France, Scotland, and Wales Release their Squads for the 6 Nations!

Three of the biggest challengers to Ireland’s 6 Nations titles have announced their final squads for the tournament in an eventful Monday morning.

France, Scotland, and Wales have unveiled the sides they will be bringing into training camp in the coming weeks, and each will want to show that they have emerged stronger from a testing World Cup.

France: Guy Noves has shown that he has no fear of bringing down the axe, as Mathieu Bastareaud has been omitted from the squad after being a constant in the side for the last 3 years.

In his place, we see the more creative Jonathan Danty of Stade Francais, who has been in great form this season for his club. Also noticeably absent is Bernard Le Roux, who has decided not to participate due to personal reasons. Morgan Parra may have regained the 9 shirt, as Sebastien Tillous Borde (who has had trouble with injury) is also not in the squad.

What is clear is that France are looking to play a more expansive game, which is clear from the selection of mobile players like Eddy Ben Arous, Yacuba Camera, as well as explosive backs like Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, and 7’s sensation Virimi Vakatawa. I expect we will see a fight for the 10 shirt, with Lamerat, Jules Plisson, and even Jean Marc-Doussain all present in the squad (though I suspect Doussain will be primarily used at 9.

This squad is very different to those of Nove’s ill fated predecessor, but one thing remains clear, it has plenty of size up front, and no end of skill out wide. France may not have been at their best over the last few years, but underestimate them at your peril.

Probable Starting XV:
1. E. Ben Arous 2. G. Guiradoⓒ 3. R. Slimani 4. A. Flanquart 5. Y. Maestri 6. Y. Camera 7. W. Lauret 8. L. Picamoles 9. M. Machenaud 10. R. Lamerat 11. H. Bonneval 12. W. Fofana 13. J. Danty 14. V. Vakatawa 15. S. Spedding

Scotland: Scotland failed to win a single match in last seasons tournament, but it is foolish to think that they will have another year with results as poor as that. Vern Cotter has this team heading in the right direction, and any doubt of this was erased when the Scots pushed Australia to the ragged edge in the World Cup quarterfinals.

Tighthead W.P Nel will be a rock in the scrum for Scotland, while Alastair Dickinson has a new rival for the loosehead spot, in the impressive Glasgow youngster Zander Fagerson. Fagerson and fellow prop Rory Sutherland are the two only uncapped players in a strong Scotland team.

The Gray brothers will likely be packing down together, as they proved to be hugely influential for Scotland throughout 2015, but the real menace of this pack is in the back row. With Adam Ashe, David Denton, and the now eligible Josh Strauss, the Scots have a fearsome array of ball carriers at their disposal. That said, John Hardie, Chris Fusaro, and Blair Cowan will be truly bothersome at the breakdown, giving the Scots a great balance in their back row as well.

Greig Laidlaw will captain the side from 9, meaning Sam Hidalgo-Clyne will probably be limited to bench appearances. Laidlaw has excellent chemistry with Finn Russell, who along with Mark Bennett, truly exploded into life in the 2015 6 Nations. Duncan Taylor’s brilliant form for Saracens has seen him included in the squad, and the same can be said for Ruaridh Jackson, who has been at the helm of a brilliant Wasps season.

Tim Visser’s excellent scoring for Quins this season will likely see him lock down one of the wings, leaving one space for any one of the brilliant finishers in Tommy Seymour, Sean Maitland, and the ever present Sean Lamont.

Stuart Hogg will be key to Scotland’s tournament. If he is at his best, I expect Scotland will prove to be a major threat this season, if not, they will struggle without his massive impact at 15.

Probable Starting XV:
1. A. Dickinson 2. Ross Ford 3. W.P. Nel 4. J. Gray 5. R. Gray 6. A. Ashe 7. J. Hardie 8. D. Denton 9. G. Laidlawⓒ 10. F. Russell 11. T. Visser 12. M. Scott 13. M. Bennett 14. S. Maitland 15. S. Hogg

Wales: Warren Gatland’s side have consistently competed for the 6 Nations title, and even after they had a poor start last year, they came roaring back, obliterating Italy by 40 points to put themselves back in contention for the title. With big names coming back from injury, I suspect the Welsh will want to make a statement in the 6 Nations, starting with Ireland on February 6.

Up front, I suspect that the veteran Gethin Jenkins will be starting at loosehead, but Paul James will be threatening his security there. Samson Lee is a huge presence for Wales in the scrum, and they will be praying he can keep healthy after he suffered that brutal achilles tear against Italy.

Wales have no shortage of talent in the second row, with the likes of Jake Ball, Dominic Day, Luke Charteris, Bradley Davies, and of course the iconic Alun Wyn-Jones. There is also plenty of depth for Warren Gatland in the back row, with names like Taulupe Faletau, Dan Lydiate, Ross Moriarty, and Justin Tipuric all clamoring for places alongside captain Sam Warburton.

Uncapped Scarlets scrum half Aled Davies has been included after his incredible season, and he will likely be the favorite to start alongside Ospreys 10 Dan Biggar. Biggar’s excellent kicking game will be matched by the explosiveness of those outside him. Jonathan Davies will be starting at outside center, and with Jamie Roberts likely to be inside him, the Welsh will have a bruising backline. Throw in players like Hallam Amos, George North, or Alex Cuthbert, and you begin to see why the prospect of an in form Welsh side is so frightening. Expect to see Liam Williams in the 15 shirt, as Leigh Halfpenny continues to struggle with injury.
There are some noteworthy inclusions in the form of electric utility back Matthew Morgan, as well as Gareth Anscombe and Tom James. All are hugely explosive weapons for Wales, but over the years have struggled to gain Gatland’s attention. Although it’s unlikely, you get the sense that this year is their chance to stake a claim for years to come.

Probable Starting XV:

1. G. Jenkins 2. S. Baldwin 3. S. Lee 4. L. Charteris 5. A. W. Jones 6. D. Lydiate 7. S. Warburtonⓒ 8. T. Faletau 9. A. Davies 10. D. Biggar 11. H. Amos 12. J. Roberts 13. J. Davies 14. G. North 15. L. Williams