price.
France and Ireland provide a mouthwatering opener tomorrow in Marseille – stay with Independent Sport for all the coverage across a fascinating Six Nations.
Warren Gatland wants inexperienced Wales to play with ‘no fear’ against Scotland
Thursday 1 February 2024 16:05 , Jack Rathborn
Warren Gatland has backed Wales’ most inexperienced Six Nations line-up since 2019 to “go out there with no fear” in Saturday’s clash against Scotland.
Cardiff full-back Cameron Winnett is handed a Test debut after just 15 games of professional rugby, 21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins will lead Wales out as his country’s youngest captain for 56 years, while six of the Wales’ replacements have just 12 caps between them.
The absentees read like a current who’s who of Welsh rugby – George North, Louis Rees-Zammit, Liam Williams, Dan Biggar, Dewi Lake, Will Rowlands, Jac Morgan and Taulupe Faletau, to name just eight.
Warren Gatland wants inexperienced Wales to play with ‘no fear’ against Scotland
Six Nations 2024 bonus points system explained
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:56 , Jack Rathborn
The Six Nations has had a bonus point system since 2017 with attacking rugby rewarded and potentially decisive in the final standings in 2024.
There is a bonus point if teams score four tries or should they lose by seven or fewer points.
The bonus points system has been prevalent in domestic club competitions, the Rugby World Cup and Rugby Championship for some time, but it took a little longer for the Six Nations to adopt it.
That’s because of the potential for teams to win the grand slam with five victories, although the bonus points system would previously allow a beaten team to surpass them.
Six Nations 2024 bonus points system explained
Six Nations 2024 schedule in full: Fixtures, kick-off times and results
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:39 , Jack Rathborn
The Six Nations returns with Ireland hoping to defend their Grand Slam crown as they open up their campaign against France.
The start of a new cycle has seen significant change in the six competing unions since a thrilling Rugby World Cup in France.
England, Ireland, Wales and France are all likely to have new captains at the helm, while Italy begin life under Gonzalo Quesada after a post-tournament coaching changes.
Scotland will be hoping to build on a third-placed finish a year ago in what looks to be an open edition of one of rugby’s most storied championships.
Six Nations 2024: Fixtures, schedule, kick-off times and results
Six Nations: France ready to absorb Antoine Dupont loss
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:32 , Jack Rathborn
Six Nations: Scotland reaction to team to face Wales
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:25 , Jack Rathborn
Former Scotland international Stuart McInally writes in his Six Nations column: “It’s been good to see some fresh faces coming into the Scotland squad for this year’s Guinness Men’s Six Nations.
“Gregor Townsend has selected a settled squad, but with a couple of new names in there it shows we’re not content with what we’ve got. Internally, that puts pressure on players to perform.
“The guys know that the Union are looking for Scottish-qualified players, and if they’re good enough, they’re going to play. You just have to look at the calibre of individuals who are missing, including three British and Irish Lions in Chris Harris, Rory Sutherland and Hamish Watson.”
Blair Kinghorn injury blow for Scotland with Kyle Rowe deputising against Wales
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:15 , Jack Rathborn
Blair Kinghorn has been ruled out of Scotland’s first two Guinness Six Nations matches with a knee injury, paving the way for Kyle Rowe to make his first international start at full-back in Saturday’s opener in Wales.
The Toulouse number 15 becomes the second member of Scotland’s first-choice back three to be ruled out of the match in Cardiff and the following weekend’s visit from France, with free-scoring Edinburgh wing Darcy Graham also absent due to quad tightness.
Rowe’s only previous cap came away to Argentina in July 2022 when he came on as a substitute and lasted only 10 minutes before damaging his ACL, resulting in him being sidelined for most of the following year.
Six Nations referees: Who are the match officials for the tournament?
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:14 , Jack Rathborn
The referees for the 2024 Six Nations have been confirmed with the world’s top officials set to take charge again in the annual championship.
Two of rugby’s most experienced officials have stepped away since the conclusion of the World Cup in the autumn, with England’s Wayne Barnes retiring at the end of the tournament and Jaco Peyper of South Africa hanging up his whistle after an Achilles injury.
Tom Foley, like Barnes part of the officiating team for the World Cup final in Paris, has also taken a break from the international scene after receiving abuse in the wake of South Africa’s narrow win over New Zealand.
Six Nations referees: Who are the match officials for the tournament?
Teams underestimate ‘intimidating’ Principality Stadium – Jonathan Humphreys
Thursday 1 February 2024 15:04 , Jack Rathborn
Wales assistant coach Jonathan Humphreys knows from personal experience how “noisy and intimidating” the Principality Stadium can be for visiting teams.
