Wales Benefit from Biggar Recovery

Dan Biggar has been passed fit to play in an unchanged Wales team for Saturday’s Six Nations meeting with Scotland in Cardiff.

Biggar limped off midway through the first half of last weekend’s 16–16 draw with Ireland in Dublin after suffering a sprained ankle, and was replaced by Rhys Priestland.

He trained with the Wales squad on Thursday and the head coach Warren Gatland said: “He had to get through today’s training.

“He has made a miraculous recovery. The boys were joking and calling him Lazarus and stuff. He got through training today and looked sharp. We feared the worst after the game.

"I spoke to the medics, who thought that the injury was a three to five-week injury, but the scan came back clear and he has worked really hard in terms of his recovery.”

With Biggar playing, the only change is on the bench where the Cardiff Blues back Gareth Anscombe, who was ruled out of the Ireland game because of a tight hamstring, replaces Alex Cuthbert.

Biggar was Wales’ star performer during the World Cup and his return to fitness is a major boost for Gatland.

Elsewhere, the coach has again selected the captain Sam Warburton at blindside flanker, with Justin Tipuric wearing the N07 shirt, while the Scarlets props Rob Evans and Samson Lee have another opportunity to impress following a strong scrummaging performance against Ireland.

The centre Jonathan Davies wins his 50th cap and lines up alongside his midfield partner Jamie Roberts for the 41st time in Tests, with Anscombe offering versatile back division cover off the bench.

“It’s great to be able to name an unchanged side, with Dan coming through, fit and ready to play,” Gatland said. “It is a reward for some players who put in a great shift in Dublin, while we will be asking a little more of some of the players as well.”

Wales have not lost to Scotland since Gatland took charge in 2008, winning eight successive Tests, while the Scots last triumphed in Cardiff 14 years ago.

Although Wales saw their grand slam and triple crown hopes disappear with the draw in Dublin, they still appear well placed for a major title push

Three of their four remaining games are at home – they also face England at Twickenham on 12 March – with Scotland being followed at the Principality Stadium by France and Italy.

Wales 

Liam Williams (Scarlets); G North (Northampton), J Davies (Clermont Auvergne), J Roberts (Harlequins), T James (Cardiff Blues); D Biggar (Ospreys), G Davies (Scarlets); R Evans (Scarlets), S Baldwin (Ospreys), S Lee (Scarlets), L Charteris (Racing), AW Jones (Ospreys), S Warburton (Cardiff Blues, capt), J Tipuric (Ospreys), T Faletau (Newport Gwent Dragons).

Replacements K Owens (Scarlets), G Jenkins (Cardiff Blues), T Francis (Exeter), B Davies (Wasps), D Lydiate (Ospreys), Lloyd Williams (Cardiff Blues), R Priestland (Bath), G Anscombe (Cardiff Blues).

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Schmidt Ineligible for Lions Role

Joe Schmidt will not be in charge of the British and Irish Lions for their trip to his native New Zealand next year.

Speaking at the official launch of the RBS Six Nations in London, the Kiwi revealed that his contract with the IRFU, which expires in 2017, does not allow him to take up the role.

"The Lions doesn’t enter my mind. We are a week to week team and that’s a long time away. It’s not something I think about," he said.

"We’re about being the best we can be. That’s our full focus for players and coaches. The Lions is actually a moot point. It’s not something I can do unless the terms of my contract change.

"There are some outside influences on that which would dictate things. I don’t plan on beyond my current contract. Sometimes as a coach you don’t get beyond your current contract."

Schmidt was viewed as the main rival to Warren Gatland for the position.

Gatland, the Wales coach who oversaw the Lions' 2-1 Test series victory against Australia in 2013, is almost certain to head up the shortlist for the coach's job.

The Lions board are to draw up a shortlist at the end of the home unions' summer tours this year, with an appointment expected by the end of August or early September.

The Lions board hope that the head coach will take up his appointment with immediate effect, although they are open to some flexibility that could involve the coach retaining some involvement with their national side during the autumn Test series, as Gatland did in 2012.

