For rugby union fans the return of Six Nations action can’t come soon enough and the penultimate weekend provides three intriguing contests in Rome, London and Cardiff.
Starting in Rome at 14:15 on Saturday, Scotland will be determined to keep the title race going for at least a few hours longer when they take on Italy at the Stadio Olimpico.
Ireland could have the title wrapped up with a game to spare if the result in Rome goes their way and they overcome England in a crunch match at Twickenham on Saturday at 16:45.
Sunday’s 15:00 game in Cardiff completes the fourth round, with Wales and France set to battle it out at the Principality Stadium.
- Scotland to win by 1-12 points
- Ireland to win by 1-12 points
- France to win by 13 points or more
Italy vs Scotland
Scotland will be feeling they should be still on course for a Grand Slam as they head to Italy, with the infamous TMO decision denying a late try against the French still hanging over Gregor Townsend’s side.
There is nothing the Scots could do about the decision but they responded in the perfect way with a 30-21 Calcutta Cup win over oldest rivals England at Murrayfield.
Scotland next head to Rome looking to secure what would be a 14th consecutive win over Italy but they certainly won’t take a victory over the Azzurri for granted.
Italy go into this game on the back of a thrilling 13-13 draw in France but will be feeling it was an opportunity missed for a famous win over Les Bleus.
It will be interesting to see how Italy respond to that heartbreak after a last-gasp penalty from Paolo Garbisi struck the post.
France dominated that first half against the Italians but could not build a score, before centre Jonathan Danty was sin-binned and then red carded for a high-tackle just before half-time.
That red card changed the game and Scotland will know they have to be on point with their discipline this weekend in Rome.
Scotland are the favourites with a -11.5 handicap going into this game but it might be closer than many predict.
The Scots were fortunate to beat Italy in their last Six Nations encounter at Murrayfield and another tight battle, which should see Scotland victorious, might well be on the cards this weekend.
SCOTLAND TO WIN BY 1-12 POINTS
Italy vs Scotland Teams
Italy: 15 Ange Capuozzo, 14 Louis Lynagh, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 11 Monty Ioane, 10 Paolo Garbisi, 9 Martin Page-Relo, 8 Ross Vintcent, 7 Michele Lamaro (c), 6 Sebastian Negri, 5 Federico Ruzza, 4 Niccolò Cannone, 3 Simone Ferrari, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 1 Danilo Fischetti
Bench: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Spanish Mirco, 18 Giosuè Zilocchi, 19 Andrea Zambonin, 20 Lorenzo Cannone, 21 Stephen Varney, 22 Leonardo Marin, 23 Federico Mori
Scotland: 15 Blair Kinghorn, 14 Kyle Steyn, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Cameron Redpath, 11 Duhan van der Merwe, 10 Finn Russell (cc), 9 George Horne, 8 Jack Dempsey, 7 Rory Darge (cc), 6 Andy Christie, 5 Scott Cummings, 4 Grant Gilchrist, 3 Zander Fagerson, 2 George Turner, 1 Pierre Schoeman
Bench: 16 Ewan Ashman, 17 Alec Hepburn, 18 Elliot Millar-Mills, 19 Sam Skinner, 20 Jamie Ritchie, 21 Matt Fagerson, 22 Ali Price, 23 Kyle Rowe
England vs Ireland
The Irish juggernaut’s next destination is Twickenham on Saturday evening, as head coach Andy Farrell and his side take on England.
Ireland have secured a maximum total of 15 points from the first three rounds of the competition and are firmly on course for back-to-back Grand Slams for the first time in the tournament’s history.
France, Italy and Wales were no match for the Irish and it’s hard to see them slipping up against an England side that still seems to be looking for an identity to their rugby.
A new blitz defence has been hit and miss throughout the competition, while the English attack has appeared rudderless at times, especially after going through the first few pre-planned phases.
After a strong start at Murrayfield to burst into a 10-0 lead and really put the Scots under pressure, it was England who suddenly lost their shape and ended up losing by nine points against a Scotland side that didn’t really hit top gear themselves.
Playing on a favourable half of a World Cup draw last year to finish third in the competition appears to have papered over some of the cracks for this England side and serious questions are being asked of head coach Steve Borthwick.
Saturday offers an opportunity for redemption from a fourth consecutive Calcutta Cup defeat but England would need to put in their best performance since Borthwick’s arrival to get close to Ireland.
