Stephen Ferris blog: Wales to lose opening Six Nations game
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The Six Nations kicks off with France v Ireland tonight, and Stephen Ferris now gives his predictions for Saturday’s games between Italy & England and Scotland & Wales.
Italy faces England in a Saturday afternoon showdown at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico, kicking off at 2.15pm. The atmosphere in the colosseum of Italian rugby will be electric as fans anticipate a standout performance that they can be proud of from their team.
Despite the Italian fans hopes of a triumphant victory, the statistics paint a different picture. Italy hasn’t secured a win against England in 30 test matches, encompassing all 24 encounters in the Six Nations Championship. The average winning margin in these contests stands at 28 points. Following a scoreless outing two years ago, Italy seeks redemption and aims to rectify past shortcomings.
Italy, a proud rugby nation, faced criticism for underperforming in the Rugby World Cup, suffering substantial defeats against New Zealand and France. The team now stands at a crossroads. Will they dwell on past disappointments or reclaim the competitive spirit that nearly led to victory against France in last year’s Six Nations Championship?
Under new head coach Gonzalo Quesada, Italy seeks resurgence, but England, under the stewardship of a prepared coaching staff, plans to quell any revitalized Azzurri threat.
The absence of captain Owen Farrell leaves a void filled by Marcus Smith, who, unfortunately has picked up an injury in training and is likely to miss a few weeks of the Championship. As England grapples with selection challenges, questions arise about their strategic approach. Will they stick to the pragmatic style that secured a Rugby World Cup bronze medal, or will they embrace a more potent and attacking game, reflecting the wealth of talent from the English Premiership?
The upcoming weeks will tell us a lot about what direction this England team is heading. Hopefully their over achievement at the Rugby World Cup will be a catalyst for genuine contention in this year’s Six Nations Championship.
What a pivotal match we have on Saturday afternoon at 4.45pm. The question looms, can Scotland secure a victory in Cardiff, a city that has historically proven challenging for visiting teams? Over the last 22 years, Scotland has managed only one away win against Wales and has tasted defeat in 13 of their last 16 Six Nations encounters with their formidable opponents.
While Wales aims to redeem themselves after a resounding defeat at the hands of Scotland in Murrayfield last year, their recent track record at the Principality Stadium raises concerns. The Welsh team, enduring a four game losing streak at home, seeks to reverse their fortunes and avoid further disappointment in front of the fervent home crowd.
Wales, with just one win in their last eight Championship games, grapples with building momentum, and head coach Warren Gatland has the challenge of nurturing a youthful squad. Absence of Louis Rees Zammit is notable, but the emergence of rising star Mason Grady injects a sense of talent and fearlessness into the Welsh lineup.
Marked by a squad with an average age of 25, Gatland prioritizes the future, introducing uncapped players and fostering a long-term vision. In contrast, Scotland, led by Co-Captains Finn Russell and Rory Darge, boasts experience and tactical acumen. Russell, often likening himself to rugby’s Lionel Messi, holds the potential to be a game changer.
The Scottish backline showcases pace and power with players like Duhan Van Der Merwe and Sione Tuipulotu. Van Der Merwe, renowned for beating defenders, set a record in the previous championship of 35 and remains a favourite for top try scorer this season.
This showdown promises a clash of resilience against aspiration. The outcome is uncertain, but many people believe Scotland are in a better place than they have been before, while Wales are still in a transitional period which could be holding them back.
The stage is set for a captivating contest in Cardiff.
Prediction- Scotland to win at 4/6
All odds and markets are correct as of the date of publication.
