Six Nations 2018: Former England winger Ugo Monye previews tournament and tells us who to watch out for
Teaming up with SunSport, he looks at current teams, history, memories, fans and rivalries — which are all pretty epic
FORMER England winger Ugo Monye has teamed up with SunSport to give you the best coverage of the Six Nations.
The history of the tournament, the memories, the fans and the rivalries are all pretty epic.
Here Monye looks at the teams.
ENGLAND
I’M not subscribing to the theory England are hampered by injuries and the form of their clubs in Europe.
Skipper Dylan Hartley has the chance to do something that no England captain has ever done before and claim a hat-trick of crowns.
In Owen Farrell, England have a player who is big in defence, calls the shots in attack and is top points scorer.
And it’s a big opportunity for Sam Simmonds to start his first game in the tournament with the loss of Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes to injury.
KEY MAN: Owen Farrell.
WALES
THEY have had a fairly abject last few years. The autumn was about this new style of play, which isn’t so new according to their coaches.
They beat South Africa, but who hasn’t in the last 12 months? They have some big players out injured, but with a lot of Scarlets players coming, I’m sure there is a swagger around the place.
Warren Gatland likes being written off. I think they are about 16/1 to win it and he’s already said if you’ve got any spare change to lump it on.
KEY MAN: Alun Wyn Jones.
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SCOTLAND
WE have heard the narrative around Scotland before.
People are excited and I hope they live up to the hype.
But last year they played England at Twickenham and reality hit as they were hammered 61-21.
Their front-row lacks strength and depth. For all their star backs like Finn Russell, Ali Price and Stuart Hogg — these guys wont be seeing the ball if you can’t resource it. That’s coach Gregor Townsend’s biggest challenge. I don’t think they will be a threat to who wins the Six Nations this year.
KEY MAN: Finn Russell.
IRELAND
OUT of all the home nations they are the most settled side.
There’s also the emergence of full-back Jordan Larmour and winger Jacob Stockdale.
They have quality on a conveyor belt of talent. It is hard to pick weaknesses in their squad.
And you look at their defence coach Andy Farrell and you know what to expect.
They are so hard to break down and the All Blacks struggled to do just that in the summer against the Lions.
KEY MAN: Conor Murray.
FRANCE
This team are the closest thing you will get to seeing anyone play Barbarians style rugby in this Six Nations.
Their fans are craving to see their side replicate the heroics of the great 1980s and 1990s sides — but I don’t know why they have left back-row star Louis Picamoles at home. That seems just mad to me.
The debut of fly-half Matthieu Jalibert, 19, is an immediate headline grabber. He will pip Freddie Michalak by 57 days to become their youngest starting No 10 in the tournament.
KEY MAN: Guilhem Guirado (captain).
ITALY
WHEN you have fair-weather fans who only really care about the Six Nations, it’s crucial to put in a big result to get that feel-good factor going.
I don’t think it will happen tomorrow against England but the Azzurri really need to give their fans something to shout about this year.
There’s only so long that coach Conor O’Shea and his staff can carry on picking their side up off the floor.
KEY MAN: Carlo Canna.