Six Nations Tips & Previews – Round 2

Scotland v Ireland

Sat 9th Feb @ BT Murrayfield – 2.15pm

The Six Nations has already been a very exciting tournament and we head into Round 2 of the competition full of anticipation for what should be an epic clash in Edinburgh. The Scottish couldn’t have asked for a better start last week, tearing apart the Italians at will to win 30-22 but they will be disappointed by how much they conceded and will need to work on that aspect of their game if they are to beat the Irish this weekend. Nonetheless, they arrive here off the back of a victory, taking on an Irish team who were blown apart by England in Dublin last week. With confidence and home advantage on their side, they may well fancy their chances but we’re expecting a backlash from the fighting Irish. The biggest boost for Ireland is the return of Rob Kearney at full-back. He was so badly missed against the English last week. This is an Irish side who were second favourites for the World Cup 2019 in Japan just last week so it would be folly to dismiss them. Sport has its ups and downs. They got it wrong last week but they will learn from their mistakes and get it right this week. That was their first Six Nations defeat in Dublin in six years and they will be out for revenge. We’re expecting a hurt Irish side to come out on top against a very resilient and passionate Scottish team here.

Our Free Selections

Ireland to Win by 1-12 Points

Sean Cronin to Score a Try Anytime

Italy v Wales

Sat 9th Feb @ Stadio Olimpico – 4.45pm

It will be a very proud day for Jonathan Davies as he captains his country for the very first time in Rome this weekend as Wales make ten changes to the side that beat France last week. This is a great opportunity for flankers Thomas Young and Aaron Wainwright, scrum-half Aled Davies and winger Jonah Holmes to put in a huge shift and try cement their places on the first team. Italy suffered a 33-20 loss in Scotland last week but can be buoyed by the fact they caused Scotland enough problems on the day and they are a different prospect in Rome. Wales have won their last eleven meetings against Italy in this competition and scored an average of 36 points per game. Their biggest ever Six Nations victory came against the Italians when they beat them 67-14 in Cardiff back in 2016. Italy on the other hand have lost their last 18 games in a row in this competition, conceding an average of 42 points per game. The Welsh came back from a very unpromising position last week to beat France and it’s very difficult to see anything but a resounding win for them again here in Rome.

Our Free Selection

Wales to Win by 21-30 Points

England v France

Sun 10th Feb @ Twickenham 3pm

“Le Crunch” doesn’t look too crunchy for France this weekend as they face an English side who are in formidable form at present. There were signs the English were getting back to near their best when they ran New Zealand close in a Test International recently. However, even after that effort, nobody really expected them to go to Dublin and beat an Irish side who hadn’t lost a game in Dublin for six years. They didn’t just beat them, they absolutely battered them and they showed no mercy. Maro Itoje misses out due to a knee injury but apart from that, the English seem to have a pretty clean bill of health. In the reverse fixture in 2018, Eddie Jones’ men lost 22-16 in Paris and he will be out to exact revenge on his French counterparts. France looked absolutely clueless in the second half against Wales last week after coming out of the blocks like a greyhound from trap one. They are the most unpredictable side on the planet but it is difficult to see anything bar a home win here after watching how well England played last weekend. They are a team on the up, they are moving the ball fast and with confidence, they seem to be peaking at the perfect time with the World Cup just around the corner. They will take a lot of stopping now in this Six Nations Championship.

Our Free Selections

England Try – First Scoring Play

Chris Ashton First Tryscorer