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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Michael Aylwin

Six Nations 2023 guide: France and Ireland look the teams to beat

France Ireland Six Nations Damian Penaud Tadhg Furlong England Wales Adam Beard Ange Capuozzo Ben Earl
From left: Jamie Ritchie, Ken Owens, Owen Farrell, Antoine Dupont, Johnny Sexton and Michele Lamaro, the Six Nations captains.
From left: Jamie Ritchie, Ken Owens, Owen Farrell, Antoine Dupont, Johnny Sexton and Michele Lamaro, the Six Nations captains. Photograph: David Rogers/Getty Images

England

How long ago seems 2019, not only the confident run to the World Cup final of a team younger than any finalists of the professional era, but also the dazzling attack yielding 24 tries in that year’s Six Nations. Quite how England find themselves with a new coach and a rebuild less than a year from the next World Cup will flummox rugby historians. Fantasists boo when England don’t win; realists appreciate now is by far the most competitive era international rugby has ever known. Fantasists won this particular debate. England face a crisis at hooker and a tall order to emulate their title of only three years ago (it is also easy to forget).

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