This year’s Six Nations will be a tight affair and I believe it’s one of the closest to call in years.
Here’s how RUCK writer Taylor Richards predicted the table will finish…
6th. Italy
Despite the poor performances in past competitions, Italy have bags of confidence to take from their improvements in the PRO 14. With Conor O’Shea in charge, we should expect to see a competitive Italian squad playing with the passion and desire that we have come to see and love, especially from captain Parisse.
Italy’s @sergioparisse is already one of the best ever to play in the #NatWest6Nations.
He could equal one of @BrianODriscoll‘s great Championship records this year.
Read @JackoRugby on the Italian No. 8’s chance to make history: https://t.co/7h3d31c0gb pic.twitter.com/Z7JCBlRdcD
— NatWest 6 Nations (@SixNationsRugby) January 30, 2018
It’s a tough start as they host the reigning champions in the opening game and will be looking to cause a huge upset and getting their first ever victory over England. A lot can happen in rugby, like we saw with Japan beating the Springboks, but it will be a huge challenge for the Italians to avoid finishing bottom of the pile.
5th. France
It’s always difficult to predict how France will come into the 6 nations over the past couple of years and this time around is no different. New head coach, Jacques Brunel, will be looking to blood young players into the squad as France look to evolve their style and retain their competitiveness that has gone amiss in recent times.
They come up against an in-form Ireland team and will be a tough opening test for Les Bleus. Momentum can be key in this competition and if France can get off to a winning start then it could blow the title race wide open.