Warburton worried for Wales
Former Wales and Lions skipper Sam Warburton has earmarked Scotland as potential Six Nations winners while seeming to play down chances of his own nation winning the tournament.
Warburton worked as a breakdown coach under current Wales coach Wayne Pivac back in 2020 which makes his comments surprising, especially considering their win in 2021.
Key players Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi and Ken Owens are all ruled out of the tournament, while Alun Wyn Jones, Taulupe Faletau and George North will miss at least the bulk of it.
"I think they have a shot to nothing, given their injury problems and the way Covid cancellations and postponements have affected their regional teams," Warburton wrote in his column for The Times.
"It was a similar position last year in all honesty, when they went on to become champions, riding some luck along the way with all the opposition’s red cards, and ironically the game in which they probably played their best — against France — they lost.
"The one thing I will say about Wales is that maybe we have not praised their discipline enough. What they are very good at is staying in games, staying within seven to ten points and then backing their fitness.
"I do worry that for this campaign they have not got the experienced players they had last year to help them through those tough periods."
Warburton, who retired following the 2017 Lions tour draw in New Zealand, also earmarked Scotland as contenders in his column, he said: "I remember talking to Stuart Hogg about this and saying that had that try been allowed, that would have been the game for Scotland and they could easily have gone on to win the Championship instead.
"Scotland have improved a great deal and if I were head coach Gregor Townsend, I would be highlighting that moment and telling my players how close they are.
"There will be a lot of focus on France, Ireland and England leading into this year’s competition, but Scotland are genuine contenders too in my opinion."
Nerves for Townsend with Hogg in action this weekend
There will be tension in the Scotland camp as Stuart Hogg, Sam Skinner and Johnny Gray will all start for Exeter Chiefs in their game at London Irish this weekend.
Most key players in the United Rugby Championship will have been rested but the players based in England will carry on as usual with the Premiership having a full set of fixtures for coaches to watch nervously.
In contrast, ahead of Scotland's clash with England, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Jonny Hill, Jack Nowell, Sam Simmonds and Henry Slade have all spent the entire week with England in Brighton and were unavailable to Rob Baxter for selection.
Tuilagi could return for Italy
Sale Director of Rugby Alex Sanderson has said that centre Manu Tuilagi could be available for England's second round fixture against Italy.
The powerful midfielder was injured after scoring in the Red Rose's autumn international win over world champions South Africa back in November.
"He is training and looking good but we think it is too much of a risk to push him this weekend," Sanderson said.
"He is an exceptional trainer and a quick healer so all of his progressions are done on the back of hitting physiological markers and GPS speeds, re-scans and seeing the specialist and we would never push him earlier.
"Harlequins is the projected return and then we will see how he feels for Six Nations," He added. Sale play Harlequins on February 6th, one day after England's opener vs Scotland.
"It is a week-to-week thing for Manu but England have total autonomy over when he plays and doesn't play and if he looks really good and feels good, he will go straight through to England and it could be Italy."
New scrum laws to be trialled during tournament
Every year it seems that there is a new law for rugby fans to remember for the Six Nations, and this year will be no exception with one of World Rugby's new scrum laws set to be trialled.
In the new law, both hookers will be required to ensure one foot, the ‘brake foot’, is extended towards the opposition during the crouch and bind phases of the engagement sequence, with a resulting free kick if the “brake foot” is not applied.
Speaking of the news, World Rugby Chief Executive Alan Gilpin said: “We want rugby to be the best it can be for those playing and watching the game and this trial will enable us to understand whether we can positively impact both game and welfare outcomes during the three Six Nations Championships.
