Hero's return: can Dupont win Six Nations for France?

Harry Latham-Coyle and Luke Baker consider this and other key questions in making their tournament predictions

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An intriguing Six Nations is set to begin as the annual championship pitting the northern hemisphere’s best sides against each other returns with as many fascinating storylines as ever.

Ireland are targeting a historic three-peat of title wins, though not only is their head coach off leading the British and Irish Lions but their talismanic prop, Tadhg Furlong, has now been ruled out of their opener against England on Saturday due to a calf problem. The Leinster tighthead forward is to be replaced by uncapped Connacht front-rower Jack Aungier.

Their closest contenders France are welcoming the best player in the world, Antoine Dupont, back to the fold but have injury questions, while a Scotland side missing their skipper Sione Tuipulotu need to prove they can genuinely challenge for the trophy.

The pressure is growing on Steve Borthwick after a second half of 2024 where England consistently came out on the wrong end of one-score games. New captain Maro Itoje will want to begin his tenure in style, while Warren Gatland would probably scoff at the notion of Borthwick being under fire after he led Wales to a historically dismal winless 2024. Meanwhile, Gonzalo Quesada’s Italy revolution heads into a second Six Nations off the back of a disappointing autumn.

Who will star with the Lions selection debate raging, which breakthrough players might turn the tournament on its head and what are we looking forward to most?

Winner

Harry Latham-Coyle, rugby correspondent: This feels a curious campaign with no unimpeachable contender: Ireland are without their head coach; England are led by a new captain and short of recent success; Scotland appear cursed by familiar bad luck. A case for Italy feels a stretch too far despite their progress, while we need not dwell particularly on Wales’s plight.