And Scotland – Wales’ opening Guinness Six Nations opponents in Cardiff on Saturday – have found it tougher than most.
They have lost 11 successive games in the Welsh capital – nine Six Nations fixtures, a World Cup warm-up match and an autumn Test.
Humphreys was part of the Scotland coaching staff for two of those losses, a 51-3 reversal when Stuart Hogg was sent off in 2014 plus a 27-23 defeat two years later.
It is 22 years since Scotland last won at the venue, when current head coach Gregor Townsend lined up in a team that won by five points courtesy of injury-time penalties from Brendan Laney and Duncan Hodge.
Teams underestimate ‘intimidating’ Principality Stadium – Jonathan Humphreys
How Ireland can cure World Cup hangover and fill Johnny Sexton void
Thursday 1 February 2024 14:53 , Jack Rathborn
The hangover has lasted for four months, fractured snapshots of those Parisian nights coming crashing back into heads still aching with the foggy recollections of a golden chance missed.
For France and Ireland, the tales of the autumn were strikingly similar, so close; so far – two World Cup adventures set up for success prematurely ended by a single score. A bounce of a ball, a flip of a coin, a perfectly timed Cheslin Kolbe charge-down or Sam Whitelock jackal: for a third men’s World Cup in a row, France and Ireland’s final fortnight was spent as spectators.
These two were the defining sides of the last World Cup cycle, meticulously constructing a contender in the hopes of ending their tournament hoodoo. France coach Fabien Galthie and Andy Farrell, his Irish counterpart, identified areas in need of improvement and duly improved them, bringing through key personnel and developing depth. They entered, and exited, the World Cup with few apparent weaknesses; either would have been a worthy winner.
How Ireland can cure World Cup hangover and fill Johnny Sexton void
Six Nations: Scotland team in full to face Wales in opener
Thursday 1 February 2024 14:35 , Jack Rathborn
Scotland XV: 15-Kyle Rowe, 14-Kyle Steyn, 13-Huw Jones, 12-Sione Tuipulotu, 11-Duhan van der Merwe, 10-Finn Russell (captain), 9-Ben White; 1-Pierre Schoeman, 2-George Turner, 3-Zander Fagerson, 4-Richie Gray, 5-Scott Cummings, 6-Luke Crosbie, 7-Jamie Ritchie, 8-Matt Fagerson
Replacements: 16-Ewan Ashman, 17-Alec Hepburn, 18-Elliot Millar-Mills, 19-Sam Skinner, 20-Jack Dempsey, 21-George Horne, 22-Ben Healy, 23-Cameron Redpath.
Six Nations: Finn Russell to captain Scotland with Rory Darge out injured
Thursday 1 February 2024 14:26 , Jack Rathborn
Recently-appointed co-captain Rory Darge has not recovered from a knee injury in time to feature so Finn Russell will lead the side.
Previous skipper Jamie Ritchie, who lost the role last month, has been named in the back-row alongside Matt Fagerson and Luke Crosbie, while Ben White has got the nod to start at scrum-half ahead of Ali Price.
Props Elliot Millar-Mills and Alex Hepburn are both in line to make their debuts off the bench, with Jack Dempsey, the number eight at the World Cup, also named among the subs.
Glasgow’s Kyle Rowe – whose only previous cap came as a substitute against Argentina in July 2022 – will make his first start for Scotland at full-back in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener away to Wales after Toulouse’s Blair Kinghorn was ruled out of the first two matches of the championship with a knee injury.
Six Nations: Ford gets fly half nod as Roots and Dingwall set for England debuts
Thursday 1 February 2024 14:17 , Jack Rathborn
George Ford has been selected to start at fly half for England in their Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome on Saturday, in a starting XV that also includes a pair of uncapped players – Ethan Roots and Fraser Dingwall.
Owen Farrell’s decision to step away from international rugby opened the door at No 10 to a slew of candidates and Marcus Smith appeared to be the favourite to get first crack at the jersey, only to suffer an injury in training earlier this week.
That left a head-to-head shootout between 91-cap Ford – who has only recently returned to action from an injury of his own and is struggling for form at Sale Sharks – and uncapped Northampton Saints star Fin Smith. Head coach Steve Borthwick has opted for the experience of Ford from the start, with Smith on the bench and in line to finish out the clash at the Stadio Olimpico.
