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Six Nations Round 1 Preview

Guinness Six Nations 2025 – Round 1 | Who’s playing, where to watch and latest predictions

France hosts Wales in the opening Six Nations match

Match Details

What: France vs. Wales

Where: Stade de France, Paris

When: 20:15, Friday 31st January

How to Watch: ITV1

Prediction: France by 21


Match Preview

The 2025 Six Nations kicks off under the Friday night lights in Saint-Denis as France hosts Wales for the 50th time on French soil.

France: Home Dominance

Les Bleus enter the match full of confidence after an unbeaten Autumn Nations Series, including a statement win over the All Blacks. In the past three years, only South Africa and Ireland have beaten France at home.

Wales: A Struggle for Form

Wales, meanwhile, are on a record 12-game losing streak. Their last victory came in the 2023 Rugby World Cup against Georgia. However, Wales have historically posed a challenge for France in the Six Nations, boasting more wins in Paris than any other team since Italy joined the tournament in 2000.

A Friday Night Advantage?

Historically, Friday night Six Nations openers have favored the away side, with visitors winning all four previous curtain-raisers played on a Friday. Notably, three of those winners went on to lift the trophy, including Wales in 2019. Can Wales defy the odds and stun France once again?


Team Lineups

France

Starting XV:

15. Thomas Ramos
14. Théo Attissogbe
13. Pierre-Louis Barassi
12. Yoram Moefana
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
10. Romain Ntamack
9. Antoine Dupont
1. Jean-Baptiste Gros
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Uini Atonio
4. Alexandre Roumat
5. Emmanuel Meafou
6. François Cros
7. Paul Boudehent
8. Grégory Alldritt

Replacements:

16. Julien Marchand
17. Cyril Baille
18. Georges-Henri Colombe
19. Hugo Auradou
20. Mickaël Guillard
21. Oscar Jegou
22. Nolann Le Garrec
23. Émilien Gailleton

Wales

Starting XV:

15. Liam Williams
14. Tom Rogers
13. Nick Tompkins
12. Owen Watkin
11. Josh Adams
10. Ben Thomas
9. Tomos Williams
1. Gareth Thomas
2. Evan Lloyd
3. Henry Thomas
4. Will Rowlands
5. Dafydd Jenkins
6. James Botham
7. Jac Morgan
8. Aaron Wainwright

Replacements:

16. Elliot Dee
17. Nicky Smith
18. Keiron Assiratti
19. Freddie Thomas
20. Tommy Reffell
21. Rhodri Williams
22. Dan Edwards
23. Blair Murray


Recent Head-to-Head Results

10.03.24 | Wales 24 – 45 France

18.03.23 | France 41 – 28 Wales

11.03.22 | Wales 9 – 13 France

20.03.21 | France 32 – 30 Wales

24.10.20 | France 38 – 21 Wales


Match Details

What: Scotland vs. Italy

Where: Scottish Gas Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh

When: 14:15, Saturday 1st February

How to Watch: BBC1

Prediction: Scotland by 17


Match Preview

For years, the Scotland vs Italy clash in the Six Nations often determined who would end up with the dreaded Wooden Spoon. However, both teams now enter the tournament with far greater ambitions and a more optimistic outlook.

Scotland have become strong starters in recent years, winning their opening match in six of the last eight tournaments— a stark contrast to their earlier struggles, where they managed just one opening-round win in their first 17 attempts.

Italy, celebrating 25 years in the competition since their debut in 2000, will be eager to recreate history. Their first-ever Six Nations match saw them stun Scotland—who had won the Five Nations the year before—with a famous victory.

Such a result isn’t out of the question. The Azzurri are currently on a three-match unbeaten streak in the Championship, their longest to date. While they haven’t matched Scotland’s consistency in opening fixtures—winning only two of their 24 openers since that 2000 triumph—they are no easy opponents. Last year, they pushed England to the brink in a narrow three-point loss in Round 1, and in 2023, they kept France within five points.

Both teams have moved beyond past struggles, setting the stage for a highly competitive encounter.


