The 2021 Guinness Six Nations kicks off tomorrow with three enthralling games taking place over the weekend, including reigning champions England facing Scotland at Twickenham.
Italy vs France – 14:15
The first game of this year’s Six Nations will take place at the Stadio Olympico between France and Italy.
Last year’s runners up France will be looking to kick off their campaign with a win over an Italy team that have not won a Six Nations game since 2015.
France are without Romain Ntamack for the start of the tournament as he faces surgery for a double jaw fracture, meaning that Matthieu Jalibert will start alongside the 2020 Six Nations player of the Championship, Antoine Dupont.
On the opposite side, there is a youthful feel to the team selected by Franco Smith with an average age of just 20, which also see’s Gloucester Rugby’s 19-year-old Stephen Varney in the starting 15.
France pose the dominance in the head-to-head record with 40 wins compared to Italy’s three, but Italy did win twice in three attempts between 2011 and 2013.
England vs Scotland – 16:45
The reigning Six Nations champions and holders of the Calcutta Cup welcome Scotland to Twickenham, a ground where they haven’t won since 1983.
150 years on from the first ever meeting between these two teams, Scotland will commemorate the occasion by wearing special shirts that have their corresponding player from the 1871 game embroidered on the shirt, while England will wear their own retro shirts.
For tomorrow’s game, Ollie Laurence who made his debut last Autumn is in for his first Six Nations start partnering Henry Slade, with Owen Farrell just in front.
There are plenty of injury problems for the hosts with big names such as Mako Vunipola and Sam Underhill both missing out, but Eddie Jones has plenty of talent at his disposal as Ellis Genge and Will Stuart both start.
Gloucester Rugby’s Jonny May is also included in the team and he partners Maro Itoje.
As for Scotland, it’s set to be a big day for Cameron Redpath as he is thrusted straight into the team. Worcester Warriors Chris Harris will form that central partnership alongside the son of former Scotland player, Bryan Redpath.
Sean Maitland is also in for Scotland with Gregor Townsend possibly opting for a more defensive and kick-fielding safety net.
Wales vs Ireland – Sunday, 6 February – 15:00
The final game from the first set of Six Nations fixtures has Wales back playing they’re home games at the Principality Stadium and their first opponents back there will be Ireland on Sunday.
Their usual home was used as a temporary Dragons Heart Hospital to help deal with the Covid-19 pandemic which meant Wayne Pivac’s side played at the Parc y Scarlets in Llanelli for the latter part of 2020.
And 2020 is a year the Welsh rugby team will want to forgot as they finished a lowly fifth in both the Six Nations and Autumn Nations Cup.
The biggest story coming from the Welsh team is the absence of Josh Adams after the Cardiff Blues winger broke Covid-19 protocols.
But this has meant an opportunity for Gloucester winger Louis Rees-Zammit to start Sunday’s fixture.
As for the Irish, CJ Stander is in for Caelen Doris, highly infuential captain Johnny Sexton is back in after a hamstring injury and it’s a Six Nations debut for James Lowe.
You can tune in to the opening Six Nations game between Italy and France from 1:30pm on ITV with kick-off coming 2:15pm.
