Six Nations storylines: England, Ireland, Scotland, France title scrap and Warren Gatland gamble to define 2025 edition
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Published 30/01/2025 at 12:01 GMT
The 2025 Six Nations promises to be full of drama as England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales all go toe-to-toe in their annual battle on one of rugby’s biggest stages. Who will prevail in what looks set to be one of the closest title scraps in recent memory? And who will be left licking their wounds for the rest of the year before they get a shot at redemption?
Six Nations - Gatland, Borthwick, Easterby
Image credit: Getty Images
The Six Nations is almost upon us as the best of the northern hemisphere battle it out in one of the sport’s showpiece events.
As ever, there are those considered favourites for the title, teams more likely to be left with the wooden spoon than challenge for top honours, and those capable of springing a surprise.
Among the storylines, perhaps this year more so than in recent iterations, is that this could be one of the most competitive tournaments in the Six Nations era.
In fact, a case could be made that four of the sides have a realistic shot at claiming the ultimate prize.
Ahead of what promises to be a Six Nations full of incredible drama, there is no shortage of talking points.
France and Ireland favourites?
Ireland come into the Six Nations as the back-to-back defending champions and will be fancied by many to seal a famous and unprecedented hat-trick. However, with head coach Andy Farrell now officially on Lions duty, Simon Easterby has taken the reins, and that could well have an impact.
Ireland’s form during the Autumn Nations Series is also likely to have sparked concern among supporters. Their opener against New Zealand was given all the hype and build-up it deserved, but in the end the hosts failed to fire as they lost at home for the first time in 19 matches.
That was followed by hard-fought wins over Argentina and Australia, which sandwiched a 52-17 demolition of Fiji. Can Ireland and Easterby now re-discover their vim as they bid for their 'threepeat'?
France, meanwhile, secured a dramatic victory over New Zealand in November to go with wins over Japan and Argentina and are, for many, the pre-tournament favourites.
The draw - on paper - also looks kinder for Les Bleus, who welcome Wales to Paris in the Friday night curtain-raiser before away games against England and Italy.
In contrast, Ireland begin their campaign by hosting England at Aviva Stadium before a tough trip to Scotland in Edinburgh. The stakes are always high, but the opening two weekends could prove more pivotal than ever.
England and Scotland contenders?
England and Scotland will also be eyeing a title tilt. With shoots of promise in the autumn mixed with difficult results, Steve Borthwick’s side remain something of an unknown, but with a wealth of talent everywhere you look, they could contend if they get things to click.
They beat Ireland by a point in a Twickenham thriller last year, and while repeating the feat away is a tough ask, that result will have given them belief they can score a momentum-building upset.
And then there’s Scotland. Gregor Townsend’s are the great entertainers and beat Australia convincingly in their last outing.
Much has been made of the current crop of Scottish talent, but can they now capitalise and bring home some long-awaited silverware?
The loss of captain Sione Tuipulotu will be difficult to overcome, but with the likes of Finn Russell, Huw Jones, Duhan van der Merwe and Darcy Graham in attack, they can’t be written off.
Will Gatland’s gamble pay off?
Warren Gatland oversaw 12 successive defeats in a winless 2024, the worst run in the history of the national side. The Kiwi survived scrutiny in the autumn but could be under fire once again should things unravel further.
But he certainly can’t be accused of playing it safe with his squad, which is made up of largely inexperienced players, although stalwarts such as Liam Williams, Josh Adams and Taulupe Faletau have been recalled.
Gatland said his group has a "good blend of exciting young talent and experience" and a "huge amount of potential" when it was announced, but the omissions of Max Llewellyn, Rio Dyer and Cameron Winnett, to name but a few, raised some eyebrows.
The veteran coach is also without the likes of Dewi Lake, Ryan Elias, Sam Costelow and Adam Beard through injury.
It’s a bold strategy but in the same breath, it’s hard to argue with the logic that some level of change was required.
Wales have typically punched above their weight as a rugby nation, and they will need to rediscover the grit that has characterised so many Welsh sides of years gone by if they are to end their drought.
They face France in Paris first up in a brutal opener before travelling to Rome to play Italy.
Tricky fixtures at home to Ireland and away to Scotland follow before they host England on Super Saturday.
Gatland has said he will be leaning into the "siege mentality" and will be desperate for that to help create a positive campaign.
TNT Sports experts have their say...
Brian O’Driscoll on Ireland:
"There’s some hang-up [with Ireland]. There’s something left going, ‘Are we quite the same team we were in the World Cup in 2023?’"
Austin Healey on England:
"The beauty about this tournament now is those first two games. If England go away and win their first game, they go back to Twickenham and they play France. They win their first two games, they then become favourites for the tournament.
"Conversely, if they lose in Dublin and they lose at Twickenham, we'll be talking about Borthwick getting the sack."
Johnnie Beattie on Scotland:
"Italy first up and then we play against Ireland, that’s the big one. What can we conjure from our opening two rounds?
"Ireland we’ve always struggled against physically. Can we shift them around the park? Can we target whoever is going to be playing 10 for them? Can we get over the gain line and allow Finn [Russell] an occasion to spring our back three into the game?
"Those two games are the key to the tournament for Scotland and we go from there."
Sam Warburton on Wales:
"The biggest omission is Max Llewellyn, which I don’t think anybody can really understand. He would’ve been the top try scorer in the Prem at the time of picking the squad and he’s versatile – can play 12 or 13 and has been on the wing for Gloucester.
"Wales’ two biggest backline ball-carriers going into the Six Nations would have been Max Llewellyn and Mason Grady, and they haven’t got either.
"Some good news is that Jac Morgan is back and named as captain. Taulupe Faletau is back, Josh Adams, Liam Williams, that’ll add some nous."
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