By Nick Powell
Dean Ryan labelled this year's Championship as "very flat" and said "it needs to come alive" when reviewing the third week of the championship on BBC Radio 5 Live.
And you have to feel that if it doesn't come alive this week, it never will.
It's 160 days since Wales landed the blow that all-but ended England's hopes of a Home World Cup victory. The two meet in a titanic clash that will dominate this weekend's entertainment.
But that's just the filling, Ireland and Italy battle it out for the Wooden Spoon earlier on Saturday before Scotland face an important clash with France, who are still in the running for this year's title.
Ireland vs Italy
Italy were absolutely terrible against Scotland, their set piece, game management and some of their errors had no place in a Six Nations game. I expected so much more but other than
a few notable individual performance (particularly that of Sergio Parisse) and one decent first half try, Italy should be really disgusted by the way they played. As I said in the review last week, have they progressed far enough? With games to come against the Champions and this year's favourites away from home their hopes of picking up a point this year are pretty low.
Ireland are out of this Championship and I was disappointed with their performance against England, they had the rub of the green with the referee at times and found themselves in England's 22 for long periods but other than when they led never looked like winning. Now with just 1 point from 3 games, they are staring at a battle to avoid the wooden spoon. Defensively, Ireland were strong in their own 22 but were far too passive outside it. They let England open the door far too easily. They do have injuries, but will feel that they definitely could have done better so far in this tournament.
Ireland are out of this Championship and I was disappointed with their performance against England, they had the rub of the green with the referee at times and found themselves in England's 22 for long periods but other than when they led never looked like winning. Now with just 1 point from 3 games, they are staring at a battle to avoid the wooden spoon. Defensively, Ireland were strong in their own 22 but were far too passive outside it. They let England open the door far too easily. They do have injuries, but will feel that they definitely could have done better so far in this tournament.
Home games versus Italy often end up as one of two things, a try scoring free flowing win like Ireland's 46-7 win in 2014 in Brian O'Driscoll's last home game, or they can be dull, underwhelming victories like their 29-11 win at Croke Park six years ago.
Either way Ireland always get over the line against Italy at home, and some way across that line. They definitely will again here. It will be interesting if Schmidt goes for his usual tactics or tries to get the team playing with a bit of flair given that it is not a game they really have to win. However they choose to play though, they will win
Ireland by 20 points
Live on ITV, KO 13:30 Saturday
Scotland vs France
France got a tough time from the BBC's TV pundits at the weekend which I thought was harsher than it should have been. They should surely warm to Les Bleus, given they are covering all their games. The Wales game was hyped up massively as being an exciting encounter, but did anyone really think France were going to win the game?
Their game management was poor, I am always Mr. Go for the posts but at 16-3 down with 32 minutes left, they made the wrong decision.
Consequently after 15 minutes of attack they got nothing, it was a real shame. They were toe to toe with Wales for a lot of the game but silly mistakes cost them. There isn't very much to take from a game like that so they'll hope they can finish well with second place and, given the Twickenham result, maybe even first up for grabs.
For Scotland, that win against Italy was much needed, had they lost that, they'd be in big trouble but now you really sense they can finish in the top three of this Championship. Despite the last win against France coming in 2006 (incidentally when they last finished third) they are the bookies favourites to win this game, and why not? They have scored 68 points to France's 43 and look very sharp, now they've got their first win last week they will believe they can propel themselves up the ladder, and with three games at home next season, what's stopping them from being genuine title contenders in 2017?
So both teams have the potential to play interestingly, well, dull rugby or just plain dire stuff. This makes the game so difficult to predict, however I'm not going to sit on the fence. Purely for the hope the top two could still change in week 5 and their ability to win away at Scotland when they are unfancied, I will back the French.
France by 1 point
Live on BBC One, KO 15:00 Sunday.
England vs Wales
Which leads us on to the last game, which I've saved till last to keep you reading this. Do not doubt the magnitude of this game for both sides. England need to win this, they absolutely do. Eddie Jones needs to show he's better than his predecessor by winning the title, something Stuart Lancaster failed to do, guiding England to second for four consecutive years. As for Wales, they can start to build an aura against the English, immediately following up that sensational World Cup win another one to break the hearts of their rivals (with a home game to come in 2017) could really start a period of
domination over England. And of course, there's the small matter of a Six Nations title on the line.
So let's start with the visitors. Wales Friday Night clash was not a great watch, but they did defend extremely well and probably just about deserved it in the end. Though this is a much bigger test. Coming to Twickenham is a thoroughly different task. One that they passed with flying colours less than six months ago mind.
