Six Nations Table 2015: Predicting Week 2 Results and Standings Impact
The opening weekend of the Six Nations may not have been the try-laden bonanza fans were hoping for, but as its participants grow into their campaigns, the competition only promises to open up further.
England may not sit atop the pile as things stand, but a Round 1 win over Wales has given Stuart Lancaster's squad great hope of pulling through their injury misery and stripping Ireland of their title.
The defending champions claimed a win against Italy on Saturday, but Ireland failed to reach their optimum against the Azzurri and are at risk of defeat unless they can improve against France in Week 2.
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Ahead of this weekend's fixture list, we take a look at Round 2, predicting which teams will come out on top and the impact it will have on the table.
| Date | Time | Home | vs. | Away | Prediction |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 2:30 p.m. GMT/9:30 a.m. ET | England | vs. | Italy | England by 25 |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 5 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. ET | Ireland | vs. | France | Ireland by 5 |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Scotland | vs. | Wales | Scotland by 5 |
| Position | Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Tries | Points |
| 1 | Ireland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 3 | +23 | 2 | 2 |
| 2 | France | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 8 | +7 | 0 | 2 |
| 3 | England | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 16 | +5 | 2 | 2 |
| 4 | Wales | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 16 | 21 | –5 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | Scotland | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 15 | –7 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Italy | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 26 | –23 | 0 | 0 |
England vs. Italy
It took England a while to get up and running at the Millennium Stadium on Friday, but Lancaster was left content with the spirit his side showed to inflict a 21-16 defeat upon Wales in their own backyard.
Stopping the Welsh from mustering even a single point in the second half, England even inspired the Daily Mail's Martin Samuel to suggest that they can go into this year's home World Cup with renewed confidence:
That's a goal for the long term, but next on England's agenda is a win over Italy, who stalled in Round 1 and struggled to put Ireland under any pressure in Rome.
Despite injuries to Ben Morgan, David Wilson, Joe Launchbury, Geoff Parling and Courtney Lawes, the English pack dominated their Welsh counterparts at times, which will be key to dispatching the Azzurri:
A lack of attacking threat has always been Italy's biggest concern against the elite teams. They hold an ability to frustrate and defend well at times, but England are beginning to show a more clinical edge.
If the win over Wales showed anything, it's that Lancaster has an enviable depth in talent at his fingertips, with his backs in particular possessing the potential to make light work of the Italian defence.
Prediction: England by 25
Ireland vs. France
Ireland's meeting against France at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday will be a struggle between two teams looking to overcome the mediocre displays put forward in Week 1 of the tournament.
Joe Schmidt's side have more in their locker than was shown in the 26-3 win over Italy, with the coach quoted by the Irish Independent's Ruaidhri O'Connor as saying that his team showed far less vigour than England:
The same can be said of France, though, with Philippe Saint-Andre's men unfortunate not to score even a single try against Scotland. It was fortunate that fly-half Camille Lopez took his chances from the tee to steer home a 15-8 victory.
Jonny Sexton should be back in the lineup against Les Bleus, which is a massive boost in itself, but Murray Kinsella of The42.ie revealed that Sean O'Brien is also in contention after suffering injury during the warm-up in Rome:
If one were to back either team to push on and improve in front of a Dublin crowd, it would undoubtedly be Ireland. And if both teams are at their best, one would be tempted to think it's Schmidt's men who are the superior squad.
That's no foregone conclusion, but this fixture comes at a good time for the boys in green, with their backs against the wall in a scenario that usually results in their being able to respond positively.
Prediction Ireland by 5
Scotland vs. Wales
With Vern Cotter's impact at the Scotland helm having taken effect, Wales will be more wary of the Murrayfield hosts in their upcoming contest than they will have been for a long time.
Those Scots who travelled to France will have been disappointed, sure, but the writing is on the wall that this Scottish outfit is ready to improve, to which Premiership Rugby's Paul Morgan attests:
Dougie Fife was responsible for the only try at the Stade de France on Saturday, and Scotland have found a new sense of attacking worth, which may threaten a Welsh team that conceded 13 second-half points in Cardiff on Friday.
Stuart Hogg's early red card last year was essential to Wales achieving a 51-3 mauling of the Scots at the Millennium Stadium, with Opta's Russ Petty detailing how indiscipline has affected this fixture down the years:
Confidence will play a big role in Sunday's Murrayfield encounter, and although both teams lost in Week 1, it's Scotland who have more reason to be upbeat, having impressed defensively in Paris.
This new-look Scotland team can again head into the fray with enigmatic prospects for a clash that could go either way, and we're backing the home team to edge out their guests, who are still struggling for consistency in the running game.
Prediction: Scotland by 5
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