Meanwhile, Schmidt revealed that Jonathan Sexton will be fit and available for Ireland's Six Nations opener against Wales on February 7 despite suffering a head injury in the 51-10 defeat to Wasps last weekend.

"Johnny trained really well yesterday. He has passed all the protocols. It was this time last year where he had the problem and took a break," he added.

"Since then he’s had no head injuries so as far as we and he are concerned he’s ready to go. I’m always concerned. We treat head injuries with the respect they deserve.

"They identified Johnny needed a rest and that’s to our advantage really. All we can do is go on the best medical decision we have. When they give him the all clear we have trust in him.

"They’re the experts and if people question that it’s a disappointment. No one is going to have the same opinion but you get the best qualified people to make the assessment. He trained really well yesterday. There was no contact apart from with the wind which pretty much blew everyone over."

On the challenge that Wales will present on February 7, Schmidt said: "I’m only a spectator in the Wales environment but I thought they did well in the World Cup. Who would have thought that against England Wales would pick themselves up off the floor to win.

"They’re the squad with the biggest continuity and experience. They have over 1100 caps and they’ve very tough. They were the biggest team at the World Cup so they have that physical dominance they can impact on teams.

"I don’t think people could not have been impressed by Dan Biggar at the World Cup. Gareth Davies was brilliant too and that doesn’t count the other experienced players. I don’t count experience. I’m not giving an opinion on who is favourite or not. I’m just talking about Wales and facts about them. They’re an incredibly tough team.

"I was talking to Sam Warburton this morning and this is his fifth time here. We don’t talk about what our chances are or what Wales’ chances are."

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Bastareaud Out of France Squad

Mathieu Bastareaud has been left out of the 31-man France Six Nations squad.

The 27-year-old Toulon centre, who has 39 caps, had been omitted from two previous informal gatherings organised by new coach Guy Noves.

"We want to build a team who will be able to improve a lot and not taking players who would not be with us in two or three years," Noves said.

France start their Six Nations campaign against Italy in Paris on 6 February with Guilhem Guirado their new captain.

They lost 62-13 to New Zealand in the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup in October.

Ireland won the Six Nations in 2015 on eight points, with France finishing fourth on four points.

France squad for Six Nations

Forwards

Uini Atonio, Eddy Ben Arous, Antoine Burban, Yacouba Camara, Camille Chat, Damien Chouly, Alessandre Flanquart, Kevin Gourdon, Guilhem Guirado (captain), Paul Jedrasiak, Wenceslas Lauret, Yoann Maestri, Louis Picamoles, Jefferson Poirot, Rabah Slimani, Sebastien Vahaamahina

Backs

ebastien Bezy, Hugo Bonneval, Jonathan Danty, Jean-Marc Doussain, Alexandre Dumoulin, Benjamin Fall, Gael Fickou, Wesley Fofana, Remi Lamerat, Maxime Machenaud, Maxime Medard, Morgan Parra, Jules Plisson, Scott Spedding, Virimi Vakatawa

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Ireland Defend Six Nations Title

Ireland have won the RBS Six Nations trophy after a 40-10 win over Scotland put them top of the table.

Earlier in the day Wales dismantled Italy 61-20, which gave Ireland the task of needing to beat Scotland by at least 21 points in order to top the table with only the England-France game remaining.

Tries from Paul O’Connell, Jared Payne and two from man-of-the-match Sean O’Brien gave Ireland a 30-point win, which meant they ended the game at the summit of the Six Nations table.

England came close to closing the gap as they beat France 55-35 at Twickenham in the final fixture of the day, but it was not enough to overhaul Ireland's lead, meaning the trophy will be displayed in Dublin for another year at least.

Ireland could not have orchestrated a better start to the game. Within four minutes captain Paul O’Connell took the ball from the base of a ruck and crashed over for the opening score which Johnny Sexton duly converted.

What followed was a period of Irish dominance which resulted in Scotland infringing, and Sexton stepped up to make it 10-0.