Ford gets fly half nod as Roots and Dingwall set for England debuts
Six Nations: England XV to face Italy
Thursday 1 February 2024 14:00 , Jack Rathborn
15. Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers, 31 caps)
14. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
13. Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs, 57 caps)
12. Fraser Dingwall (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
11. Elliot Daly (Saracens, 64 caps)
10. George Ford (Sale Sharks, 91 caps) – vice captain
9. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints, 11 caps)
1. Joe Marler (Harlequins, 88 caps)
2. Jamie George (Saracens, 85 caps) – captain
3. Will Stuart (Bath Rugby, 33 caps)
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens, 76 caps) – vice captain
5. Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers, 18 caps)
6. Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
7. Sam Underhill (Bath Rugby, 30 caps)
8. Ben Earl (Saracens, 25 caps)
Replacements:
16. Theo Dan (Saracens, 7 caps)
17. Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears, 58 caps) – vice captain
18. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers, 107 caps)
19. Alex Coles (Northampton Saints, 3 caps)
20. Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins, uncapped)
21. Danny Care (Harlequins, 96 caps)
22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints, uncapped)
23. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter Chiefs, uncapped)
Abuse of officials and players at Rugby World Cup sparks legal action
Thursday 1 February 2024 13:55 , Jack Rathborn
World Rugby has revealed legal action is being taken after match officials and players suffered online abuse during the 2023 World Cup.
One individual in Australia has been charged for online abuse, cases in other jurisdictions are pending – including France, New Zealand the UK – and 1,600 social media accounts have been reported to platforms for breach of their community guidelines.
England’s Wayne Barnes announced his retirement five days after refereeing the Rugby World Cup final between South Africa and New Zealand, with his wife Polly revealing that he had received death threats while at the tournament in France and had suffered such abuse many times.
Abuse of officials and players at Rugby World Cup sparks legal action
Six Nations referees: Who are the match officials for the tournament?
Thursday 1 February 2024 13:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The referees for the 2024 Six Nations have been confirmed with the world’s top officials set to take charge again in the annual championship.
Two of rugby’s most experienced officials have stepped away since the conclusion of the World Cup in the autumn, with England’s Wayne Barnes retiring at the end of the tournament and Jaco Peyper of South Africa hanging up his whistle after an Achilles injury.
Tom Foley, like Barnes part of the officiating team for the World Cup final in Paris, has also taken a break from the international scene after receiving abuse in the wake of South Africa’s narrow win over New Zealand.
That leaves opportunities for three debutants in the tournament, with England’s Christophe Ridley and France’s Pierre Brousset joined by Andrea Piardi, who is set to become the first Italian to referee a men’s Six Nations match.
Here’s the full officiating line-up for the championship:
Six Nations referees: Who are the match officials for the tournament?
Ellis Genge opens up on struggles with impostor syndrome in Six Nations documentary
Thursday 1 February 2024 13:35 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Ellis Genge has opened up on his struggles with impostor syndrome, revealing that he has sometimes questioned his own place in the England team.
Prop Genge has become a key leader of Steve Borthwick’s side, captaining them at Twickenham against France during last year’s Six Nations.
But the 28-year-old, who did not have a conventional path into the England team, has admitted to sometimes still feeling like he constantly has to prove himself even nearly eight years on from his international debut.
Genge made the candid admission in the new Six Nations: Full Contact documentary.
“I’ve been [playing for England] for a while now,” Genge says in episode two of the Netflix series. “But I always feel like I need to prove myself. I’ve struggled with it my whole life.
Ellis Genge opens up on struggles with impostor syndrome in Six Nations documentary
Meet the seven uncapped players in England’s Six Nations squad
Thursday 1 February 2024 13:22 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Meet the seven uncapped players in England’s Six Nations squad
England head to Girona in search of fast Six Nations start
Thursday 1 February 2024 13:10 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Steve Borthwick and the England squad are making the short hop across from Catalonia to the Italian capital this afternoon having spent the last ten days or so in Girona, enjoying the first-rate facility that the La Liga leaders have just opened as they bid to hit the ground running in this Six Nations campaign. Balancing time on and time off has been key at the warm-weather camp, with a PGA Tour-quality golf course understood to have been well received by those who brought their clubs. But the primary focus has been on the hard toil to get England ready for their opener:
England head for Girona in search of fast Six Nations start
World Cup 2023 was the ‘most viewed rugby event ever’
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:57 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The 2023 Rugby World Cup held in France had a 19 per cent viewership growth from the 2019 edition, becoming the most viewed rugby event of all time, World Rugby have said.
The event, held in September and October, clocked in 1.33bn viewing hours across linear and non-linear broadcast, a 30 per cent growth from the last World Cup held in Europe in 2015 in England.
