France and Ireland had an admittedly placid Six Nations start. The first, after 20 minutes of doubt, imposed their superiority against Italy; the seconds passed over a Wales with many important casualties. It could be said that this Saturday (17:45, the entire tournament on #Vamos and Movistar Deportes), in Paris, the tournament really begins for the a priori main favorite for the title, the Gallo, and a Clover that started with less poster but has presented champion credentials.
The big news in France is the return of the tournament’s most distinctive player, scrum-half Antoine Dupont, now recovered from his physical problems. Cretin replaces Cros in the third row and Moefana replaces the injured Danty in 12. The six forwards that Galthié leaves on the bench are a declaration of intent: he wants to play the battle on the physical plane, perhaps the only one in which his team can leave from behind In Ireland there is not a high, but a low. That of his captain and 10 of his, Jonathan Sexton, bruised his hamstring. Thus, Joey Carbery, today the best placed to succeed him when he retiresYou will have a litmus test. Andy Farrell, who is confident in his replacement’s ability to “produce” rugby, otherwise does not move a single note in the score, applying the maxim that it is better not to change what works.
Also this Saturday (15:15), in Cardiff, Scotland can take a giant step in their aspirations if they take down a diminished but always tough Wales at home. Unlike his Irish counterpart, Gregor Townsend has killed the entire front row that played against England and bets on Schoeman, McInally and Nel. In the third Skinner replaced Ritchie, who left Murrayfield on a stretcher, and Tuipulotu replaced Johnson in the first center. Wales, who despite the downpour that fell in Dublin does not have much more wardrobe, gives entry to Morgan for Jenkins in the third, Watkin for Adams in 13 after the failed experiment with the latter, and Cuthbert in 14 for McNicholl.
On Sunday (16:00) England will be able to lick their wounds in the Calcutta Cup against an Italy that has already lost 33 straight. After the disaster of the last minutes against Scotland, Eddie Jones brings on George and Stuart for Cowan-Dickie and Sinckler in the first; Ewels in the second moving Itoje to 6, from which Ludlam comes out, touched; Dombrandt in the 8 instead of Simmonds, who has wasted another bullet with the Australian; Randall at 9 for Youngs; and Marchant in the 13th for Daly, leaving the left wing free for Nowell.