For Six Nations coaches to commit en masse to open, expansive rugby
Okay, there is not a snowball’s chance in Hell of this first one actually happening but wouldn’t it be great if it did? If there is one thing the Rugby World Cup showed it is that we are a step or three behind our southern hemisphere cousins right now in terms of skills.
I would love to see all the Northern Hemisphere coaches get around a table and say 'Right, we’ve all just been spanked at the World Cup. Something has to give. Let’s think long term. Let’s prioritise Japan 2019. Let’s NOT make the Six Nations a great big arm wrestle this year. Let’s all commit here and now to developing skills without fear of ramifications. Stop going for the three points wherever we are on the field. Let’s recreate the spirit of Super Saturday which we saw in the final round of Six Nations matches last year. Let’s go for tries, attempt offloads, hunt down bonus points.’
Of course, it won’t work like that. When it came down to it, self-interest would creep in. This year, as ever, it will be about the Triple Crown, the Calcutta Cup, national pride, bloodying England’s nose. It will be Guy Noves’ first season as France coach and he will want victories at all cost (the French are a law unto themselves anyway). And it will be great. But one can dream.
All eyes will be on Eddie Jones at the Six Nations
For Eddie Jones to put performances first
Even if my first wish is impossible I would still like to see Eddie Jones’ England commit to playing with pace and tempo, to keeping the ball off the deck, to taking risks. I have to believe that results are irrelevant at this point. The most important thing for England in terms of 2019 is developing skills and allowing players to grow and express themselves in a Test match environment. Otherwise we’ll just get into the same cycle of knocking seven bells out of each other every year in physical, hugely intense Test matches, only to come up short in Japan.
For England to make Twickenham a fortress again
Having said that, of course I want to see England do well. Winning our home matches against Wales and Ireland has to be the priority. Losing to Wales and Australia at HQ in the World Cup has left a bitter taste in the mouth and Eddie has to make Twickenham a fortress once again.
England need to make Twickenham feel like home again
As ever, England fans will expect a Grand Slam. And they will probably end up disappointed. But if Jones’ men can win their home games against Wales and Ireland, and win two out of three away games against the blues - France, Italy and Scotland - then it is up to someone else to win the grand slam. For my money, Ireland begin the tournament as marginal favourites.
The emergence of exciting new talent...
A new coach means an opportunity to blood new players and I am salivating at the prospect of seeing the likes of Luke Wallace, Mario Itoje (even if I think Joe Launchbury and George Kruis are ahead of him in the pecking order), Jamie Gibson, Luke Cowan-Dickie and Elliot Daly come into the mix. Nathan Hughes becomes eligible this summer and he will undoubtedly be an option for the trip to Australia but long term Josh Beaumont could be England’s man at No 8. England are not short of budding young talent - they just need to release it.
Mario Itoje is just one of an exciting crop of young English players
...and the return of some exciting 'old’ talent
Manu Tuilagi’s virtuoso performance agains Richie McCaw’s world champions at Twickenham in 2012 remains one of the more astonishing things I have seen in my life. There is no knowing how he will return.
Manu is a power athlete with a suspect groin. He has basically been gone three years. Will he still have his pace? To be honest, Manu’s international future may lie at 12 anyway given the emergence of Jonathan Joseph and Elliot Daly. I can see Tuilagi developing into a Nonu-type player. Whatever happens, England must have a flier at 13, capable of an outside break. That is non-negotiable.
Saracens to win the Premiership... and possibly the European Cup
The top six teams in the Premiership can all beat each other but make no mistake Saracens are the best equipped. They have the squad, the experience and the hard edge, although it will be interesting to see what effect it will have on the team should Paul Gustard or Alex Sanderson be poached by England. As regards Europe, the end of season fixture list is kinder now. Two years ago Saracens had to play back-to-back European and Premiership finals and lost them both. This time I can see them finishing the job. They just have that belief and swagger about them now.
Saracens have the potential to win plenty of silverware
Newcastle to be relegated
I cannot see where their next win is coming from. Newcastle used to rely on their home form on a wet and windy pitch. With the installation of a pristine 4G surface, they have lost their one advantage.
The summer tours - any win will do
Quite literally any win will do for England, Wales, and Ireland in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa respectively. After the schooling we got at the World Cup, I’m looking forward to a nice quiet summer in Australia with Eddie Jones. The newspaper chat should be lively. Wales’ curse against the All Blacks goes back to the 1950s but, as crazy as it sounds, it might actually be a semi-decent time to visit the back-to-back world champions.
All the Home Nations have a stiff task on their travels
Eight years ago I bet my mate Simon Price that Wales wouldn’t beat New Zealand before I turned 60 and I’m actually quite nervous about this three-Test series. New Zealand have said goodbye to a couple of hundred-cappers. Surely they can’t hit the ground running and be as good as they were at the Rugby World Cup? Can they? Warren Gatland and Wales’ players will be looking to lay down a marker ahead of the 2017 Lions trip.
Argentina to light up the Rugby Championship
I love watching the Rugby Championship and this year, after the World Cup just gone, it is going to be even more fascinating. What new monsters will emerge for NZ? Can Australia continue their upwards trajectory under Michael Cheika? South Africa have a rebuilding job under a new head coach. But for me I am most interested to see how Argentina build on an excellent World Cup. The Pumas are my dark horses for Japan 2019.
Already bloody good, this year they will have a Super Rugby franchise which effectively amounts to their national team minus one or two players, meaning more playing time together in the best club competition in the world. Argentina beat South Africa in Durban last year. Can they now go and bloody the noses of either Australia or New Zealand? It will be great fun finding out.
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