Of the total viewership, 85 per cent came from free-to-air TV broadcasters, while streaming platforms accounted for 5 per cent of the total viewership.
World Cup 2023 was the ‘most viewed rugby event ever’
‘Match-hardened’ England will ready for Six Nations battle says Steve Borthwick
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:45 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Steve Borthwick insists England’s battle-hardened players are ready for the Guinness Six Nations as a result of facing greater club demands than any of their rivals.
Borthwick’s 36-man squad have comfortably racked up the highest number of minutes played since the World Cup due to their Gallagher Premiership and European commitments.
But while they will enter the Six Nations depleted by a greater workload – they have accumulated over two hours of game time more per player than next highest France – Borthwick believes they have benefited from the competitiveness of English clubs.
Six Premiership teams have reached the knockout phase of the Investec Champions Cup while the domestic league itself is more compelling that ever following its reduction in teams.
“The players are match-hardened, so that’s a great benefit. Generally I will try to look at the positive side and I have a group of players that are match-hardened. They are ready to go,” Borthwick said.
“The other thing is the nature of the Premiership. All of the games are counting so the leverage of all these games is huge.
“And there have been teams fighting in Europe to get qualification, fighting to find a way to win which, again, is a real positive.
“Everything we’re getting is saying all the clubs are running more than they were 12 months ago, so that’s a real positive.”
‘Match-hardened’ England will ready for Six Nations battle says Steve Borthwick
Maro Itoje signs new long-term deal with Saracens
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:33 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Maro Itoje has committed his future to Saracens by signing a new long-term deal with the club.
The 29-year-old England lock has made 175 appearances to date for Sarries, having made his debut for them in 2013.
He has enjoyed great success, winning five Premiership titles and three European crowns and has played 76 times for his country.
In addition to his new Saracens contract, Itoje has been offered an enhanced Elite Playing Squad (EPS) contract by the Rugby Football Union, the new deals that will afford Steve Borthwick with greater control over a group of 25 key England players from next season onwards.
Maro Itoje signs new long-term deal with Saracens
Italy name team to face England
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:24 , Harry Latham-Coyle
The first selection of the Gonzalo Quesada is in, with the new Italy coach naming a familiar looking side. The brothers Garbisi start in the halves, with Paolo joined by Alessandro and Tommaso Allan providing an extra playmaking option at full back. Tommaso Menoncello returns after missing the World Cup with injury, while Quesada opts for a six/two bench split that includes uncapped prop Mirco Spagnolo.
Six Nations 2024: Debutants expected in England team
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:20 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Not too long now until Steve Borthwick names his first England team of 2024. The Independent is expecting there to be two debutants in his starting fifteen, with Fraser Dingwall the beneficiary of an injury to Ollie Lawrence and Ethan Roots in line to fill the Courtney Lawes-shaped hole on the blindside.
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso could well be named on the bench and make a debut, while Fin Smith looks likely for a role among the replacements, too, having come close to squeezing out George Ford for a starting spot after Marcus Smith’s injury.
Wales without George North and Will Rowlands
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:15 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Warren Gatland is without two key cogs, though, with George North absent after suffering a stinger, and Will Rowlands yet to join with the squad after complications with the birth of his child. Owen Watkin thus starts in the 13 shirt, while Adam Beard partners Dafydd Jenkins in the second row.
In the absence of Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan and Christ Tshiunza, it is James Botham alongside Tommy Reffell and Aaron Wainwright in the back row.
“Scotland haven’t won here in a long, long time and it’s an opportunity for us to continue with that record,” Gatland said. “The roof’s going to be open, Scotland want the roof open which I think is a little bit disappointing from an atmosphere point of view, because when that roof is shut it does tend to create a lot more atmosphere and noise in the stadium. But that’s the decision that they made.“The players understand how important this first game is in the competition. The sold out stadium, go out there, you get the Six Nations off to a good start, you can create some momentum.“I’ve been really pleased with their attitude and the way that they’ve trained this week and we should be really excited about this first game.”
Cam Winnett to make debut as Wales name side to face Scotland
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:12 , Harry Latham-Coyle
Young full-back Cam Winnett will make his Wales debut with Warren Gatland trusting the 21-year-old in the back three for their Six Nations opener against Scotland.
Fellow Cardiff youngster Alex Mann looks likely to be handed a debut from the bench, while Dafydd Jenkins becomes the second youngest Welsh captain in history.
Warren Gatland said of his debutants: “Cameron Winnett is just a lovely footballer and I think he’s going to develop into a quality international player in the future. He’s young and there’ll be no pressure on him. We’ve been impressed with the way that he’s trained. He’s done really well in training, progressed really well and following consultation with his surgeon everyone was happy for him to be selected.“It’s also great that Alex Mann is on the bench and will hopefully get his debut as well.”
