Six Nations 2023 – Week One
The Six Nations 2023 Has Arrived
The 2023 edition of the prestigious Six Nations tournament commences with a scintillating series of fixtures on Saturday. A hallmark of the competition, this year’s Six Nations promises to be one of the most fiercely contested in recent memory.
To start the day’s proceedings, Wales, galvanized by the return of their celebrated head coach Warren Gatland, play host to the reigning world champions Ireland in a match that will be broadcast live on BBC One.
Later in the day, Steve Borthwick will take the reins as England’s head coach for the first time, as Scotland travel to the hallowed turf of Twickenham Stadium.
The opening weekend of the tournament concludes on Sunday, when an Italy side in the midst of a resurgence will welcome the defending Grand Slam champions, France.
This comprehensive guide provides all the information necessary to fully appreciate the 2023 Six Nations, including the channels where you can watch the opening matches and a succinct overview of each game to prepare you for the weekend’s enthralling rugby action.
Wales vs. Ireland
Wales vs Ireland, 2.15pm, Principality Stadium, Cardiff (BBC & S4C)
Predictions for the highly anticipated Wales vs. Ireland match are difficult to make given the formidable strengths of both teams. The return of Warren Gatland as head coach of Wales, following an 11-year successful stint and subsequent poor performance in 2022, has inspired the team and resulted in the selection of an experienced squad with a mix of veteran leadership and youthful talent.
However, Ireland’s status as the top-ranked team in the world, combined with their history of consistent performance, make them a formidable adversary. Despite their recent victory drought in Cardiff, Ireland’s solid lineup, led by captain Johnny Sexton and including the reigning World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Josh van der Flier, cannot be underestimated.
It remains to be seen which team will come out on top in this high-stakes encounter if Wales can get out of the blocks quickly and cause an upset.I think Ireland will dominate this opening fixture and set the benchmark for their tournament.. Fat Lad Says; Ireland by 16+ points
Calcutta Cup England v Scotland
England vs Scotland, 4.45pm, Twickenham Stadium, London (ITV)
As the Six Nations 2023 tournament begins, the upcoming match between England and Scotland is particularly interesting. Both teams come into this match with different managerial and player dynamics, with Steve Borthwick making his debut as the head coach for England and Gregor Townsend’s tenure as the head coach for Scotland ending after the World Cup.
England arrives at Twickenham amidst anticipation as fans wait to see if Borthwick can turn their fortunes around after a disappointing performance in 2022. Meanwhile, Scotland arrives with the Calcutta Cup in their possession and the confidence of having claimed a historic win at Twickenham during their last visit to London. Despite Scotland’s recent victories in the Six Nations, England is considered the favorite. However, their former scrum-half, Danny Care, acknowledges that the outcome is uncertain.
Ollie Hassell-Collins will make his debut for England while Manu Tuilagi is left out in favor of Joe Marchant. In addition, Owen Farrell, who was initially expected to start at fly-half, will instead fill the role of inside center due to the injury of Henry Slade. For Scotland, three-cap back row Luke Crosbie will start, with the more experienced Hamish Watson excluded, and Finn Russell will start at fly-half with Stuart Hogg returning from injury at full-back.
Fat Lad Says; Tight game this, England by 4-7 points.
Italy v France
Italy vs France, 3pm, Stadio Olimpico, Rome (ITV)
The Six Nations 2023 Sunday meetings return with Italy hosting reigning Grand Slam champions and world ranked second, France. The Azzurri will be buoyed by their win in the tournament last year against Wales and their victory against Australia in the autumn, but facing Les Bleus is a daunting task. Ugo Monye mentioned in a podcast that Italy’s return to the Six Nations has made it “whole again” as there were questions surrounding their place in the tournament.
The Italian side will be led by the talented Ange Capuozzo, who will look to make a mark in the tournament. On the other hand, France, captained by scrum-half Antoine Dupont, are on a 13-match winning streak and are aiming to defend their Grand Slam title and become the first men’s team to do so.
Italy have improved since their 33-0 drubbing by England, but they are not in the same league as France.
Fat Lad Says; France will be too good and will win by 15+ points
Don’t forget to check out the full fixture lists here and enjoy each game as they come around.
