Wales should have blooded youngsters earlier
Rob Howley increasingly cuts the figure of a man damned if he does and in a similar predicament if he does not. His team selection – Wales are unchanged from their defeat in Scotland – has been widely criticised but he does not have a huge amount of options at his disposal. That, however, is the crux of the problem. Wales are fearful of finishing the tournament with two defeats that could well mean they slip out of the top eight in the world and face another treacherous World Cup pool. Hence Howley’s refusal to experiment against Ireland. That then raises the question of why Wales did not blood a few youngsters in the autumn. An ageing squad badly needs some fresh impetus and sooner or later Wales are going to have to throw players such as Keelan Giles, Steff Evans and Thomas Young in at the deep end.
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An open roof might have been a better bet for Ireland
It may not be for the best that the Principality Stadium roof will be closed on Friday. Wales, and in particular Dan Biggar, need no second invitation to drop a few bombs and Ireland are no strangers to the high ball either so perhaps it would have been better left open. Scotland found the usually reliable Leigh Halfpenny a little shaky while George North’s defence has publicly been questioned. Conor Murray and Johnny Sexton, meanwhile, are supreme at kicking from hand and their back three are no mugs under the high ball themselves. You gets the feeling that whoever rules the skies in Cardiff will come out on top.
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England starters must shine with strong replacements looking on
In resisting the temptation to put Billy Vunipola, or Mako for that matter, into his starting XV Eddie Jones has selected a replacements bench packed with strong ball carriers. It is an octet to strike fear into any opposition and Scotland will be only too aware of it. England have relied heavily on the bench so far in the tournament and one would expect the replacements to make a similar impact. Those who have been chosen to start, however – and in particular Nathan Hughes and Jonathan Joseph – will no doubt feel they have a point to prove. Joseph has been excellent in defence but quiet on the front foot and Hughes has not been able to provide the kind of impact he does for Wasps. There will come a time when England’s bench are left with too much work to do if there are not improvements from the off.
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Scotland pack must address shortcomings to allow backs to impress
It does not require a genius to work out where Scotland’s biggest weakness is and, while they managed to get away with having an inferior scrum against Wales, England will no doubt be quick to point out their visitors’ shortcomings to the referee, Mathieu Raynal. Scotland have had two weeks to address the problem and to find a solution to the fact that Zander Fagerson, Fraser Brown and Gordon Reid will probably be outgunned by their opposite numbers. How successful they are in doing so, and in negating the influence of the scrum, will go a huge way to determining whether Scotland can seize one of their best chances of a first win at Twickenham for 34 years. Everyone knows their backs can play but, if they are bullied up front, they may not get enough opportunity to show it.
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Novès under pressure with no-win France trip to Italy
On one hand France’s trip to Italy is a bit of a no-win situation for Les Bleus. Unless France thump Italy and do so with some swagger, the French press, which has been far less glowing about the supposed revival under Guy Novès than elsewhere, is unlikely to be impressed. Neither, perhaps more to the point, is Bernard Laporte. Squeeze past the Azzurri however, or even lose, and Novès will take another step closer to the edge of the plank. On the other hand it is not insignificant that François Trinh-Duc is on the bench. Trinh-Duc is Novès’s stated first choice fly-half and, provided he comes through however many minutes he plays unscathed, he would be in line to start against Wales - another match France dare not lose if Novès is to stay in his post.
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Do Italy have another trick up their sleeves for France?
Italy’s home matches against France have gone one of two ways in recent years. They have won two of the last three - and they have also received a few shellackings. There can be little doubt that Italy believe they can beat France and, if the visitors can be knocked out of their stride early on, it will likely make for a close finish. Inevitably all eyes will be on Italy to see if they have any more tricks up their sleeve after their no-ruck tactic outfoxed England for 40 minutes. They certainly do not have the sort of power that France can boast so their approach will be fascinating and they will be boosted by the fact they are playing the one team who do not have significantly superior fitness. The key then will be ensuring they do not let France get their tails up.
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Tribute to Elli Norkett adds poignancy to matches this weekend
Wales women’s home match against Ireland will be marked with a tribute to Elli Norkett, who died in a car crash last month. Norkett was a highly rated back and the youngest player at the 2014 World Cup. “Everyone has felt the heartache we’ve been going through over the last couple of weeks but I think it’s important we push on and do it for Elli,” said the scrum-half Keira Bevan. “It is going to be difficult but we have spoken and we’re going to go out there and play for Elli. All of us are going to paint our nails the same colour as our boots because that’s something Elli did when she was playing.” Ireland, meanwhile, have won their opening three matches but squeezed past France last time out having taken the bizarre step of taking three key players from their squad for Sevens duty in Las Vegas. Victory for them, and for England against Scotland, and it will be a grand slam decider in Dublin on St Patrick’s Day.
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