🏴 🏴
👊 Dyma eich tîm i herio’r Alban ddydd Sadwrn
#SixNationsRugby— Welsh Rugby Union 🏴 (@WelshRugbyUnion) February 1, 2024
Six Nations 2024 predictions
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:10 , Jack Rathborn
Most looking forward to
LB: The first Six Nations of a new World Cup cycle always feels like a fresh start as new coaches, captains and players get to make their mark. I am fascinated to see how Italy get on under a new coach, how Wales, England and Ireland replace a talismanic fly-half, how France cope sans the best player in the world and how Scotland’s new co-captains help them bounce back from World Cup heartache. The possibilities are excitingly endless.
HLC: I must admit that the prospect of a return to Marseille didn’t immediately appeal when looking at the itinerary for this championship, the city’s rougher edges becoming more and more apparent as the fortnight I spent there during the World Cup wore on. But France vs Ireland is one heck of an opening game – the Stade Velodrome is a majestic arena that should be jumping with a home side to roar on, featuring two nations still hurting from their World Cup heartbreak and desperate to right a few wrongs.
Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
Six Nations 2024 pundits and commentators for ITV and BBC
Thursday 1 February 2024 12:00 , Jack Rathborn
The Six Nations is set to return to television screens, with the BBC and ITV again sharing coverage of the annual championship.
The two terrestrial broadcasters’ combined deal runs until the end of the 2025 edition.
A number of familiar faces will provide expert insight and analysis across the Six Nations campaign, along with some key new additions.
ITV stalwart Sir Clive Woodward, meanwhile, announced ahead of the start of the tournament that he would no longer feature as the 2003 World Cup-winning coach elects to focus on other business pursuits.
Here is who you can expect to see and hear throughout the Six Nations.
Six Nations 2024 pundits and commentators for ITV and BBC
Netflix’s latest stale sports docuseries fails to give rugby the cut-through it craves
Thursday 1 February 2024 11:50 , Jack Rathborn
There is a scene from I’m Alan Partridge that seems to neatly sum up Netflix’s approach to sporting documentaries. The eponymous broadcaster is trying to convince Tony Hayers, his commissioning editor at the BBC, of the merits of a variety of hare-brained ideas, starting with a police procedural to “put Norwich on the map”.
“Shoestring, Taggart, Spender, Bergerac, Morse,” Partridge begins. “What does that say to you about regional detective series?”
“There’s too many of them?”, Hayers asks.
Partridge: “That’s one way of looking at it, another way of looking at it is: people like them, let’s make some more of them.”
Netflix’s latest stale sports doc fails to give rugby the cut-through it craves
Andy Farrell wants Ireland to be courageous in Six Nations opener against France
Thursday 1 February 2024 11:40 , Jack Rathborn
Andy Farrell has urged Ireland to be courageous when they take on formidable pre-tournament favourites France in a “mouth-watering” Guinness Six Nations curtain-raiser.
The reigning Grand Slam champions are seeking to return to winning ways on Friday evening in Marseille following an agonising 28-24 World Cup quarter-final exit to New Zealand.
Although Les Bleus are without star man Antoine Dupont for this year’s championship, Ireland’s title defence in the post-Johnny Sexton era could not have begun with a tougher fixture.
Andy Farrell wants Ireland to be courageous in Six Nations opener against France
Marcus Smith injury: What are England’s fly half options ahead of Six Nations?
Thursday 1 February 2024 11:30 , Jack Rathborn
England have suffered a blow ahead of the Six Nations after Marcus Smith was ruled out of their opener against Italy in Rome.
The Harlequins playmaker had appeared poised to start at fly half at the Stadio Olimpico with Owen Farrell absent from this tournament but left their training camp in Girona on crutches on Tuesday.
Head coach Steve Borthwick was left nervously waiting on the results of a scan to determine the severity of Smith’s injury but the 24-year-old has now been ruled out of Saturday’s match.
“[Marcus] won’t make this weekend, sadly,” England assistant coach Kevin Sinfield confirmed. “We got the scan report through but we are waiting to understand exactly what that means for us moving forward. He’s not fit for this weekend.”
The announcement of Farrell’s break from international rugby, and the subsequent news that the 32-year-old will be joining Racing 92 in France next season, has left Borthwick seeking a new starter at ten.
Marcus Smith injury: What are England’s fly half options ahead of Six Nations?
