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No resting on laurels Italy debuts against defending titlist Scots
Posted: Thursday February 03, 2000 04:32 PM
LONDON (AP) -- If the French are still congratulating themselves for that enthralling World Cup semifinal victory over New Zealand, they could be in for a rude awakening on Saturday. The expanded Six Nations kicks off with the World Cup runner-up France going to Cardiff to meet Wales at the 73,000-seat Millennium Stadium. The Welsh, rejuvenated under Kiwi coach Graham Henry, would relish being able to say they beat the team that knocked the All Blacks out of the World Cup. The first newcomer to join the championship since 1910, Italy has teamed up with the five regulars to make it a Six Nations but will do well to avoid finishing last. The Italians debut with a game against defending titlist Scotland in Rome, while England hosts Ireland at Twickenham. The new format means that no team gets the weekend off. But the biggest game in the opening round of matches is in Cardiff. The French, who go into the championship as second favorites behind England, have made two startling changes - dropping World Cup captain and hooker Rafael Ibanez, who led them to the final against Australia, and fielding Thomas Castaignede, normally a center or flyhalf, at fullback. New coach Bernard Laporte, who replaced Jean-Claude Skrela after the World Cup ended three months ago, has named Marc del Maso at hooker and has handed the captaincy to No. 8 Fabien Pelous in a bid to give the pack, which can behave erratically, a less predictable look. "The last time we met the northern teams we finished last - and that's my only reference," Laporte said. "We're World Cup runners-up, but that doesn't mean we're better than our adversaries." Castaignede, who missed most of the World Cup through injury, can't get his old flyhalf place back because of the standout form of Christophe Lamaison. "I was a little surprised when Bernard Laporte said he was counting on me for the No. 15 shirt," Castaignede said. "It's a new chapter for me. But it's the same for everybody. With the arrival of a new coach, the cards have been reshuffled." With Laporte finding room for both Castaignede and Lamaison and Christophe Dominici and Emile Ntamack on the wings, the French have the most talented back line in the championship. Australian-born center Jason Jones-Hughes will play his first championship game for the Welsh in place of the injured veteran Scott Gibbs. But Henry's team is weakened by the absence of injured lock Craig Quinnell. For the first time since 1989, England goes into the championship without star center Jeremy Guscott, who has retired from international rugby at age 34. But Guscott wasn't a regular under coach Clive Woodward who now has strength in depth in all departments and has named a new look three-quarter line including debutants Mike Tindall (center) and Ben Cohen (winger). Although regular captain and second row Martin Johnson is sidelined through injury Woodward's team has probably the best back row in the championship, led by former captain Lawrence Dallaglio, and expert kickers such as Jonny Wilkinson and Paul Grayson, who usually alternate at flyhalf. In Johnson's absense, England will be captained by scrumhalf Matt Dawson who welcomed the arrival into test rugby union of the sin-bin. For the first time, referees at the Six Nations will be able to send players off for a 10-minute cooling off period if they feel that ejection for the rest of the game is not justified. "Matches can be won and lost when players go into the sinbin, and I have been shouting from the rooftops for its introduction," the British Lion star said. The Irish pack, led by veteran hooker Keith Wood, will aim to frustrate Dallaglio and his back row partners by allowing them as little ball as possible although the backs still lack talent. At least, with Italy joining the show, the Irish will no longer be favorites to collect the "wooden spoon", the unofficial award for the team that finishes last. The Italians are nowhere near as strong as when they applied to join the Five Nations two years ago. At that stage they were beating the likes of France, Ireland and Scotland. But recent results, including a 101-3 loss to New Zealand, and a 67-6 defeat by England at the World Cup, have dented their morale. "The players have the ability, they're fit and strong,' said Brad Johnstone, a New Zealander coming off a successful stint as Fiji's coach. 'But at the moment, they're not very confident. Much will depend on the halfback pairing of Alessandro Troncon and Argentina-born Diego Dominguez, who both play in the strong French league. The Scots will welcome the return of New Zealand-born center John Leslie, who missed most of the World Cup after rupturing ankle ligaments against South Africa in their opening game. If the influential Leslie can team up well with flyhalf Gregor Townsend, the Italian defense will be put under huge pressure from the title holders. The opening game is a huge test for the newcomers. A good performance against the Scots will do wonders to lift the confidence of the Italians while another heavy loss will make the critics wonder why they ever joined the championship in the first place.
Wales vs. FranceWales -- Shane Howarth, Gareth Thomas, Mark Taylor, Jason Jones-Hughes, Dafydd James, Neil Jenkins, Rob Howley, Brett Sinkinson, Scott Quinnell, Colin Charvis, Ian Gough, Chris Wyatt, Peter Rogers, Garin Jenkins, David Young.France -- Thomas Castaignede, Christophe Dominici, Richard Dourthe, Thomas Lombard, Emile Ntamack, Christophe Lamaison, Fabien Galthie, Fabien Pelous, Abelatif Benazzi, Olivier Magne, Legi Matiu, Olivier Brouzet, Franck Tournaire, Marc Dalmaso, Christian Califano.
England vs. IrelandEngland -- Matt Perry, Austin Healey, Mike Tindall, Mike Catt, Ben Cohen, Jonny Wilkinson, att Dawson, Neil Back, Richard Hill, Lawrence Dallaglio, Simon Shaw, Garath Archer, Jason Leonard, Phil Greening, Phil Vickery.Ireland -- Conor O'Shea, Justin Bishop, Brian O'Driscoll, Mike Mullins, Kevin Maggs, David Humphreys, Tom Tierney, Anthony Foley, Dion O'Cuinneagain, Keith Dawson, Robert Casey, Malcolm O'Kelly, Peter Clohessy, Kith Wood, Paul Wallace. Italy vs. ScotlandItaly -- Matthew Pini, Denis Dallan, Manuel Dallan, Luca Martin, Cristian Stoica, Diego Dominguez, Alessandro Troncon, Wilhelmus Visser, Mauro Bergamasco, Massimo Giovanelli, Andrea Gritti, Carlo Checchinato, Tino Paoletti, Alessandro Moscardi, Massimo Cuttitta.Scotland -- Glenn Metcalfe, Shaun Longstaff, Jamie Mayer, John Leslie, Kenny Logan, Gregor Townsend, Bryan Redpath, Gordon Simpson, Budge Pountney, Martin Leslie, Stuart Grimes, Scott Murray, Mattie Stewart, Gordon Bulloch, Tom Smith.
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