RBS 6 Nations 2016: 5 Bold Predictions for Matchday 4
This coming weekend promises to be the decisive one in terms of where the 2016 RBS Six Nations title will end up.
England host Wales in a clash between the only two unbeaten sides in the competition, with the winner likely to go on to lift the trophy.
Elsewhere, Scotland will look to kick on after beating Italy with a home game against a clueless-looking French outfit. And Ireland can end their winless streak with a victory over Italy.
Here are B/R's bold predictions for Round 4.
1. Wales Will End England’s Hopes Again
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England might be three from three in this tournament. But they have faced the three weakest sides.
Scotland have beaten no one but Italy in the last three tournaments.
Italy are, well, Italy, and Ireland are so depleted as to be unrecognisable from the side that claimed the last two tournament titles.
Wales are none of the above.
A bruising draw—earned after recovering a sizeable first-half deficit in Dublin—has been followed by functional wins over Scotland and France, with moments of brilliance dotted, rather than showered, across those two performances.
And they know how to win at Twickenham, as England fans are only too painfully aware.
England’s HQ will hold few fears for Warren Gatland’s experienced tribe, and they will have pored over the video of how Eddie Jones’ side created the abundant space to score twice against Ireland.
They have a No. 8 in Taulupe Faletau who can nullify the power of his opposite man, Billy Vunipola, and without the go-forward the Saracen has been providing so much of to his team in this competition, England will not enjoy as much front-foot ball as they would like.
A back row with a far better sense of balance to its skill set also gives the red men the advantage at the breakdown, unless England change personnel there.
England have the need. Wales have the know-how.
2. Ireland to End Winless Run
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Ireland had not gone three games in a single championship without a win since 1998, per ESPN.
They have plenty of mitigating circumstances to point to for their poor showing this term, but their squad as is should be strong enough to see off Italy in Dublin.
The Azzurri, following a dismal World Cup, have done little in this season’s Six Nations to quieten the murmurings for expansion to seven teams or to introduce promotion and relegation to the format, paving the way for Georgia to have a crack at the big five, per the Express.
Their record in the Irish capital is appalling, and they will not improve it this weekend. Ireland to win, and win well.
3. Scotland Will Beat Frustrating France
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Having shrugged the monkey of nine straight tournament defeats off their backs, Scotland can breathe and focus on beating France for the first time in 10 years.
They have enjoyed promising periods of play in each of their games so far, with poor decisions or poor execution letting them down at crucial moments.
France have ground their way through their three fixtures, undeservedly beating Italy, serving up a dire excuse for a game with Ireland and looking no better in defeat to Wales.
Scotland have their tails up and in Finn Russell a playmaker unflinching in his approach to playing with ball in hand.
Outside him, Stuart Hogg and Tommy Seymour have looked dangerous all tournament, and if they can be freed against the French, they will damage Les Bleus.
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4. Ford’s Tackling Will Be Found Wanting
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England may know what to expect on Saturday thanks to Warren Gatland’s comments about how Wales will play.
But that doesn’t mean poor old George Ford will be able to do much about it.
Gatland said, per the Guardian: "We won’t disappoint George Ford in terms of where we go on Saturday. We won’t be throwing the ball all over the place, we will be pretty direct."
Should Ford be found wanting in the first half in terms of halting the charges of Jamie Roberts and Co., we may well see the introduction of Manu Tuilagi to shore up England’s barricades, with Owen Farrell shifting to No. 10.
5. Haskell to Fall Foul of Trial by Video
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Having spoken out against big-screen slow-motion replays of potential foul play, per the Independent, England flanker James Haskell is bound to end up the main defendant in another big-screen trial at the weekend.
The Wasps man has hit out at the use of the technology on stadium screens by officials to address possible misdemeanours they may have missed, having been yellow-carded himself after a review of his hit on Conor Murray in England’s win.
Perhaps if Haskell stopped doing daft things he wouldn’t be the subject of these big-screen sanctions. It was he who was picked up on replay last year for a trip against France that also earned him a 10-minute rest.
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