The Irish have moved seamlessly into the post-Jonathan Sexton era, with fly-half Jack Crowley bringing his own attributes to the table.
Ireland should have the grunt up front, the set-piece and the power game in the backs to overcome England but don’t expect a blowout, with the Red Rose a tougher proposition at Rugby HQ.
England vs Ireland Teams
England: 15 George Furbank, 14 Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, 13 Henry Slade, 12 Ollie Lawrence, 11 Tommy Freeman, 10 George Ford, 9 Alex Mitchell, 8 Ben Earl, 7 Sam Underhill, 6 Ollie Chessum, 5 George Martin, 4 Maro Itoje, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Jamie George (c), 1 Ellis Genge
Bench: 16 Theo Dan, 17 Joe Marler, 18 Will Stuart, 19 Chandler Cunningham-South, 20 Alex Dombrandt, 21 Danny Care, 22 Marcus Smith, 23 Elliot Daly
Ireland: 15 Hugo Keenan, 14 Calvin Nash, 13 Robbie Henshaw, 12 Bundee Aki, 11 James Lowe, 10 Jack Crowley, 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 8 Caelan Doris, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Peter O’Mahony (c), 5 Tadhg Beirne, 4 Joe McCarthy, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Sheehan, 1 Andrew Porter
Bench: 16 Ronan Kelleher, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Finlay Bealham, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Ryan Baird, 21 Jack Conan, 22 Conor Murray, 23 Ciaran Frawley
Wales vs France
After the thrills and spills Saturday will undoubtedly provide, it’s off to Cardiff on Sunday for a showdown between Wales and France.
These sides have played out some cracking Test matches over the years, with one or both usually competing for the title.
However, it’s very much a different story this season, as Wales search for their first win of the tournament, while France have one, controversial, win to their name.
Indiscipline has been the undoing of the French for much of this tournament, with red cards against both Ireland and Italy.
It’s an area Les Bleus must address if they are to overcome this new-look Wales side on their own patch.
Wales were outmuscled last time out against the Irish, which is certainly no disgrace, as it’s what Ireland tend to do these days.
Last time Wales ran out at the Principality Stadium they went down by 27-0 to Scotland, before a thrilling comeback saw the game finish 27-26.
Warren Gatland’s side certainly can’t afford that sort of start against the French, who could run away with this one if they get their tails up in the opening 20 minutes.
France have certainly missed scrum-half Antoine Dupont this tournament after his decision to play sevens rugby ahead of the Olympic Games this summer.
However, this is still a bruising French pack and a side that, if they click, could steamroll this young Welsh team on Sunday.
If France keep 15 players on the field for most of the game in Cardiff, they should be able to notch up their second win of the competition, leaving Wales in danger of the dreaded wooden spoon.
FRANCE TO WIN BY 13 POINTS OR MORE
Wales vs France Teams
Wales: 15 Cameron Winnett, 14 Josh Adams, 13 Joe Roberts, 12 Owen Watkin, 11 Rio Dyer, 10 Sam Costelow, 9 Tomos Williams, 8 Aaron Wainwright, 7 Tommy Reffell, 6 Dafydd Jenkins (c), 5 Adam Beard, 4 Will Rowlands, 3 Keiron Assiratti, 2 Ryan Elias, 1 Gareth Thomas
Bench: 16 Elliot Dee, 17 Corey Domachowski, 18 Dillon Lewis, 19 Alex Mann, 20 Mackenzie Martin, 21 Gareth Davies, 22 Ioan Lloyd, 23 Mason Grady
France: 15 Leo Barre, 14 Damian Penaud, 13 Gael Fickou, 12 Nicolas Depoortere, 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey, 10 Thomas Ramos, 9 Nolann Le Garrec, 8 Gregory Alldritt (c), 7 Charles Ollivon, 6 Francois Cros, 5 Emmanuel Meafou, 4 Thibaud Flament, 3 Uini Atonio, 2 Julien Marchand, 1 Cyril Baille
Bench: 16 Peato Mauvaka, 17 Sébastien Taofifénua, 18 Georges-Henri Colombe, 19 Romain Taofifenua, 20 Alexandre Roumat, 21 Paul Boudehent, 22 Maxime Lucu, 23 Yoram Moefana
