Congratulations. We’ve almost made it through January. A special word, too, for those who’ve done it without drinking alcohol – you’re a better person than me.
Still a hip young thing at 34, I began 2025 by joining a gym, where ‘Dry Jan’ has replaced triathlon and whey powder as the go-to topics for those awkward introductory conversations. With little to contribute, I tend to stare out of the window until we decide to get on with what we’re there for.
However, I was lifted last week (not literally) when a former amateur rugby player told me that he’d be returning to the pub a day early to coincide with the start of the Six Nations on January 31.
After asking the right questions about whether staying off the bottle for longer could boost his ‘gains’, I missed most of his answers, daydreaming about an event that opens amid the winter gloom but ends in the optimism of the spring.
The Six Nations begins next Friday at the Stade de France, which returns to the schedule after missing last year’s championship due to the Olympics.
France welcome Wales and, with satisfying symmetry, the tournament concludes in Saint-Denis with the final ‘Super Saturday’ match between the French and Scotland on March 15.
As always, there are several subplots: How will Ireland perform without Andy Farrell in charge? Can France win in Dublin? Are England any good? Is it Scotland’s year? Can Italy beat someone decent? Will Wales ever win another game?
The most fascinating is definitely the first as Farrell steps away from the Irish camp in preparation for leading the British & Irish Lions on their summer tour to a much-improved Australia side.
Warren Gatland did the same with mixed results while Wales head coach and Farrell’s stand-in, Simon Easterby, who 20 years ago went from a late call-up to Lions Test starter against New Zealand, begins his time in charge of Ireland with a potentially tournament-defining decision.
Easterby’s selection at fly-half will, by extension, likely decide who will be the Lions’ third-choice number ten behind Finn Russell and Marcus Smith down under.
Last year was all about Jack Crowley. Potentially wasted during the dying embers of Johnny Sexton’s career, the Munsterman strode into the shirt and shone as Ireland won the 2024 Six Nations. However, Leinster’s Sam Prendergast excelled in the autumn and appears to be a Farrell favourite.
At the other end of the spectrum, injury means Wales hooker Dewi Lake is unlikely to feature in this season’s championship, curtailing his hopes of being a potentially perfect midweek Lions captain in Australia.
Fitness is also affecting Scotland, with skipper Sione Tuipulotu sidelined with a pectoral injury, although he should be available for a summer trip to his birth country.
France have lost Charles Ollivon among others but have superstars to spare and captain Antoine Dupont returns to the Six Nations after taking a sabbatical last spring to win sevens gold at the Olympics.
Closer to the tour there will be markets for first Test starters and every Lions trip provides a so-called ‘bolter’ – a fringe player who becomes a star. Rugby league convert Jason Robinson waltzed through Australia’s defence in 2001, while late call-up Alex Corbisiero steadied the scrum and helped see off the Wallabies 12 years later.
Another England man could be this year’s answer – but only if they can get him the ball. Northampton winger Ollie Sleightholme has impressed off the bench over the last 12 months and is in contention to start the Six Nations for the Red Rose in the absence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso.
All the pundits are picking their sides. Fellow Racing Post writer Patrick Madden named his in December and here’s mine: Blair Kinghorn; Ollie Sleightholme, Garry Ringrose, Sione Tuipulotu, Duhan van der Merwe; Finn Russell, Jamison Gibson-Park; Andrew Porter, Dan Sheehan, Tadhg Furlong: Joe McCarthy, Maro Itoje; Tadhg Beirne, Josh van der Flier, Caelan Doris (Captain). Replacements: Theo Dan, Pierre Schoeman, Zander Fagerson, George Martin, Jac Morgan, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Tommy Freeman.
Obviously, this could all change and it will be fun finding out. For now, those others embracing temporary teetotalism can strive to continue distracting themselves for a few days longer by updating us on your progress.
To the rest who are as ill-disciplined as me, we have seven weeks of elite rugby to look forward to as we swap the misery of winter for the eternal hope of the spring.
So enjoy it and keep things in moderation, especially with the Lions and a summer of morning kick-offs to get excited about.
Read this next from the Racing Post Sport team:
Simon Giles: Postecoglou project has high ceiling but inefficiency could bring it crashing down
Mark Langdon: Don’t be sucked in by home and away form
Tom Clark: A cricketing year to savour beyond the Ashes
Steve Palmer: Counting down the days until we get another glimpse of the darting genius
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source link