Team Lineups

Scotland

15 Blair Kinghorn
14 Darcy Graham
13 Huw Jones
12 Stafford McDowall
11 Duhan van der Merwe
10 Finn Russell
9 Ben White
1 Pierre Schoeman
2 Dave Cherry
3 Zander Fagerson
4 Jonny Gray
5 Grant Gilchrist
6 Jamie Ritchie
7 Rory Darge
8 Matt Fagerson

Replacements:

16 Ewan Ashman
17 Rory Sutherland
18 Will Hurd
19 Gregor Brown
20 Jack Dempsey
21 George Horne
22 Tom Jordan
23 Kyle Rowe

Italy

15 Tommaso Allan
14 Ange Capuozzo
13 Juan Ignacio Brex
12 Tommaso Menoncello
11 Monty Ioane
10 Paolo Garbisi
9 Martin Page-Relo
1 Danilo Fischetti
2 Giacomo Nicotera
3 Simone Ferrari
4 Dino Lamb
5 Federico Ruzza
6 Sebastian Negri
7 Michele Lamaro
8 Lorenzo Cannone

Replacements:

16 Gianmarco Lucchesi
17 Luca Rizzoli
18 Marco Riccioni
19 Niccolo Cannone
20 Manuel Zuliani
21 Ross Vintcent
22 Alessandro Garbisi
23 Simone Gesi


Recent Head-to-Head Results

09.03.24 | Italy 31 – 29 Scotland

29.07.23 | Scotland 25 – 13 Italy

18.03.23 | Scotland 26 – 14 Italy

12.03.22 | Italy 22 – 33 Scotland

20.03.21 | Scotland 52 – 10 Italy


Match Details

What: Ireland vs England

Where: Aviva Stadium, Dublin

When: 16:45, Saturday 1st February

How to Watch: ITV1

Prediction: Ireland by 8


Match Preview

Ireland are aiming to make history by becoming the first team to win three consecutive Six Nations Championships. Their title defence begins on Saturday at the Aviva Stadium against England. While several teams, including Ireland, have won back-to-back titles before, no side has managed three in a row.

With head coach Andy Farrell on sabbatical to coach the British & Irish Lions, Simon Easterby steps in as interim head coach. His challenge is to ensure a strong start, unlike in 2016 when Ireland struggled early and finished third. Ireland ended 2024 with three straight wins but suffered key losses to England, South Africa, and New Zealand during the year. Handling errors and line-out issues surfaced in their November tests.

Easterby has made a bold call by handing 21-year-old Sam Prendergast his Six Nations debut at fly-half over Jack Crowley, who played every minute of last year’s campaign. Ireland will also be without injured key players Tadhg Furlong and Joe McCarthy.

For England, Steve Borthwick has named Maro Itoje as captain for the first time, while twins Tom and Ben Curry start together in the back row. Wing Cadan Murley makes his debut. Borthwick, in his third campaign, hopes to build on England’s steady progress, having finished fourth and third in the last two editions.

Key players to watch include Ireland’s James Lowe, who has a strong scoring record in Dublin, and England’s Tommy Freeman, who has previously crossed the line in away games against France and New Zealand.

Hot stat: England’s average result margin against Six Nations and Rugby Championship teams in 2024 was just four points!


Team Lineups

Ireland

15 Hugo Keenan
14 Mack Hansen
13 Garry Ringrose
12 Bundee Aki
11 James Lowe
10 Sam Prendergast
9 Jamison Gibson-Park
1 Andrew Porter
2 Rónan Kelleher
3 Finlay Bealham
4 James Ryan
5 Tadhg Beirne
6 Ryan Baird
7 Josh van der Flier
8 Caelan Doris (c)

Replacements:
16 Dan Sheehan
17 Cian Healy
18 Thomas Clarkson
19 Iain Henderson
20 Jack Conan
21 Conor Murray
22 Jack Crowley
23 Robbie Henshaw

England

15 Freddie Steward
14 Tommy Freeman
13 Ollie Lawrence
12 Henry Slade
11 Cadan Murley
10 Marcus Smith
9 Alex Mitchell
1 Ellis Genge
2 Luke Cowan-Dickie
3 Will Stuart
4 Maro Itoje (c)
5 George Martin
6 Tom Curry
7 Ben Curry
8 Ben Earl

Replacements:
16 Theo Dan
17 Fin Baxter
18 Joe Heyes
19 Ollie Chessum
20 Chandler Cunningham-South
21 Tom Willis
22 Harry Randall
23 Fin Smith


Recent Head-to-Head Results

09.03.24 | England 23 – 22 Ireland

19.08.23 | Ireland 29 – 10 England

18.03.23 | Ireland 29 – 16 England

12.03.22 | England 15 – 32 Ireland

20.03.21 | Ireland 32 – 18 England


Quick Links

Guinness Six Nations 2024 | Your Complete Guide

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