Six Nations 2010

This year's Six Nations offers a different mixture of players. The older and long-serving players of France are fewer this year, with players like Pelous long gone. Italy is being given some hope by some pundits, as is Scotland in their opening weekend. Jonny Wilkinson has returned as has Mathew Tait. Nontheless, Ireland and France are the two favorites.

Ireland v. Italy
The biggest headline: No Sergio Parisse. He is the best No. 8 in the world, and without him, their captain, Italy have very little chance. Ireland has been playing very well. They are coming off of an unbeaten year, with their two biggest clubs making it into the Quarter Finals of the Heineken Cup yet again. Ronan O'Gara has been given the start at fly half due to an injury to Sexton. However, there is a big problem with the kind of praise that Sexton has been receiving. Sexton played fantastically in last year's Heineken Cup and he played extremely well in the autumn tests, but this does not mean he is the number one Irish fly half. Two international games? Not enough ground to prove himself. O'Gara is and should be the starting fly half, especially since he has recovered his kicking game that abandoned him earlier this season. Not to say that Sexton is not the next Irish fly half, he is leagues above Paddy Wallace! But, he is not so deserving. Yet.

That said, Ireland should be able to defeat Italy, and maybe stake an early claim at first place on the table.

England v. Wales
Despite the fact that Shane Williams will be starting, and he always plays very well against England, the Welsh will have many problems. First of all, their clubs have been terrible so far this season. Only the Ospreys are doing anything right and, in my opinion, they should be winning every single game given the talent on their lineup. With a back three of Shane Williams, Lee Byrne and Tommy Bowe, the Ospreys should be scoring four tries a night, week in and week out. However, that is not the case.

I'm not too happy with this sudden abandonment of James Hook. The man has been fantastic for Wales and the Ospreys, not to mention filling in for the Lions, yet he has lost his spot to a kid, Dan Biggar. Biggar, to his credit, has been very good, but it seems that the management are shuffling Hook around the field just to keep him in the lineup. He is most effective at fly half, but at least Gatland has not put him at fullback!

England, on the other hand, are on a high. The Premiership has been strong this season, and Jonny Wilkinson is tearing apart the French league across the Channel. One man does not make a team, but England is always better when Wilkinson is on the field.

Weighing the options, Wales just look out of form and without talent this season. England to win.

Scotland v. France
I have heard a few whispers of an upset in the first weekend. To be honest, the opening weekend is the best chance to beat the French. France is probably the most dangerous team in the world from the simple fact that they are completely unpredictable, if not inconsistent. One week they can defeat the All Blacks, the next they make themselves look silly against England (who seems to own a key to the French defense, by the way).

Scotland has the defense, but they lack offense. There are not many finishers in their backline, and Chris Paterson can only kick goals if his team gets field position. Look for more forward drives than free running plays. France, however, is the epitome of free running rugby and Scotland will be tested, even more so than against Australia in the autumn.

Overall, France looks to win this one. Scotland can hang on to the hope that their defense shows up and plays big, which will help the French play into their hands. But the Scots cannot count on that.

Early tournament prediction: Ireland to repeat, but no Grand Slam (Triple Crown, yes)

~Tyler