Six Nations 2010: mid-term report on Englands opponents

By Paul Ackford Published: 7:00PM GMT 06 March 2010

Triumphant march: France captain Thierry Dusautoir (right) leads his group on a path of honour after violence Wales Photo: AP

France

Eighteen months ago the French coaches, headed by Marc Lièvremont, met up and motionless to lapse France to what they deliberate their loyal calling, radically a annulment from the structured, po-faced proceed ushered in during the Bernard Laporte era.

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Lièvremont pronounced he longed for people who could regulate and conflict to shifts in games, opposite continue conditions, opposite opposition. Some 80 players later, after a spell in that France vacillated from the high to the woeful, Lièvremont competence have found his squad. Indisputably the majority appropriate side in the championship, can France coupling trustworthiness to brilliance?

Prospects: Grand Slam champions

Wales

If Wales proposed games as productively as they finish them, they competence still be in with a mark of a Grand Slam. All of Wales"s 7 tries have come in the second half of their matches, five in the last quarter, whilst they have leaked five of their 7 tries in the initial half.

James Hook and, of course, Shane Williams have been vital successes, but Martyn Williams is seeking old, and Wales have not demonstrated strength in abyss when injuries have struck.

Prospects: mid-table sameness right afar and for the destiny until they secure correct foundations.

Ireland

A flourishing clarity that they are unresolved in there up-front since they were pressed all ends up by France and outplayed at Twickenham in conditions of domain and possession. An underpowered, unexcited front row is their greatest problem, one that they need to sort prior to the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Elsewhere, the tealeaves are some-more favourable.

Stephen Ferris and Jamie Heaslip are giants and Tommy Bowe and Brian O"Driscoll sojourn unqualified footballers. Jonathan Sexton, though, is the greatest find.

Prospects: With Wales and Scotland entrance to Croke Park, the runners-up mark looks in the bag.

Scotland

Their deteriorate rests on how they go opposite England. With only dual tries scored, it is extravagantly transparent that Andy Robinson is anticipating it as formidable as his predecessors to have Scotland some-more clinical.

No jealous the potency of their line-out, though, nor the value of their behind row where John Barclay has a explain to be the majority in effect player in the championship. Barclay facilities in 3 top-10 tables, carrying done 31 tackles, 3 line-breaks and stolen dual pieces of line-out possession.

Prospects: Scrapping to equivocate the wooden ladle unless a behind line emerges out of an injury-hit black hole.

Italy

Simply horrible opposite Ireland in their opening fixture, Italy have rallied strongly at home in Rome. The complaint for them right afar is that their last contests are afar to France and Wales, that will yield a correct context for their mini-revival.

Alessandro Zanni and the Bergamasco brothers have contributed significantly for Italy with Martin Castrogiovanni articulating the feisty mood of the squad. Their aim right afar is dual successes in the tournament, a attainment they have not managed in 10 years of trying.

Prospects: Uphill all the approach