England must make Twickenham a horrible place to visit – Jamie George
Thursday 1 February 2024 11:20 , Jack Rathborn
Jamie George insists England are determined to make Twickenham a “horrible” place for opponents to visit while also reassuring fans that their intent is to score more tries.
England open their Six Nations against Italy in Rome on Saturday but George, their captain for the tournament, believes it is the home fixtures against Wales and Ireland that provide crucial opportunities to reconnect with fans.
Head coach Steve Borthwick has highlighted a win ratio of only 50 per cent from the past six Championships as evidence of significant underachievement and George is keen for that to be addressed with a flourish.
England must make Twickenham a horrible place to visit – Jamie George
Six Nations 2024 predictions
Thursday 1 February 2024 11:10 , Jack Rathborn
Breakthrough star
LB: If Chandler Cunningham-South or Ethan Roots get a run-out for England, they can cause serious damage with their destructive ball-carrying, but it’s another back row, Scotland’s Andy Christie, who I’m backing to make an impact. The Saracens star has a handful of international caps but missed the World Cup with a broken arm and is only now getting back to his best. There’s competition in Scotland’s back row but Christie is a powerful carrier, expert chop-tackler and his string of man-of-the-match displays for Sarries show the impact he can have.
HLC: Emmanuel Meafou. An injury looks likely to delay Meafou’s long-awaited France debut, but the giant second row is already one of the best players in Europe and should boost Fabien Galthie’s tight five when back fit. Dextrous, dynamic and destructive, Meafou is a mountain of a man but it is his softer touches that stand out, a fine offloading game supported by real breakdown acumen.
Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
Six Nations 2024 predictions
Thursday 1 February 2024 11:00 , Jack Rathborn
Player of the tournament
LB: Hugo Keenan can cement his spot as the best fullback in the world with another dominant championship but it’s another Ireland star, No 8 Caelan Doris who can have the biggest impact for the team I’ve picked to win the tournament. With Antoine Dupont, the man who has been the official player of the championship for three of the past four years, missing this time around, the opportunity is there for a world-class, game-destroying presence such as Doris to jackal, carry and pass his way to the award.
HLC: If England do secure a surprise crown, Maro Itoje will have been at the heart of it. The lock has been back to somewhere near his best for Saracens this season after an excellent, if under-the-radar, World Cup. Additional leadership responsibilities should suit a player who, at 29, looks set to peak again.
Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
Six Nations 2024 predictions
Thursday 1 February 2024 10:50 , Jack Rathborn
Top try-scorer
LB: Damian Penaud is the safest, and probably most sensible, bet here as the best winger in world rugby but Tommy Freeman has been electric for a Northampton Saints side that have lit up the Gallagher Premiership. He’s a fine finisher and should get first crack at England’s No 11 jersey, when he’ll look to make an impact against an Italy side that may still be unsure of themselves under new coach Quesada. Make hay in Rome and he’ll have an early lead in the try-scoring stakes.
HLC: Ever a difficult category to forecast, with fitness and fluency tough to maintain across a gruelling tournament, But James Lowe will take on extra responsibility in Ireland’s backline with Mack Hansen absent, and a post-World Cup period of rehabilitation might leave him fresher than some others. As an outside bet, Jamie George is going to play a lot of minutes for an England side that may like a maul or two.
Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
Six Nations 2024 predictions
Thursday 1 February 2024 10:40 , Jack Rathborn
Wooden spoon
LB: Wales are in disarray, having lost an almost incomprehensible amount of experience over the past 18 months. From Alun Wyn Jones, Justin Tipuric and Rhys Webb to Dan Biggar, Liam Williams and Leigh Halfpenny, they’ve consistently leaked elite talent. Throw in injuries to Jac Morgan, Dewi Lake, Taulupe Faletau and Ken Owens, among others, plus Louis Rees-Zammit’s defection to the NFL, and this is probably the weakest Wales squad since the 1990s. A loss to a superior Scotland side (albeit one that hasn’t won in Cardiff since 2002) on the opening weekend could set Warren Gatland’s men on a downward slide to a wooden spoon decider against Italy on the final weekend – and we remember what happened in that game two years ago…
HLC: Sadly, Italy. Gonzalo Quesada is a smart appointment, but his plans to refine the side’s slightly harum-scarum gameplan will surely take time, and a couple of key tight five injuries feel significant.
Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
Six Nations 2024 predictions
Thursday 1 February 2024 10:30 , Jack Rathborn
Winner
Luke Baker: The Six Nations could be all over after just 80 minutes of play… Of course, this is an exaggeration but France v Ireland on the opening night, Friday 2 February, in Marseille sees the two best teams going head to head to kick off the competition. The previous two editions of the Six Nations have seen the winner of this game lift the trophy, while the loser has ultimately finished second with an otherwise perfect record and it’s up to the other four countries to show us this won’t just happen again. Les Bleus (Antoine Dupont) and the men in green (Johnny Sexton) have both lost their talisman since the World Cup but their squads are still a cut above the rest, even with those questions to answer. The home side normally wins this fixture, yet France’s injury worries lead me to believe that the relentless green machine Andy Farrell has created can nab a win on the road en route to the title.
Harry Latham-Coyle: The opening game feels like a de facto decider, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that England might just nick it. It’s a kind start for Steve Borthwick’s side, who should take care of business in Rome and against Wales at Twickenham, while it feels like they are overdue a positive Calcutta Cup performance. That would give them belief and bite heading into an encounter with Ireland and a trip to Lyon – win one of the two and secure a bonus point in the other, and that might be enough.
Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more
Six Nations 2024: Six new faces to watch
Thursday 1 February 2024 10:20 , Jack Rathborn
Fraser Dingwall, centre (England)
England’s eternal search for a flourishing midfield partnership appeared to be excitingly close to over ahead of this Six Nations, with the stellar form of Ollie Lawrence and Henry Slade seemingly the perfect combination. Lawrence’s ill-timed injury has thrown a spanner in the works but the Bath man’s loss may be Fraser Dingwall’s gain, with the Northampton Saints star set to get a crack at the No 12 jersey in Rome on the opening weekend.
Saints have been the best team to watch in this year’s Gallagher Premiership thanks to their electric backline and Dingwall is a big reason why. He’s not necessarily the fastest, strongest or biggest centre but he captains the Saints defence with his ferocious tackling (he’s known as ‘M1’ due to his two hard shoulders…) and has more metres per carry than any other player in this season’s Champions Cup. He’s an elite distributor and Steve Borthwick has talked up his leadership abilities, so having been in 10 previous England squads without making his international debut, it finally seems to be the 24-year-old’s time.
Six Nations 2024: Six new faces to watch
Thursday 1 February 2024 10:10 , Jack Rathborn
Cam Winnett, full-back (Wales)
With a 12-cap, 21-year-old captain, and 12 players with three caps or fewer, opportunity abounds for the next Welsh generation, who will look to build on encouraging showings in the United Rugby Championship. The path to a start looks kind for Cam Winnett, impressive for Cardiff this campaign, with Liam Williams in Japan, Leigh Halfpenny retired and Louis Rees-Zammit chasing his American dream.
Winnett has the solid skills required of a full-back and has responded well to the backing shown of him by Matt Sherratt in the Welsh capital this season. While it will take time to develop as a backfield defender, with Williams and Halfpenny two of the best in the world in that regard, having club teammates Josh Adams and Mason Grady in the back three mix should help him out.
Six Nations 2024: Six new faces to watch
Thursday 1 February 2024 10:00 , Jack Rathborn
Ross Vintcent, No 8 (Italy)
How new Italy coach Gonzalo Quesada shapes his team will be fascinating to see and the numbers game suggests at least one of the trio of uncapped props he named in his initial 36-man squad will get a runout in round one – with Benetton specimen Mirco Spagnolo perhaps the most likely. But it’s another man yet to make his debut who could have a big impact for the Azzurri as the tournament progresses, Exeter star Ross Vintcent.
As quick a No 8 as you’ll find, the 21-year-old showed off his wheels with a brilliant hat-trick against London Scottish in the Premiership Rugby Cup back in October – including a try where he goosestepped before beating two members of the Scottish back three round the outside – causing Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter to label him “a special talent”. Unfairly, he is perhaps currently best-known for a kicking blunder at the end of Exeter’s Champions Cup match against Glasgow.
The path to an Italy start may initially be blocked by an impressive back-row group including Michele Lamaro, Seb Negri and Lorenzo Cannone, but the South African-born talent should get a shot at some point during the championship.
Six Nations 2024: Six new faces to watch
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:50 , Jack Rathborn
Andy Christie, flanker (Scotland)
Scotland’s relatively settled squad makes picking a potential breakthrough player difficult, but this could be the campaign where Andy Christie really emerges on the international stage. Competition is fierce for places in Gregor Townsend’s first-choice back row but Christie offers something a little bit different, an explosive athlete and solid lineout operator who is playing with confidence even in an unsettled season for Saracens.
Christie’s World Cup dreams were dashed by an arm injury that required multiple surgeries, but he’s kicked up a gear over the last few months and at 24, feels perfectly placed to accelerate his development during this World Cup cycle. Rory Darge and Jack Dempsey feel locked in as back-row starters – Christie might be the best fit alongside them.