Greig Laidlaw drew back with a penalty but an Irish lineout ended with Sean O’Brien galloping clear to extend the Irish lead. His effort was matched by Finn Russell, which made for a 20-10 scoreline at half time.

The second half produced plenty of drama. Four minutes into the second period Sexton extended Ireland’s lead to 13 points. Ireland held onto the ball well during the period that followed, but seemed unable to punish the Scottish defence.

A lineout was then set up close to the Scottish line and a driving maul resulted. Ireland spread the ball well and a deft switch pass to Jared Payne meant the outside centre was able to cross right under the poles, giving Sexton a regulation kick to make it a 20-point lead.

Sexton then had an opportunity to extend the lead, and top the table, with a kick at goal, but by his own high standards he missed the effort badly; the ball crashing back off the right-hand upright.

Minutes later he was given another chance to further his team’s title hopes but this time missed it wide to the right.

It seemed like a nervy time for Irish players and fans, but in the 61st minute he finally bisected the poles with his third attempt and Ireland were crucially in front by enough.

It was not deemed enough, though, by Sean O’Brien in particular, who managed to avoid the efforts of two defenders as he went over for his second of the match.

Scotland had a chance to make it an interesting final four minutes when Stuart Hogg went over the line but the TMO spotted that he had knocked the ball on in the act of scoring, and as a result Ireland we able to hold onto a big lead ahead of England’s showdown with France.

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England v Italy - Preview

England will be looking to build on their impressive Six Nations start when they host Italy at Twickenham on Saturday.

England silenced Cardiff with an impressive second-half display to beat Wales 21-16 at the Millennium Stadium in their Championship opener last Friday.

Scott Quinnell gives his prediction on the 6 Nations clash between England and Italy

Head coach Stuart Lancaster has kept the faith in the side who beat Wales by naming the same 23 for the visit of the Azzurri.

Jonathan Joseph will make his Twickenham debut as he resumes his promising centre partnership outside Luther Burrell with George Ford once again pulling the strings at fly-half.

Tighthead prop Dan Cole is given another chance to gain match fitness after a year interrupted by neck and foot problems, while on the other side of the scrum Joe Marler continues to be first choice loosehead.

England backs coach Andy Farrell has been impressed with how the young players have adapted to the international game

Italy coach Jacques Brunel has made four changes to his team for Saturday’s clash plus two further positional changes.

Veteran lock Marco Bortolami extends his caps record for Italy to 111, replacing Newcastle's Josh Furno in the second row.

Another Azzurri stalwart, flanker Mauro Bergamasco will pick up his 101st cap in place of Alessandro Zanni, who partially tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in last week’s 26-3 defeat to Ireland in Rome and has been ruled out for the rest of the season.

Sale Sharks prop Alberto De Marchi, who started on the bench last week, swaps places with Matias Aguero at loosehead in the other change in the forwards.

Michele Campagnaro will miss the rest of the Six Nations after injuring his left knee, so Luca Morisi has moved out one spot to fill the vacant outside centre position. Wasps star Andrea Masi will be at inside centre, switching from full-back. Sale's Luke McLean moves to No 15 from the left wing.

Giovambattista Venditti, who started on the bench in Rome, comes on to the left wing.

England: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Anthony Watson, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Luther Burrell, 11 Jonny May, 10 George Ford, 9 Ben Youngs, 1 Joe Marler, 2 Dylan Hartley, 3 Dan Cole, 4 Dave Attwood, 5 George Kruis, 6 James Haskell, 7 Chris Robshaw (c), 8 Billy Vunipola,

Replacements: 16 Tom Youngs, 17 Mako Vunipola, 18 Kieran Brookes, 19 Nick Easter, 20 Tom Croft, 21 Richard Wigglesworth, 22 Danny Cipriani, 23 Billy Twelvetrees.

