ROUND 1 Saturday 1st February 2020 please log in to view this image Wales v Italy Principality Stadium, Cardiff Kick-off: 2:15pm please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Ireland v Scotland Aviva Stadium, Dublin Kick-off: 4:45pm please log in to view this image Sunday 2nd February 2020 please log in to view this image France v England Stade de France, Paris Kick-off: 3:00pm please log in to view this image Let the build up begin! I think it's a great starting fixture for reigning Grand Slam Champions Wales as, unless by some miracle we hit the ground running, surely new coach Wayne Pivac will need at least a few games to start moulding the players to his way of coaching. Some players will already be familiar with Pivac from his time as Scarlets coach of course, so that should help. Personally I think this championship will be a "right off" as we develop under the new coaching system. We should beat Italy but with what kind of performance? I'm predicting we finish 3rd or 4th, vying with Ireland. I have a sneaking feeling France will come good and the winner of Sunday's game will take the championship, the loser finishing second. It's not a bad draw for England if they win that first game. What say you Aswan? Let's see your predictions! Here are mine... 1. England 2. France 3. Wales 4. Ireland 5. Scotland 6. Italy
Fair enough. I'll get an English viewpoint from my Wife then................... she says she's not bothered either!
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/51306672 - interesting. North at outside centre. It may suit him. Fantastic to see Faletau back.
Jocks should have won. France should have beaten Wales first time out last year...... So Ireland’s title this year then ....
Italy weren't great but considering everything I think that's a good result for Wales - Pivac's first competitive game, Italy nilled for the first time, a bonus point win and +42 points. Tompkins (great Welsh name ) is a fantastic find and should start next week. I thought Rhys Webb looked very rusty and stupid antics like throwing the ball at an opposition player to get a penalty should be stamped out. Scotland didn't deserve to win but Ireland dodged a massive bullet there. I'm certainly now more confident for Wales going to Dublin next week.
We have to disagree re the Jocks - I thought they were the better side. In my view, they lost the game rather than Ireland won it .... As for Wales, the front row will have to ‘front-up’ more against the Micks than they did yesterday. Also Faletau will have to step up a gear or two - he looked off the pace for much of the match - not surprising given his recent injury.
I agree my area of concern for next week is the front row. It will be interesting to see what the centre selection will be. I agree the Scots should have won that game yesterday so if we can sort our scrum out I can see us coming away with a valuable win.