France favorites, Ireland and England on the lookout, Wales decimated… What you need to know about the 2022 edition

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A year after the final victory of Wales, the Six Nations Tournament resumes its rights. The public is back after a last edition behind closed doors. An exciting Ireland-Wales will open the festivities on Saturday February 5 at 3:15 p.m.

This 2022 edition is particularly indecisive. If Italy clearly appears to be the weakest of the teams and should win a seventh wooden spoon, the other five nations have a role to play. A year and a half before the World Cup in France, European rugby is looking for its gondola head. Franceinfo: sport offers you an inventory.

France favorite, unless…

This time they can no longer hide. After two promising editions, the Blues Galthié version start their tournament in the skin of the team to beat. The resounding victory against the All Blacks in November (40-25) like the favorable schedule (three receptions for two trips) reinforce this feeling. The XV of France seems to assume this status, like a Gaël Fickou haranguing his team in training: “This year is for us”. Any other result than a final victory would be, twelve years after the last Grand Slam, experienced as a failure.

Eighteen months before “its” World Cup, France must now capitalize on the promises made… provided that the Covid-19 spares the Blues, a year after the Roman waffle affair. Several Toulouse residents, Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont in the lead, also contracted the virus in January. We saw them in their infancy for their return on Saturday against Racing. Will they have recovered enough to support the physical load of an international match? The reception of Italy, Sunday at 4 p.m., will make it possible to see more clearly.

England guided by the wonder Marcus Smith

To vegetate after the hangover of a last calamitous tournament (fifth)? Very little for the English. Fallouts of South Africa (27-26) and Australia (32-15) in 2021, Eddie Jones’ players have thus corrected the situation and attack the 2022 edition reinvigorated. Executives Ben Youngs, Maro Itoje and Courtney Lawes are still there, accompanied by a radiant new wave. She is embodied by the prodigy Marcus Smith (22 years old). The Harlequins opener is, excuse the little, passed in front of George Ford in the hierarchy.

In the absence of captain Owen Farrell, Smith will be responsible for the goal, not likely to scare the opener to the five small selections, whose size (1m75) frankly clashes with the behemoths of the oval planet. We are already looking forward to seeing number 10, with a more Jalibert profile than Ntamack, tread the lawn of the Stade de France on March 19, for what could be the final of the Six Nations Tournament.

Ireland and Sexton expected at the turn

This time again, Ireland will not deny itself. The XV of Clover will rely on an ever more solid package of forwards. It is also a safe bet that most Irish tries are scored on ball carried or after a shelling of the big ones. This is how Tadhg Furlong’s teammates suffocated the New Zealanders in November (29-20). Never revolutionary but oh so effective, Ireland is not far from being named co-favorite at the start of the tournament.

The four provinces (Ulster, Munster, Leinster, Connacht) providing talent for the selection have all shone in the European Cup. But an Irish sky is never completely spared by the clouds, one can not help but express doubts about the health of Jonathan Sexton. Affected by concussions, can the 36-year-old opener still withstand the shocks of a ruthless international rugby? The form of its emblematic captain will greatly depend on the results of Ireland, which is also little varnished (trips to France and England).

When six beings are missing from Leek’s XV…

What would Alphonse de Lamartine have said about this Welsh selection? Holder of the title, the XV of Leek advances decimated. Six key players who tickled the Grand Slam last year are absent for this edition. The pack was cut off from the three third line lieutenants (Josh Navidi, Taulupe Faletau and Justin Tipuric) as well as hooker Ken Owens, when the three-quarter line was disoriented by the loss of finisher George North.

The iconic Alun-Wyn Jones will miss his first tournament since 2006. (ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP)

To top it off, the emblematic captain Alun Wyn Jones, 149 caps, is also on the sidelines and will miss his first Six Nations Tournament since 2006. Add to that disappointing results in November (losses against South Africa 18- 23, and New Zealand, 16-54) and perilous trips to Dublin and London, you will get the cocktail that worries a team in delicacy. However, already last year, no one was expecting the Welsh. This time again, the brilliant Dan Biggar and the Louis Rees-Zammit rocket should bother more than one.

And if the lose finally leaving Edinburgh?

In 2021, the XV du Chardon was probably the main itchy hair of the competition, but without taking advantage of the itching caused. Bad tongues will say that wasting two exploits at Twickenham and Stade de France by losing against Ireland and Wales is, basically, terribly scottish. Will it be different in 2022? Their progress is, in any case, indisputable. In November, Scotland offered the scalp of Australia (15-13), then proved to be catchy against the South African world champions (15-30).

We can not, either, blame Gregor Townsend for not doing in continuity. The forces remain the same: despite a limited pool, the excellent Hamish Watson will guide the troops in front, while the whimsical Finn Russell and Stuart Hogg will animate the rear lines. From there to aiming for the final victory, there remains a difficult step to take. But just to re-hear the mythical Flower of Scotland a capella after a year of withdrawal, following the men of Murrayfield will be worth the detour.


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