Italy: 15 Luke McLean, 14 Leonardo Sarto, 13 Luca Morisi, 12 Andrea Masi, 11 Giovambattista Venditti, 10 Kelly Haimona, 9 Edoardo Gori, 1 Alberto De Marchi, 2 Leonardo Ghiraldini, 3 Martin Castrogiovanni, 4 George Fabio Biagi, 5 Marco Bortolami, 6 Mauro Bergamasco, 7 Francesco Minto, 8 Sergio Parisse (c).

Replacements: 16 Andrea Manici, 17 Matias Aguero, 18 Dario Chistolini, 19 Joshua Furno, 20 Samuela Vunisa, 21 Guglielmo Palazzani, 22 Tommaso Allan, 23 Giulio Bisegni.

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Ireland v France - Preview

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt has recalled the Lions trio of Jonathan Sexton, Sean O'Brien and Jamie Heaslip for the game against France.

Hooker Rory Best has recovered from a concussion and has completed all the return-to-play protocols.

Another Lion, prop Cian Healy, is on the replacements bench following surgery on a hamstring injury.

France make just one change with prop Eddy Ben Arous replacing the injured Alexandre Menini.

Ireland: 15-Rob Kearney, 14-Tommy Bowe, 13-Jared Payne, 12-Robbie Henshaw, 11-Simon Zebo, 10-Jonathan Sexton, 9-Conor Murray; 1-Jack McGrath, 2-Rory Best, 3-Mike Ross, 4-Devin Toner, 5-Paul O'Connell (c), 6-Peter O'Mahony, 7-Sean O'Brien, 8-Jamie Heaslip

Replacements: 16-Sean Cronin, 17-Cian Healy, 18-Martin Moore, 19-Iain Henderson, 20-Jordi Murphy, 21-Isaac Boss, 22-Ian Madigan, 23-Felix Jones.

France: 15-Scott Spedding, 14-Yoann Huget, 13-Mathieu Bastareaud, 12-Wesley Fofana, 11-Teddy Thomas, 10-Camille Lopez, 9-Rory Kockott; 1-Eddy Ben Arous, 2-Guilhem Guirado, 3-Rabah Slimani, 4-Pascal Pape, 5-Yoann Maestri, 6-Thierry Dusautoir, 7-Bernard Le Roux, 8-Damien Chouly

Replacements: 16-Benjamin Kayser, 17-Uini Atonio, 18-Vincent Debaty, 19-Romain Taofifenua, 20-Loann Goujon, 21-Morgan Parra, 22-Remi Tales, 23-Remi Lamerat.

The performances by both France and Ireland in their opening matches of the 2015 Six Nations were described in their respective country's media in a mixture of unflattering terms such as: 'less than convincing', 'disjointed and lacklustre', 'little to please the eye' and 'battle of attrition'.

Despite them both winning, each side is under pressure to show a little more 'joie de vivre' at the Aviva.

This is a fixture that has been particularly tight in recent years with successive draws followed by a nerve-jangling Championship-clinching win in Paris for Ireland last year by just two points. 

A win on Saturday for the Irish would carry greater significance than just being another step towards retaining their title as both these sides are in the same World Cup group. Winger Tommy Bowe says that beating the French would put them "psychologically in a great position"ahead of the tournament, having already seen off Italy, another Pool D opponent, last weekend.

The Irish are boosted for this game by the reappearance of three Lions to their starting line-up, with another on the bench. The player generating the most headlines on his return is Johnny Sexton. The scourge of the French last year is back at number 10 after an enforced three-month absence following four concussions in 2014.

France coach Philippe Saint-Andre went public this week with his plan to put an undercooked Sexton under pressure by saying they should "test him early on", given his last game was against Australia in November.

However, given the Racing Metro fly-half's knowledge of his French opponents, and 17 points at the Stade de France last year, he is unlikely to be fazed by an early French bombardment.

France looked rusty on their return from a three-month break of their own as they lumbered past Scotland. Old-fashioned forward power ground them out of trouble, but Saint-Andre will have spent this week concocting a plan of how to better release a dangerous back division that weren't given enough chances to shine.

He also spoke of the importance of finally winning away at a major team, something that leaves a yawning gap on his CV with Les Bleus.

