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2 weeks ago

Six Nations LIVE: Latest news as Sam Prendergast starts for champions Ireland against England

Interim boss Simon Easterby faces a key call at fly half, with Scotland and Italy also set to reveal their line-ups today

Harry Latham-Coyle,Luke Baker
Thursday 30 January 2025 12:09 GMT
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England head coach Steve Borthwick previews Six Nations at launch in Rome

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The Six Nations is almost here as rugby’s annual spring spectacular returns with perhaps the most open edition yet.

Defending champions Ireland are on the hunt for an unprecedented three-peat, but face a potentially tricky opener against the team that denied them back-to-back grand slams a year ago. England have had precious little success since that Twickenham win yet head to Dublin with a degree of confidence - Steve Borthwick named his side for the Aviva Stadium clash two days ahead of schedule as he looks to get on the front foot ahead of a defining campaign. Interim boss Simon Easterby has now confirmed the hosts side, with a key call made at fly half with Sam Prendergast beating Jack Crowley for the starting shirt

France and Wales confirmed their XVs yesterday ahead of their opening night battle at the Stade de France. Can a wounded Welsh side end their winless woe? Or will this be the start of another Antoine Dupont-inspired success for Fabien Galthie’s men? The form book suggests only one conclusion but this grand old championship has a habit of throwing up a surprise or two...

Follow all of the latest build-up and analysis ahead of the start of the Six Nations in our live blog below:

2 weeks ago

Italy name side to face Scotland

Italy have unveiled their first line-up for the 2025 Six Nations, with a familiar looking side named by Gonzalo Quesada. Tommaso Allan starts at full-back as a second playmaker to fly half Paolo Garbisi, while Dino Lamb is Federico Ruzza’s second row partner. Six forwards are named on a bulky bench.

Italy XV: 1 Danilo Fischetti, 2 Giacomo Nicotera, 3 Simone Ferrari; 4 Dino Lamb, 5 Federico Ruzza; 6 Sebastian Negri, 7 Michele Lamaro (capt.), 8 Lorenzo Cannone; 9 Martin Page-Relo, 10 Paolo Garbisi; 11 Monty Ioane, 12 Tommaso Menoncello, 13 Juan Ignacio Brex, 14 Ange Capuozzo; 15 Tommaso Allan.

Replacements: 16 Gianmarco Lucchesi, 17 Luca Rizzoli, 18 Marco Riccioni, 19 Niccolo Cannone, 20 Manuel Zuliani, 21 Ross Vintcent; 22 Alessandro Garbisi, 23 Simone Gesi.

(AFP via Getty Images)
Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 13:15
2 weeks ago

Andy Farrell appoints first members of British and Irish Lions coaching staff

The British and Irish Lions have confirmed David Nucifora and Aled Walters as the first appointments to Andy Farrell's backroom staff for this summer's tour to Australia.

Nucifora has been seconded from Scottish Rugby and will perform the role of general manager of performance, while head of athletic performance Walters joins from the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Completing the trio of recruits for the 10-fixture tour is Ireland's Vinny Hammond, who will travel Down Under as head of analysis.

Nucifora is Australian, won two caps in the early 1990s and worked closely with current Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt when they were both employed by the IRFU, while Walters helped South Africa win the 2019 World Cup.

Andy Farrell appoints first members of British and Irish Lions coaching staff

Aled Walters, formerly of England, takes up a key strength and conditioning role having joined Farrell’s Ireland staff last year

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 13:00
2 weeks ago

Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

Two months, 15 fixtures, and plenty of twists and turns - the 2025 men’s Six Nations should be quite the ride. Predictions are often proved folly by this fickle competition but we’ve given it a go...

Six Nations predictions: Winner, top try-scorer, breakthrough star and more

Will a returning Antoine Dupont lead France to victory? And is there any end to Wales’ woe? A thrilling campaign awaits...

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 12:30
2 weeks ago

Ireland reveal team to face England - with Sam Prendergast at fly half

Ireland have confirmed their line-up for the clash with England, with Sam Prendergast given the starting fly half berth. The Leinster youngster is the standout inclusion in a relatively settled side shorn of Joe McCarthy due to injury - Ryan Baird thus begins on the blindside with Tadhg Beirne and James Ryan in the second row.

James Lowe is deemed to fit to start while Dan Sheehan also makes the bench after returning from a long lay-off for Leinster last weekend.

Ireland XV: 1 Andrew Porter, 2 Ronan Kelleher, 3 Finlay Bealham; 4 James Ryan, 5 Tadhg Beirne; 6 Ryan Baird, 7 Josh van der Flier, 8 Caelan Doris (capt.); 9 Jamison Gibson-Park, 10 Sam Prendergast; 11 James Lowe, 12 Bundee Aki, 13 Garry Ringrose, 14 Mack Hansen; 15 Hugo Keenan.

