England, France face Six Nations title tests
The two traditional European powers each endured miserable World Cup campaigns last year, with hosts England failing to get out of their group.
France avoided that fate only to suffer a humiliating 13-62 quarterfinal loss to eventual champions New Zealand.
Both England and France are now under new coaches, with Australian Eddie Jones at the helm of the Red Rose brigade and Frenchman Guy Noves, bucking a Europe-wide trend to appoint overseas coaches, in charge of his native France.
The cross-Channel rivals are the only two teams left in this year's Six Nations who can complete the Grand Slam, England winning away to Scotland and Italy in Jones's first two games while Noves's France have enjoyed narrow victories over both Italy and champions Ireland.
But both sides face their sternest challenges of the tournament so far this week, with France away to Wales on Friday and England facing Ireland at Twickenham a day later in former Australia and Japan coach Jones's first home game in charge of the men in white.
England eventually overwhelmed Italy but it was not until centre Jonathan Joseph's intercept try in the second half in Rome that the floodgates opened.
Jones has placed forward dominance, long a typical English rugby trait, at the heart of his plans to revive the team, yet the team's driving maul failed to function properly in Rome, while a lack of precision was equally evident at the line-out.
Jones, however, was anything but carried away, saying: "They [Italy] are a 13th or 14th ranked in the world, (so) we should be able to give them a good hiding. We didn't give them a hiding – and we've got to be better than that."
With powerhouse centre Manu Tuilagi only recently returned from an injury lay-off, Jones is set to keep faith with his two flyhalves policy that sees George Ford starting in the No.10 shirt with Owen Farrell, whose preferred position is also flyhalf, alongside him at inside centre.
That leaves England potentially vulnerable defensively in midfield but whether the injury-hit Irish can take advantage remains to be seen.
Not only have stalwarts Paul O'Connell and Brian O'Driscoll both retired, but the likes of Mike McCarthy, Sean O'Brien, Dave Kearney, Tommy Bowe, Ian Henderson, Peter O'Mahony and Luke Fitzgerald are all part of a depressingly long injury list.
Add in concerns that playmaking flyhalf Jonathan Sexton, targeted by France in Paris, has a history of concussion injuries and it is easy to see why many think Ireland, held to a draw by Wales first in their tournament opener, have it all to do if they are to win an unprecedented third straight outright Six Nations title.
Ireland coach Joe Schmidt was hailed as a tactical genius in guiding the team to back-to-back Championships but recent results have seen the New Zealander's methods criticised, with many arguing that opponents are now getting wise to an attritional, kick-based game.
The Irish have also been criticised for a lack of subtlety and pace around the fringes, a charge that has often been levelled against France in recent seasons.
But the fact Maxime Medard's winning try against Ireland came from quick scrum ball and a sharp pass by Maxime Machenaud is something that should, if they remember, stand France in good stead in Cardiff, where Wales centre Jamie Roberts is again set to play the part of a human wrecking ball in both defence and attack.
Meanwhile a cautious Noves said: "Let's all keep our feet square on the ground, because our next opponent will be an extremely strong one."
Saturday's match between Italy and Scotland is yet again shaping up as battle to avoid the wooden spoon and the pressure on both teams, as well as their penchant for self-inflicted errors, means fans in Rome are set to witness a tense, if not top-class, contest.
Agence France-Presse