Six Nations 2024: Six new faces to watch
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:40 , Jack Rathborn
Jack Crowley, fly half (Ireland)
And so, the quest to replace the irreplaceable Johnny Sexton begins for Ireland. Captain, tone-setter, leader, legend – Sexton will be conspicuous by his absence from the first Six Nations since his international retirement but Munster’s Jack Crowley will have to ignore any comparisons and focus on being the best fly half he can as he gets first shot at filling the No 10 jersey.
A handful of previous caps may help the 24-year-old settle in but running the show from the start, and potentially for the foreseeable future, is a very different prospect to spelling Sexton when he needs a breather. Luckily, Crowley has a swagger that belies his years and, as his key role in Munster’s United Rugby Championship triumph showed, has no problem marshalling an elite unit. He nailed a 77th-minute drop goal to down Leinster in the semi-finals of that iconic URC victory and will need to similarly show his Irish compatriots that this is now his team.
Six new faces to watch during the Six Nations
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:30 , Jack Rathborn
Nolann Le Garrec, scrum half (France)
It is a mark of France’s remarkable production line that they can call upon two of the most in-form scrum-halves in Europe to compensate for the absence of the best player in the world. Maxime Lucu is likely to step into the starting role in Antoine Dupont’s absence, joining up with Bordeaux-Begles half-back partner Matthieu Jalibert, but expect to see plenty of Racing 92’s Nolann Le Garrec off the bench.
At 21, Le Garrec is already in his fourth season as a regular Top 14 starter, showing off a complete skillset and serious steel. He missed out on a debut having been an unused substitute against Italy last year, but Le Garrec has the talent and temperament to thrive in Test rugby.
Ireland duo set for Six Nations debuts in opener against France
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:19 , Jack Rathborn
Munster wing Calvin Nash and Leinster lock Joe McCarthy will make their Six Nations debuts in Ireland’s championship opener against France but centre Garry Ringrose misses out due to a shoulder issue.
Jack Crowley has been selected at fly-half for Friday evening’s curtain-raiser in Marseille following the retirement of former captain Johnny Sexton after the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Andy Farrell’s starting XV, led by flanker Peter O’Mahony, shows just four changes from Ireland’s 28-24 quarter-final defeat to New Zealand on October 14, with Robbie Henshaw coming in for the sidelined Ringrose in the other alteration.
Ireland duo set for Six Nations debuts in opener against France
In-form Glasgow wing Kyle Rowe hoping to win race for Scotland starting spot
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:18 , Jack Rathborn
Glasgow wing Kyle Rowe has declared himself ready to step into the Scotland starting line-up in the absence of the injured Darcy Graham for Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations opener away to Wales.
The 25-year-old has scored seven tries so far in his first season since returning to Warriors following the demise of previous club London Irish last summer, including three in his last two outings before meeting up with Gregor Townsend’s squad.
Edinburgh wing Graham will miss at least the first two matches of the championship, in Cardiff and at home to France, with a quad issue.
In-form Glasgow wing Kyle Rowe hoping to win race for Scotland starting spot
England suffer Six Nations injury blow as Marcus Smith ruled out of Italy clash
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:17 , Jack Rathborn
England are reeling from the loss of Marcus Smith for Saturday’s Six Nations opener against Italy because of a calf problem.
Smith suffered the injury at the squad’s training camp in Girona on Monday and England are waiting for a second opinion on the scan before confirming a return date, raising the possibility that he could miss additional matches.
The 24-year-old was in strong contention to start the Rome showdown at fly-half, competing with George Ford and Fin Smith for the jersey.
England suffer Six Nations injury blow as Marcus Smith ruled out of Italy clash
Evolving Six Nations brings opportunity for all – but one certainty remains
Thursday 1 February 2024 09:12 , Jack Rathborn
Perhaps not since the Springtime of the Peoples in 1848 has this time of year promised such significant change across Europe. The Six Nations arrives with transformative winds blowing; never before has this tournament been defined as much by those absent as present.
The start of a new World Cup cycle is always a time of recasting but this has been a dramatic winter of abdications and coronations. Five of the six competing nations will be under new captains, Jamie George, Peter O’Mahony, Finn Russell and Gregory Alldritt are familiar faces; Dafydd Jenkins and Rory Darge rather less so.
Four of the fly halves who ended last year’s competition as their nation’s first-choice option are absent. In the past year, the record men’s cap-holders for England, Wales and Italy have entered international retirement, and several more centurions have laid down their shields.
Evolving Six Nations brings opportunity – but one certainty remains
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