The opening rounds of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations have given us plenty of incredible drama and Round 3 is set to provide more of the same.
Unbeaten Ireland and Scotland will placed their records and title credentials to the check in Italy and France respectively, after brilliant wins in Round 2 on domestic soil.
And there is the small rely of England’s experience to Cardiff, with Warren Gatland nonetheless trying to find his first win on account that re-taking the Wales head instruct task and Steve Borthwick making his first away journey as England boss.
More News :: All Blacks Bledisloe Cup
Another outstanding weekend of movement to follow then subsequent week, after the primary of the relaxation weeks, however what are we able to expect from three big clashes?
At the quit of the 2021 Guinness Six Nations, Duhan van der Merwe sealed pinnacle spot on the try scoring charts along with his 5th of the campaign at the Stade de France as Scotland defeated France 27-23 – their first win in Paris considering 1999.
That got here all through the Covid-hit Championship, with no lovers in attendance and the in shape behind schedule by using a month.
This time can be a completely exceptional ball recreation, as Scotland appearance to win back-to-lower back away clashes with France for the first time due to the fact 1928.
It has already been a Six Nations Championship filled with records for Gregor Townsend’s guys, triumphing consecutive away suits against England for the primary time considering that 1909, earlier than ending their commencing rounds hoodoo with a win over Wales – the first time they have got received their first fits since the 1996 Five Nations.
Now comes the subsequent check, reigning champions France in front of a packed-out Stade de France for the primary time this year, nonetheless reeling from defeat to Ireland final week.
Scotland are in terrific shape, with Matt Fagerson mainly impressing up to now, while Finn Russell is in the shape of his life inside the Scotland jersey, however they will need to take their sport up another level against France.
For Les Bleus, it’s far a case of having again to winning methods, and getting their Six Nations Championship back heading in the right direction, led on with the aid of global class captain Antoine Dupont.
World number one facet Ireland had been at their very best so far, robotically dispatching Wales in Cardiff to cease their decade-long winless streak, before getting the higher of France in a truely sensational healthy on the Aviva Stadium.
Now they head to Rome, where they may be heavy favourites to relaxed their 0.33 bonus point, having averaged fifty one.67 factors the remaining 3 times they have got faced the Azzurri.
But this may be a in shape of totally differing patterns, with Ireland’s ahead % filled with international class talent, even as Italy’s backline has been firing thus far, inspired with the aid of the magician that is Ange Capuozzo.
Ireland benefited from France’s willingness to play from everywhere in Dublin, and this 12 months underneath Kieran Crowley, Italy have been jogging from their own attempt line to very mixed effect.
Six Nations Against England the only thing Italy lacked became maul defence, with all five of England’s attempts coming from the using maul, some thing so as to have worried Crowley given how robust Ireland are in that location.
But this Italy facet, possibly in contrast to the ones inside the past, is brave, and that they have the players to purpose any side critical damage.
More News :: 2023 Japan Rugby League fixtures
top tries of the 2023 Guinness Six Nations so far
Damian Penaud’s sensational try in Round 2 got here in broken area, and this is something Italy will appearance to create – if Crowley’s guys can motive chaos in opposition to an incredibly properly drilled Ireland defence, they’ll agree with they can re-create the historic victory of 2013.
But none of so that it will matter in the event that they can’t forestall Ireland up front, something no one has been capable of do so far this season, can Italy be the first?
