Six Nations 2015: 10 Storylines to Follow in Matchday 3
The middle weekend of the 2015 Six Nations Championship is approaching, with the top and bottom of the table set to be shaped.
Unbeaten duo Ireland and England clash in Dublin to sort out an outright leader, while at the other end Scotland host Italy to see who takes root at the foot of the ladder.
We have had fantastic tries, foul play, foggy heads and fearsome collisions in the first two weeks, all of which go into the melting pot for the storylines to look out for as we reach the halfway mark.
1. Concussion
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In two rounds we have had three serious concussion incidents, two concerning George North and a third that saw Mike Brown knocked out.
The eyes of the media and rugby public at large will be watching to see how the next inevitable concussion victim is looked after.
2. Wooden Spoon Decider
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Scotland host Italy with only one certainty: Someone is going to end their losing run, while the other will be set fair for the tournament’s fabled booby prize, the Wooden Spoon.
In truth, there have probably not been two sides since Italy joined the tournament who have played better than these two and are still staring sport's most famous kitchen utensil in the face, but the scoreboard doesn’t record form.
Scotland's promise in the Vern Cotter era needs to start producing results, with defeat at home to the Azzurri unthinkable if they are to get anything from this year's Six Nations.
Italy, meanwhile, continue to look lost without a world-class player at No. 10.
3. England’s Selection
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The reshuffle in England’s back line after Mike Brown was carried off injured against Italy left Stuart Lancaster with a bit of head-scratching to do.
Jonathan Joseph was shunted out to the wing and promptly scored two dazzling tries. The Bath centre has been a revelation in the tournament and will doubtless start against Ireland, but his performance out of position may tempt Lancaster into keeping him there and bringing back Brad Barritt (if fit) in midfield.
The England hierarchy holds the abrasive Saracens man in high regard for his defensive leadership, which may well be something to consider in Dublin.
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4. Ireland vs. England Back-Row Battle
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It will be a meeting of muscular back-row trios when England face Ireland in Dublin. Sean O’Brien was excellent in his comeback against France, with Peter O’Mahony a constant menace at the breakdown.
England don’t play with a traditional scavenger, but the work rates of Chris Robshaw and James Haskell have yet to be bettered in this championship, with the captain a street ahead of anyone else in the tackle-count table.
Ireland’s preference for the stand-up tackle will be tested sternly by Billy Vunipola whose strength could be the downfall of that tactic, while England will have to come up with a way of stopping O’Mahony and slow Ireland down. That won't be easily done with no natural ground-gamer in their trio.
This will be where the game is won and lost at Aviva Stadium.
5. Roberts vs. Bastareaud
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Assuming both men are fit, the clash between Jamie Roberts of Wales and Mathieu Bastareaud of France in the inside-centre channel will make it worth checking out the foundations of the Stade de France afterward.
Both men play in France and are well-versed in the battering mentality used so much in their domestic competition. And both are central to their teams’ ambitions of getting beyond the gain line and establishing forward momentum.
This head-to-head is "immovable object versus unstoppable force" personified.
6. Aerial Collisions
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In Week 2 we saw Finn Russell yellow-carded for taking Dan Biggar out in their air during Wales’ win over Scotland.
It was debated whether the Glasgow man could have pulled out and whether there was any intent, but the bottom line is that he caused the Osprey to hit the floor hard in a way in which he could not protect himself.
Yellow was deserved.
In an age where serious injury seems only a mistimed split-second away in so many on-field scenarios, the game’s lawmakers cannot be too careful.
With the ball going aerial so often, watch out for yet more scrutiny of situations when leaping players collide.
7. Tens in Peril
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At times in Ireland’s win over France, Jonny Sexton looked hell-bent on hurling himself into the threshing machine of Mathieu Bastareaud’s clutches, whether in defence or attack.
Dan Biggar has already had his head burst open in a clash with one of his own men and been upended chasing his own kick against Scotland.
The playmakers in this Six Nations are showing scant regard for their self-preservation.
This trend is only going to continue as George Ford probes the gain line in Dublin and Biggar dares to approach the bruising French rearguard.
The days of dancing fly-halves letting the piano-shifters do the dirty work seem long gone.
8. Parra Back in Favour
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France’s experiment with adopted South African scum-half Rory Kockott has been put on ice, with the Castres man dropped from the squad due to injury ahead of the visit of Wales.
Morgan Parra is likely to be in his place as the starting No. 9.
The French mentality is to view the scrum-half as the creative hub of the side, and Parra has the experience and skill to pilot his team around the park, as Sir Ian McGeechan wrote in the Telegraph: "Morgan Parra must start. France looked a much better side when he came on in Dublin last weekend. His game management is so good. He can manipulate a French side into better positions on the field."
He also brings extra goal-kicking ability. Rhys Webb, conversely, will bring energy and pace to the Welsh attack that Scotland found so troublesome from the base of the breakdown. A clash of styles at No. 9 should make for an eminently watchable scrap.
9. Is Joe Schmidt the New Sir Clive?
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The way Joe Schmidt's Ireland beat France in Week 2 brought comparisons with the England team of 2003, as pointed out by Dean Ryan in The Guardian:
"The expectation was that Joe Schmidt would continue to move Ireland more towards the all-court game that was so devastatingly successful when he coached at Leinster. Instead Ireland’s game plan is more simple: take field position, squeeze until the opposition concedes penalties and then take the points. Build the pressure, much as England did in 2003.
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It was a clear plan to pepper France with the cultured boot of Jonny Sexton and play a limited but unrelenting style. Ireland could look to do the same against inexperienced wings in the English team, dominating territory and keeping the visitors hemmed in.
Should they achieve it, expect the headlines once again to evoke echoes of that World Cup-winning outfit.
10. North or Cuthbert to Miss Out?
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It will be decision time for Warren Gatland when he picks his wings to face France.
George North will be available again after a rest from his much-publicised concussion episode against England, but Liam Williams deputised well for the Lion in Wales' win over Scotland.
On the other wing, North's fellow Lion Alex Cuthbert looked out of sorts against the Scots.
Sir Ian McGeechan told Wales Online that he thinks one Lion will miss out:
"Does Liam Williams remain in the side with George North now declared fit again? For me he does.
I thought Williams was excellent against Scotland. He is proving to be a very clever player, who reads situations well, something I think will be important in Paris. So he has to play against France. But then the big question for Gatland is - whom does he drop?
North has not been in great form internationally, but he is world-class when on top of his game. And I thought Alex Cuthbert had an average game against Scotland. He could be the one to miss out.
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