| Dates: 4 February to 18 March |
| Protection: Watch Scotland and Wales residence video games stay on BBC One; match commentary on Radio 5 Dwell, Sports activities Further or BBC Sounds; stay textual content on BBC digital providers; highlights on BBC Two, BBC Sport web site and app |
Some of the aggressive Six Nations tournaments lately begins with a blockbuster day of motion on Saturday.
Wales, impressed by the return of heroic head coach Warren Gatland, host world primary facet Eire first in a match stay on BBC One.
Then Steve Borthwick takes cost of his first recreation as England boss when Scotland journey to Twickenham.
The weekend concludes when an bettering Italy host defending Grand Slam champions France on Sunday.
Right here is all you want to know in regards to the 2023 Six Nations, together with the place to look at the opening matches and a cheat sheet on every recreation to arrange for the weekend.
What’s the prediction for Wales v Eire?
Warren Gatland named his squad to face Eire early as a result of he needed to “speak about rugby” with the Welsh Rugby Union presently mired in allegations of sexism and misogyny.
Gatland, who took again the pinnacle coach function in December after a profitable 11-year stint beforehand and following a poor 2022 for Wales, has stated he needs to win the Six Nations and never simply use the event to arrange for September’s World Cup in France.
That exhibits within the skilled facet he has chosen, with Wales’ oldest captain Ken Owens, who’s 36, the beginning hooker and 37-year-old Alun Wyn Jones within the second row.
Liam Williams was drafted in on Thursday to switch injured full-back Leigh Halfpenny, whereas 20-year-old centre Joe Hawkins provides some youth on his Six Nations debut.
Wales could also be buoyed by the truth that they received 4 Six Nations titles – together with three Grand Slams – with Gatland, however Eire are the shape workforce.
Andy Farrell’s facet are prime of the world rankings and expect to compete with Grand Slam champions France for this yr’s title.
Nonetheless, Eire have been recognized to peak on the mistaken time earlier than a World Cup – they misplaced within the quarter-finals in 2019 after beginning the yr’s event as world primary.
Farrell factors out that Cardiff “has not been an incredible looking floor”, with Eire’s final Six Nations victory there coming in 2013.
Eire are with out star prop Tadhg Furlong because of damage. Furlong is changed by Finlay Bealham, with captain Johnny Sexton match to start out at fly-half and World Rugby males’s participant of the yr Josh van der Flier at flanker.
Who will win England v Scotland?
Whereas Steve Borthwick is taking cost of his first Six Nations as England head coach, Scotland counterpart Gregor Townsend could also be heading into his final together with his contract ending after the World Cup.
The perimeters arrive at Twickenham on totally different trajectories too. England followers, a few of whom booed when their workforce ended a disappointing 2022 with defeat by South Africa, wait with anticipation to see whether or not Borthwick can flip their fortunes round.
Scotland arrive in possession of the Calcutta Cup – the historic trophy the 2 sides play for on this fixture – and having claimed a primary win at Twickenham since 1983 on their final go to to London.
Townsend describes this match as “the largest recreation of our championship”.
Regardless of Scotland successful their final two Six Nations encounters, England are favourites – however scrum-half Danny Care says: “I don’t know what will occur.”
Wing Ollie Hassell-Collins will make his debut for England, whereas centre Manu Tuilagi has been unnoticed in favour of Joe Marchant.
It was beforehand instructed that captain Owen Farrell would begin at fly-half however, with inside centre Henry Slade injured, the Saracens again will take Slade’s place and resume his partnership with 23-year-old Harlequins 10 Marcus Smith.
For Scotland, three-cap again row Luke Crosbie begins and the extra skilled Hamish Watson is excluded, with Finn Russell beginning at fly-half and Stuart Hogg getting back from damage at full-back.
What’s going to occur in Italy v France?
Italy return to the Six Nations after successful their first match within the event since 2015 towards Wales final yr.
In addition they beat Australia within the autumn, however internet hosting defending Grand Slam champions and world quantity two facet France will not be a perfect begin to 2023.
Former England wing Ugo Monye stated on the Rugby Union Each day podcast that “the Six Nations turned entire once more” when Italy received; there had been questions over whether or not they need to retain their place within the event.
With the assistance of star again Ange Capuozzo, Italy might effectively create extra ripples this yr.
A much more star-studded French facet will journey to Rome, although, led by captain and scrum-half Antoine Dupont as they search to develop into the primary males’s workforce to efficiently defend a Grand Slam.
How can I comply with the Six Nations?
In Saturday’s opening recreation, world primary facet Eire journey to Cardiff to face Wales. That can be on BBC One and iPlayer from 13:15 GMT and you’ll hear on BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Further.
England host Scotland of their opener later that day, with that fixture kicking off at 16:45 GMT on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Dwell.
On Sunday, Italy welcome France to Rome at 15:00 GMT and that match is on ITV and BBC Radio 5 Sports activities Further.
Highlights and evaluation of the weekend’s video games can be on Six Nations Rugby Particular, hosted by Ugo Monye, on BBC Two and iPlayer from 18:15 GMT on Sunday.
The BBC Sport web site and app could have stay textual content commentary of all matches and BBC Radio 5 Dwell will present perception and evaluation on the Rugby Union Each day podcast.