As for England, they will be very happy so far. With sharper discipline, chances converted and a ruthless edge they could have really thumped Ireland. They will be irked they didn't win by more but they did manage to get on the wrong side of Poite and had they not potentially would have negotiated the contest with more ease.
Wales need to find an attacking edge, they really do. They haven't won at Twickenham in the Gatland era by playing with flair but this England team seems to be a good one, with a good coach and an absolutely massive amount of motivation. England have an aggressive defence which will be very difficult to break down, so Wales need to come with an improved game plan and attacking shape otherwise I can't see them coming away from Twickenham as winners. It seems like they are going through the motions at times and that's not good enough. Wales will get go forward at some point in this game through Taulupe Faletau but can their backs exploit that?
So for England this seems to be an opportunity. There are just eight survivors from that day at the World Cup. They are a completely different prospect. Thanks to the go forward from Vunipola and in the second half Manu Tuilagi who makes his return after two years out, they will be able to attack off quick ball with the Welsh Scrambling. In defence they are strong but their downfall could be ill-discipline, it cost them in the World Cup, so what's stopping it from costing them again.
However, if Wales beat England I'll be surprised. There's a buzz about England at the moment and Wales are a bit flat as if they're going through the motions. Though if it makes for dire rugby it's anyone's game like it was in the World Cup, England need to find the quality that gave them so many chances against Ireland, and take them. If Lancaster had been brave and chosen a more skilled, attacking team, England would have beaten Wales at the World Cup. With Jones choosing a very skilled backline, I back England to beat Wales.
England by 11 points
Live on ITV, 16:00 Saturday
Picture Credits:
1. Warbuton and Hartley (top) - Independent.co.uk
2. Joe Schmidt - Independent.co.uk
3. Stuart Hogg - Rugby 365
4. Warbuton and Hartley (bottom) - mirror.co.uk
5. Jonathan Joseph try - theguardian.com
6. Gareth Davies World Cup try - dailymail.co.uk
So both teams have the potential to play interestingly, well, dull rugby or just plain dire stuff. This makes the game so difficult to predict, however I'm not going to sit on the fence. Purely for the hope the top two could still change in week 5 and their ability to win away at Scotland when they are unfancied, I will back the French.
France by 1 point
Live on BBC One, KO 15:00 Sunday.
England vs Wales
Which leads us on to the last game, which I've saved till last to keep you reading this. Do not doubt the magnitude of this game for both sides. England need to win this, they absolutely do. Eddie Jones needs to show he's better than his predecessor by winning the title, something Stuart Lancaster failed to do, guiding England to second for four consecutive years. As for Wales, they can start to build an aura against the English, immediately following up that sensational World Cup win another one to break the hearts of their rivals (with a home game to come in 2017) could really start a period of
domination over England. And of course, there's the small matter of a Six Nations title on the line.So let's start with the visitors. Wales Friday Night clash was not a great watch, but they did defend extremely well and probably just about deserved it in the end. Though this is a much bigger test. Coming to Twickenham is a thoroughly different task. One that they passed with flying colours less than six months ago mind.
As for England, they will be very happy so far. With sharper discipline, chances converted and a ruthless edge they could have really thumped Ireland. They will be irked they didn't win by more but they did manage to get on the wrong side of Poite and had they not potentially would have negotiated the contest with more ease.
Wales need to find an attacking edge, they really do. They haven't won at Twickenham in the Gatland era by playing with flair but this England team seems to be a good one, with a good coach and an absolutely massive amount of motivation. England have an aggressive defence which will be very difficult to break down, so Wales need to come with an improved game plan and attacking shape otherwise I can't see them coming away from Twickenham as winners. It seems like they are going through the motions at times and that's not good enough. Wales will get go forward at some point in this game through Taulupe Faletau but can their backs exploit that?So for England this seems to be an opportunity. There are just eight survivors from that day at the World Cup. They are a completely different prospect. Thanks to the go forward from Vunipola and in the second half Manu Tuilagi who makes his return after two years out, they will be able to attack off quick ball with the Welsh Scrambling. In defence they are strong but their downfall could be ill-discipline, it cost them in the World Cup, so what's stopping it from costing them again.
England by 11 points
Live on ITV, 16:00 Saturday
Picture Credits:
1. Warbuton and Hartley (top) - Independent.co.uk
2. Joe Schmidt - Independent.co.uk
3. Stuart Hogg - Rugby 365
4. Warbuton and Hartley (bottom) - mirror.co.uk
5. Jonathan Joseph try - theguardian.com
6. Gareth Davies World Cup try - dailymail.co.uk
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