MATCH OFFICIALS

Referee : Wayne Barnes (ENG)

Touch judges : Nigel Owens (WAL) & Stuart Berry (RSA)

TV : Graham Hughes (ENG)

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From from The Top - JPR Williams

“No leadership, no ideas. Not even enough imagination to thump someone in the line-up when the ref wasn’t looking.”

J.P.R. Williams 1984 on Wales losing 28-9 against Australia

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Schmidt Makes Tight Calls

Getty Images

Ulster duo Andrew Trimble and Luke Marshall are surprise inclusions in the Ireland team for Sunday's Six Nations opener against Scotland in Dublin.

Two of the three changes from the New Zealand defeat are in the backs with Trimble replacing the injured Tommy Bowe and Marshall in for Gordon D'Arcy.

The other change from that match sees another Ulster player, Chris Henry, in for injured flanker Sean O'Brien.

Brian O'Driscoll will make an Irish record 129th appearance this weekend.

O'Driscoll moves ahead of Ronan O'Gara's 128-cap haul while another milestone will see Rob Kearney making his 50th appearance for the Irish.

D'Arcy, 33, was one of Ireland's best performers against the All Blacks.

The 75-times capped Leinster centre's omission from the entire squad for this weekend's game will be a major talking-point although it's conceivable, given the physical demands of the competition, it may be a case of him being kept fresh for next weekend's game against Wales.

Ireland coach Joe Schmidt, facing into his first Six Nations in charge, said that it had been a "very, very close call" between his former Leinster player and four-times capped Marshall.

"I think part of it was that Gordon had a little bit of a stomach bug at the start of the week," added the Irish coach.

"Because it was a tight call, Luke got a little bit more of the training time and would feel a little bit more comfortable.

"Luke made a couple of really good telling breaks against the Australians in the autumn, then Gordon D'Arcy played as well as I've seen him against the All Blacks."

D'Arcy has partnered Brian O'Driscoll at centre for Ireland on an international record 52 occasions.

Marshall, 22, did start ahead of D'Arcy in the middle November Test against Australia but a defensive mix-up between him and Ian Madigan led to one of the opposition's tries.

The Ulster centre was then left out of the squad for the All Blacks game but he is back in favour for Sunday's Championship opener.

Schmidt indicated on Friday that Trimble's "physicality" had been a factor in the Ulster wing's recall given that Sean Lamont has been named in the Scotland line-up.

With Bowe and Keith Earls ruled out by injury and Luke Fitzgerald also not risked because of a hip niggle sustained in midweek, Trimble starts ahead of Fergus McFadden after missing out on all of last year's Six Nations.

"The one thing we felt with Luke (Fitzgerald) was that if we tried to push too hard this week we might lose him for more than next week anyway," added Schmidt.

Henry holds off the claims of Tommy O'Donnell to take the flanker berth left vacant by O'Brien's injury.

Paddy Jackson edges out Ian Madigan for the back-up fly-half role while the bench also includes uncapped Leinster prop Martin Moore, Ulster lock Dan Tuohy and Isaac Boss.

Scrum-half Boss is named in the squad after Eoin Reddan was ruled out by a calf injury.

Ireland team to face Scotland: Rob Kearney (Leinster); Andrew Trimble (Ulster), Brian O'Driscoll (Leinster), Luke Marshall (Ulster), Dave Kearney (Leinster); Johnny Sexton (Racing Metro), Conor Murray (Munster); Cian Healy (Leinster), Rory Best (Ulster), Mike Ross (Leinster); Devin Toner (Leinster), Paul O'Connell (Munster); Peter O'Mahony (Munster), Chris Henry (Ulster), Jamie Heaslip (Ulster).

Replacements: Jack McGrath (Leinster), Sean Cronin (Leinster), Martin Moore (Leinster), Dan Tuohy (Ulster), Tommy O'Donnell (Munster), Isaac Boss (Leinster), Paddy Jackson (Ulster), Fergus McFadden (Leinster)

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