Six Nations 2024: What is England’s style? How will Ireland fare without Johnny Sexton? The big questions answered
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Published 01/02/2024 at 17:10 GMT
TNT Sports experts Ugo Monye, Brian O’Driscoll, Tom Shanklin and Stuart Hogg have been on hand to answer all the big questions facing England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland ahead of the 2024 Six Nations tournament which gets underway on Friday. How will England cope without Ollie Lawrence? What next for Ireland? Will this 'new-look' Wales turn up on the big stage? Can Scotland go all the way?
PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 27: Jamie George of England looks on during the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Bronze Final match between Argentina and England at Stade de France on October 27, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo by Franco Arland/Getty Images)
Image credit: Eurosport
TNT Sports' experts have been answering the big questions facing England, Ireland, Wales and Scotland ahead of the 2024 Six Nations, which kicks off on Friday.
How big a miss is Ollie Lawrence for England? How will Ireland fare without Johnny Sexton?
Is it nerves or excitement for this new-look Wales side? Can Scotland win the Grand Slam?
Former international stars Ugo Monye, Brian O’Driscoll, Tom Shanklin and Stuart Hogg have offered their take as the tournament edges closer.
England will miss ‘invaluable’ Lawrence
Ugo Monye couldn’t speak highly enough of Bath centre Lawrence, but that won’t help Steve Borthwick who will be without the 24-year-old for the Six Nations.
“He’s been invaluable for England,” Monye said. “He’s been absolutely sensational. He had a really good World Cup and is having a good season in that Bath side.
“He’s so direct on both sides of the ball, scoring tries. The form that he’s currently in is exactly what England need at 12.
“Him being missing, he’ll be sorely missed but hopefully, there are plenty of other quality players that can play in a similar way to impose themselves into whatever side Steve Borthwick picks.”
The former Harlequins man hopes to see a “more attacking approach” from England.
“I think that’s the next stage,” Monye said. “It’s probably the area of most potential and growth within them."
Ireland entering new era after Sexton
Defending champions Ireland kick-start the tournament with a trip to the Stade Velodrome to face France on Friday.
One player they will be without is newly-retired legend Sexton, but this is a new era for Ireland according to O’Driscoll, who is intrigued to find out who steps into the former captain's shoes.
“It’s an end of an era, 14 years of having him as your number one ‘10’, the player, the personality but the on-field coach as well,” he told TNT Sports.
“It’s so unusual, but it’s a chance for somebody else, most likely Jack Crowley, to step up to the plate and put his stamp on and his flavour in how the team should be run.
“It does definitely have a feeling of small transition such is the magnitude of losing someone of Johnny’s character.”
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PARIS, FRANCE - OCTOBER 14: Johnny Sexton of Ireland looks dejected at full-time after their team's loss in the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between Ireland and New Zealand at Stade de France on October 14, 2023 in Paris, France. (Photo
Image credit: Eurosport
Ireland are not the only team who will be looking to turn their fortunes around at the Six Nations, former Ireland skipper O’Driscoll believes.
“There are a few teams that have a point to prove,” he said. “I think you’ve got to use that emotion and disappointment to fuel your charges and get yourselves back to winning ways.
“The Six Nations is always a huge tournament. The World Cup is once every four years but getting to play at the Six Nations annually, anyone who has played in it before knows it’s all about momentum, that first game.
“If you win the first one you’re off on a high, if you lose it you’re scrambling immediately, that’s why focus first up is so key.”
A ‘mixture of nerves and excitement’ for Wales
There has been a lot of talk about how Wales will cope on the big stage during a rebuilding phase, with a lot of big-name absentees and a fresh crop of players coming through.
Taulupe Faletau, Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake are injured, while Louis Rees-Zammit has joined the NFL’s development programme.
Mainstays Leigh Halfpenny and Dan Biggar have recently retired, and Liam Williams is now plying his trade in Japan.
“A mixture of nerves and excitement,” Shanklin admitted when asked how he felt about the upcoming tournament. “It’s exciting to see if some of these players can step up to the level required to play for Wales internationally.
"I’m a little bit nervous that Wales will be going through a transition period. A lot of players have left, and there are a lot of injuries. But we could see the next new talent come through.
“There’s plenty in the squad, there’s a lot of youth in there with a fair bit of experience, but I’m torn. There’s mixed emotions.”
One player Shanklin is excited to see is 21-year-old Dafydd Jenkins, who has been appointed captain for the tournament in the absence of Morgan and Lake.
“I think he’s ready to lead the side,” Shanklin said. “He is young, but he’s a very good leader, he’s a very good talker, he’s a good communicator.
“He has to start, that’s why they’ve picked him. You have to be a guaranteed starter and he’s someone that has captained before.
“It’s a great opportunity for him to show what he’s like as a leader, we know what he’s like as a player. But to captain your country is absolutely massive and I'm sure he’ll be brilliant at it.”
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MARSEILLE, FRANCE - OCTOBER 14: Dafydd Jenkins of Wales applauds the fans after the Rugby World Cup France 2023 Quarter Final match between Wales and Argentina at Stade Velodrome on October 14, 2023 in Marseille, France. (Photo by Paul Harding/Getty Image
Image credit: Eurosport
Can Scotland win it?
Wales’ first test is up against Gregor Townsend’s Scotland, and Stuart Hogg wants to see a much-improved Scottish side in the Welsh capital following an underwhelming showing at the World Cup in France.
“I think the learnings will be taken on board,” Hogg said, reflecting on Scotland’s group-stage exit. “I think Scotland are a fantastic side, they’ve got some quality players and great coaching staff.
“First up against Wales down in Cardiff will be a massive challenge but the boys are more than capable of going there and winning.
“It’s all about momentum in this tournament, so hopefully, there is no World Cup hangover for this tournament, they can properly kick on and show what they’re about.”
On Scotland’s hopes of winning the Six Nations, Hogg added: “I think they’ve got a great chance like everybody else.
“The first couple of weeks are massive in terms of building that cohesion, the players haven’t been there for a while, since the World Cup. A chance to put all the structures back in place.
“They’ll not be looking too far ahead but if they get a good couple of wins early on then they give themselves every opportunity.”
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