Eire crew announcement LIVE: Six Nations line-ups as Scotland, Eire, France reveal picks earlier than England vs Italy

Johnny Sexton hopes Eire can kick-start a profitable behavior in Paris forward of subsequent yr’s World Cup by placing themselves in pole place for Six Nations glory.

Captain Sexton leads his nation away to France on Saturday night figuring out that the victors will probably be swiftly put in as red-hot favourites for the championship title.

The Irish are scheduled to return to Stade de France for as much as 5 matches in 2023 of their quest to grow to be world champions, together with pool-stage fixtures in opposition to South Africa and Scotland.

“We’re taking part in in opposition to one of many in-form groups on this planet,” mentioned Sexton. “We’re clearly in good kind as properly. It’s been, after all, overvalued and if we will win within the Stade de France, it places you in place to win the championship.”

Courtney Lawes is unavailable for England’s Six Nations conflict with Italy as he continues to get well from concussion.

Lawes missed the 20-17 Calcutta Cup defeat by Scotland that opened the event and has but to renew full coaching with Eddie Jones’ squad, ruling him out of Sunday’s journey to Rome.

Tom Curry will stay as captain in Lawes’ absence and the hope will probably be that the veteran Northampton lock is handed match for the go to of Wales to Twickenham on February 26.

Uncapped Leicester ahead Ollie Chessum has been retained within the decreased 27-man squad that may step up preparations for the Stadio Olimpico showdown and will make his debut on Sunday.

There isn’t any place for Joe Launchbury, nonetheless, as he returns to Wasps to proceed his comeback from the knee harm he sustained in April.

The absence of Mark Atkinson means England will both retain their centre duo of Henry Slade and Elliot Daly or go for Slade alongside Joe Marchant.

England will identify their beginning crew to face Italy tomorrow

Jonathan Humphreys says that physicality is “an enormous work-on” for Wales forward of tackling resurgent Scotland in Saturday’s Guinness Six Nations conflict.

Former Wales captain Sam Warburton highlighted a significant distinction between the Irish and Welsh front-five forwards when it comes to ball-carrying and breaking the gain-line after Eire claimed an emphatic 29-7 success final weekend.

Wales haven’t misplaced their opening two video games of a Six Nations marketing campaign since 2007, however they now meet a Scotland aspect buoyant following a powerful Calcutta Cup victory over England.

Scotland haven’t received within the Welsh capital for 20 years, shedding eight Six Nations Exams, a World Cup warm-up recreation and an autumn worldwide throughout that point.

However they introduced their Six Nations title credentials by defeating England, whereas defending champions Wales should win on Saturday to take care of any hope of retaining silverware.

Humphreys added: “Traditionally, we get higher as this event goes on. We hope to see an enormous enchancment this weekend.

“They (Scotland) will probably be fairly assured. During the last time frame, they appear to be making massive strides ahead.”

Wales are anticipated to call their crew at round 12:30pm

Andrew Conway expects France to be a “completely different animal” to Wales however has warned there may be nonetheless loads extra to come back from in-form Eire.

The Irish tackle the pre-tournament favourites in Paris on Saturday after starting their Guinness Six Nations marketing campaign by cruising to a bonus-point win over Wayne Pivac’s reigning champions.

Munster wing Conway – who battled a illness bug amid claiming two tries in final weekend’s championship opener in Dublin – believes Andy Farrell’s stay able to important room for additional enchancment.

“I feel there may be a lot development within the crew in that we didn’t truly play that properly,” he mentioned, reflecting on beating Wales 29-7. “We performed fairly properly however there’s a lot extra in us.

“The element that we’ve checked out – element even we had been chatting about within the altering room afterwards – about how a lot better we might be is fairly clear for us to see in right here.

“Clearly this weekend goes to be a unique animal altogether and it’s going to be a means, means more durable match. It’s in all probability one of the vital thrilling locations to go on this planet.”

Eire are set to call their crew at 11:30am this morning:

Grant Gilchrist believes Scotland can take coronary heart from final yr’s historic wins away to England and France as they bid to finish a 20-year anticipate victory in Cardiff

Gregor Townsend’s aspect loved their first triumph at Twickenham since 1983 a yr in the past after which, in March, savoured a primary success in Paris since 1999.

Though they beat Wales in Llanelli in 2020, behind closed doorways, the Scots haven’t received on the Principality Stadium since 2002.

“The massive one down at Twickenham, after which over in Paris, albeit behind closed doorways, it’s good that this squad have knocked them off,” Edinburgh lock Gilchrist mentioned. “We’ve acquired the assumption now that we will go to away venues and are available away with a outcome.

“This weekend is one other massive one. It’s 20 years. If we need to do one thing particular we’re going to should be at our easiest this weekend. This historical past is there for a purpose and it’s going to be a really tough recreation.”

Scotland are anticipated to call their crew at round 12:45 pm at this time.

Observe reside updates from the Six Nations crew bulletins as Wales, Scotland, Eire and France reveal their picks forward of the second weekend of fixtures. Saturday sees two big matches in Cardiff and Paris with three of the groups to win on the opening weekend in motion, earlier than England face a visit to Italy on Sunday.

Wales host Scotland within the early match on Saturday, with Wayne Pivac’s aspect in want of a response following their heavy defeat to Eire in Dublin. The Wales head coach continues to cope with a prolonged harm record as he prepares to welcome Scotland to the Principality Stadium, contemporary off their dramatic 20-17 victory over England at Murrayfield. It’s been 20 years since Scotland final received a Six Nations match in Cardiff however the guests will probably be stuffed with perception as they try and kick off their marketing campaign with consecutive wins, which might be an actual assertion of their championship ambitions.

The later match on the Stade de France already has the texture of a Six Nations title decider, nonetheless, as France host Eire in a gathering of two in-form groups, and who additionally each defeated the All Blacks final November. Eire racked up 29 factors of their thrashing of Wales as Andy Farrell’s aspect flexed their muscle tissue, however will probably be given a stern check by a confident-looking France who strolled to a gap victory over Italy. England head coach Eddie Jones will probably be naming his crew on Friday as they give the impression of being to get again to profitable methods.