Six Nations 2015: Viewing Info, Schedule and Preview for Week 2 Fixtures
After the Six Nations scene was set last weekend, Round 2 of the competition promises to pull the table apart with a host of close-run fixtures that could go in either direction.
Ireland sit atop the pile at present, but face a difficult task in overcoming the best efforts of France in Dublin and Wales are hoping a trip to Murrayfield will result in a bounce-back from their defeat to the English.
Stuart Lancaster's side will be expecting to beat Italy's threat at Twickenham, but the question lies in whether even that will be enough to shoot them into top spot.
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Read on for viewing information and match preview of the Week 2 schedule.
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 2:30 p.m. GMT/9:30 a.m. ET | England | vs. | Italy | BBC One (UK), SuperSport 1 (SA) | BBC Sport Website (UK), SuperSport stream (SA) |
| Saturday, Feb. 14 | 5 p.m. GMT/12 p.m. ET | Ireland | vs. | France | BBC One (UK), SuperSport 1 (SA) | BBC Sport Website (UK), SuperSport stream (SA) |
| Sunday, Feb. 15 | 3 p.m. GMT/10 a.m. ET | Scotland | vs. | Wales | BBC One (UK), SuperSport 1 (SA) | BBC Sport Website (UK), SuperSport stream (SA) |
England Youngsters Seeking a Statement
In the face of their mounting injury crisis, England have been forced to lean on a burgeoning group of international outsiders this year, but it turned out to have great effect in Cardiff last Friday.
Lancaster's group of replacements dazzled during a second-half comeback at the Millennium Stadium, but far more conviction will be required against Italy, a side who conceded 26 points to a poor Ireland team in the first round.
Come tournament's end, should tries scored and points on the board play a hand in who is crowned winner, this may be the fixture England will either cherish or rue as the one which played a key role.
Mick Cleary of the Telegraph is justified in asserting the Twickenham hosts need to discover a more "ruthless" streak, and what better time to start than against the Wooden Spoon favourites?
George Kruis and Dave Attwood impressed heavily for periods in Cardiff and will once again form the lock partnership in London, while James Haskell and Jonathan Joseph are also hoping to cement their places in the XV.
Ireland Boosted by Big Names Returning
An under-strength Ireland outfit were ultimately enough to beat Italy in Rome last time out, but the 23-point margin of their 26-3 victory is flattering when looking at their mistake-ridden and often tetchy performance.
However, Joe Schmidt will have a much more familiar feel to his starting XV in Dublin on Saturday, with the Irish Independent confirming the returns of Johnny Sexton, Jamie Heaslip and Sean O'Brien:
O'Brien will be particularly frustrated not to have stared his Six Nations at the Stadio Olimpico, having picked up a hamstring injury in last week's warm-up, but it merely intensifies his impact against France all the more.
Les Bleus are another outfit hoping to improve upon what was shown in the first round. Their 15-8 win over Scotland saw them fail to reach their attacking best, failing to tuck away chances even when the Scots seemed at their most vulnerable.
La Rochelle prop Uini Atonio came off the bench to have great impact against the Scottish scrum in Paris, but Ireland have their own super-sub in the shape of Cian Healy and the set piece poised to be a battleground of extreme interest.
Warren Gatland Under Pressure to Revive Welsh Hopes
A loss to England in the first round of a Six Nations tournament is never an easy thing for the Welsh, but it was the manner in which they whimpered to defeat last Friday that made the 21-16 loss that much more embarrassing.
Failing to score even a single point in their second-half showing displayed all the attacking concerns that still plague Warren Gatland's team, and a far more convincing turnout is needed in Edinburgh on Sunday.
Those hopes have already suffered a setback with news that George North has been ruled out of Week 2 after being concussed against England, with Scarlets flyer Liam Williams his replacement.
However, Williams feels confident of filling the position and is quoted by Matt Majendie of the Independent as saying:
"I just give 100 per cent. If that means I help the team then I’m happy to do so. If I happen to get hurt, so be it. It’s not something that bothers me. I do prefer playing No 15 but I’d play flanker or even hooker for Wales if it meant getting a game. I’m just happy to be in the team. Hopefully, I’ll go out and have a good game.
"
That's the kind of self-sacrifice Wales will need to exhibit in order to depose a Scottish team that claimed the only try scored at the Stade de France last week, albeit ending with defeat.
Stuart Hogg will be a player of huge significance to watch out for, too, the spark in Vern Cotter's back line who, as Kicca Rugby shows, can afford to attempt the audacious that not all players can:
"Scotland's Stuart Hogg impressed last weekend - can he produce some more showboating on Sunday? https://t.co/pYyL5kl1tN #SCOvWAL #SixNations
— KICCA Rugby Union (@KICCARUGBYU) February 12, 2015"
A second defeat in Scotland would assuredly end any title chances Wales might have and also obstruct them from even figuring among the top three, with the Murrayfield hosts posing their biggest threat for some years.
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