Replacements: 16 Dan Sheehan, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Thomas Clarkson, 19 Iain Henderson, 20 Jack Conan; 21 Conor Murray, 22 Jack Crowley, 23 Robbie Henshaw.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 12:08
2 weeks ago

The peculiar Wales selection that shows Warren Gatland’s muddled thinking ahead of crucial Six Nations

Ben Thomas will play his first Six Nations minutes tomorrow with the Cardiff playmaker, often used at 12, starting at fly half. How did Wales end up in this situation? And why wasn’t Gareth Anscombe included in Warren Gatland’s squad? It’s a bit of a puzzler.

The strange selection that shows Wales’ muddled thinking ahead of Six Nations

Experienced fly half Gareth Anscombe has been left out of Warren Gatland’s squad for a tournament in which Wales must show improvement

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 12:00
2 weeks ago

Five talking points as Wales and France kick off 2025 Six Nations campaign in Paris

France and Wales kick off the 2025 Guinness Six Nations when they meet in Paris on Friday night.

Les Bleus are overwhelming favourites to continue Wales’ long Test match losing run that began against 2023 World Cup quarter-final opponents Argentina.

Here, the PA news agency looks at some key talking points ahead of the game.

5 talking points as Wales and France kick off 2025 Six Nations campaign in Paris

Wales face a Herculean task to defy the odds at the Stade de France.

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 11:30
2 weeks ago

'Proud Welshman' Adam Jones gives clear verdict on Warren Gatland ahead of Six Nations

Adam Jones has backed Warren Gatland to turn Wales’s fortunes around as they head into a Six Nations campaign on the back of 12 successive Test defeats.

Opening night could hardly be tougher for Wales – France rugby in Paris on Friday – with Les Bleus welcoming star player Antoine Dupont back to the Six Nations stage following his Olympic sevens gold medal heroics last summer.

Wales have not won a Test since beating 2023 World Cup pool opponents Georgia almost 16 months ago, a miserable run that has piled pressure on head coach Gatland and his players.

Former prop Jones featured in three grand slam-winning teams – two of those during Gatland’s first reign as Wales boss from 2008 to 2019 – and won 95 caps, plus five Test appearances for the British and Irish Lions.

He is now back in the Wales fold as scrum coaching consultant on secondment from Gallagher Premiership club Harlequins for the Six Nations duration and the 43-year-old’s infectious enthusiasm and passion for his job look likely to make an immediate impression after he began work at Wales’ training base.

'Proud Welshman' Adam Jones gives verdict on Warren Gatland ahead of Six Nations

Wales have not won a Test since beating 2023 World Cup pool opponents Georgia almost 16 months ago

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 11:15
2 weeks ago

Defiant Warren Gatland sends warning to Wales' Six Nations rivals

Warren Gatland has sent a defiant message to WalesSix Nations rivals, warning them to write his side off at their peril.

Wales had a turbulent 2024 and enter next weekend’s opener in Paris against a formidable France outfit low on momentum.

Gatland’s side suffered humiliation last year when they were forced to settle for the wooden spoon for the first time since 2003.

And a dismal record now sees them on a record losing run of 12 successive Test matches, having not tasted a Test victory since beating World Cup pool opponents Georgia 15 months ago.

Defiant Warren Gatland sends warning to Wales' Six Nations rivals

Wales are largely written off as Six Nations contenders after a record losing run

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 11:00
2 weeks ago

Warren Gatland explains Taulupe Faletau's omission from Wales' opening Six Nations clash with France

Wales are hoping number eight Taulupe Faletau will be fit for the Six Nations clash against Italy in Rome.

Faletau had been widely expected to make his return after almost 16 months out of Test rugby in Friday’s opening Six Nations appointment with France.

But Wales head coach Warren Gatland says the forward feels he is “not quite ready” for selection and made that call himself this week.

“He made the call on Tuesday to say he is not quite ready for selection,” Gatland said.

“He is still part of the squad and he will still come with us. We are hoping he will be right for Italy.”

Warren Gatland explains Taulupe Faletau's omission from Wales side to face France

Faletau is not ready for Friday’s Six Nations opener with France due to injury with hope that he will be fit for the clash with Italy

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 10:45
2 weeks ago

Former England prop Henry Thomas set for first Wales start in Six Nations opener against France

Former England prop Henry Thomas will make his first Wales start in Friday’s Guinness Six Nations opener against France.

The ex-Sale and Bath tighthead, who also played French club rugby for Castres and Montpellier, has won four caps as a replacement since switching allegiance to Wales in 2023.

Thomas, whose father is from Swansea, was able to make the move under World Rugby regulations because his last England appearance had been more than three years earlier.

Wales head coach Warren Gatland has also handed a full Test bow to 23-year-old Cardiff hooker Evan Lloyd, who steps up with Dewi Lake and Ryan Elias both injured, against a juggernaut French pack in Paris.

There is no return for 104 times-capped number eight Taulupe Faletau, though, who was named in Gatland’s Six Nations squad.

Former England prop Henry Thomas set for first Wales start in Six Nations opener

There is no place for Taulupe Faletau in Warren Gatland’s 23 for the trip to Paris

Harry Latham-Coyle30 January 2025 10:30

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