Six Nations Previews

LONDON (AP) -- Capsules on Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Italy in the Six Nations rugby tournament starting Feb. 15:

Scotland

Scottish triumphs have been isolated since the team's 1990 Grand Slam sweep and the 1991 World Cup when it reached the last four. But Scottish rugby revived when it beat heavyweight South Africa 21-6 at Murrayfield last year.

Scotland finished fifth in the 2000 tournament, including a shock loss to newcomes Italy, third in 2001 and fourth in 2002. But with Scotland's first victory over South Africa since 1969, coach Ian McGeechan and his players approach the tournament with optimism.

"We're striving to be part of a successful Scotland team," flyhalf Gordon Ross said. "We're going in the right direction."

Home matches against Ireland, Wales and Italy offer hope of a decent season. If they avoid injuries, the Scottish pack can compete with most sides, with Scott Murray a major line-out player.

The opening fixture against Ireland will be pivotal to its campaign. Eeven though Scotland destroyed England's Grand Slam hopes at Murrayfield in 2000, its recent record at Twickenham is poor. The Scots haven't beaten England there for 20 years.

Wales

While Welsh rugby is not at its healthiest, there were sufficient signs last summer to suggest the worst may be behind it. Despite a club game ridden by strife and the national team losing a number of its experienced internationals to retirement (Scott Quinell, Rob Howley and Scott Gibbs), Wales is still capable of causing an upset.

"I think the one thing about the Celtic nations is they are always capable of pulling a victory off, especially Wales," coach Steve Hansen says. "You should never write us off."

Wales only won once in last season's Six Nations, a 44-20 victory over Italy. But France's 37-33 win at the Millennium Stadium was the closest any team would come to the eventual champions in the tournament.

Since then, Wales has shown improvement. Last summer, Wales lost by close margins in South Africa before victories over Romania, Fiji and Canada in November. It ended the year with a gutsy performance in a 43-17 defeat to New Zealand.

Wales has a tricky Six Nations opener against Italy in Rome, followed by England at the Millennium Stadium seven days later, and Hansen's preparations have already been hit by several injury setbacks.

Three hookers -- Robin McBryde (foot), Barry Williams (broken jaw) and Andrew Lewis (back) -- are among seven players who may play no part in this season's championship.

With British Lion Colin Charvis captaining the team, fullback Rhys Williams one of the most destructive counter-attackers in British rugby and international record points-scorer Neil Jenkins pushing for a national return after injury, Wales could still create problems.

Ireland

Ireland, generally regarded as the third force in European rugby behind England and France, has always lacked consistency.

But ahead of this Six Nations campaign, expectations are running high following a November which saw a six-game winning run, including a victory over Australia for the first time since 1979.

That result was followed by a comprehensive defeat of Fiji and a hard-fought victory over Argentina. The last time Ireland had a similar run of success came in the 1960s.

Some of Ireland's key players -- Malcolm O'Kelly, Ronan O'Gara and Brian O'Driscoll -- were able to measure themselves against England's best during the 2001 British Lions tour.

O'Kelly thinks that could prove crucial when England arrives in Dublin for what might turn out to be the title decider on March 30.

"When you live and work them, it takes away some of the mystery," O'Kelly says. "You fear the unknown but when you know them you're more confident."

Ireland kicks off its Six Nations campaign against Scotland at Murrayfield before traveling to Italy. Next is a visit by France, a trip to Cardiff against the Welsh before the England encounter.

Captain Keith Wood will almost certainly be ruled out of the opening clash with Scotland, with 23-year-old O'Driscoll, a world-class center and game-breaker, tipped to take over.

While Ireland is an outsider for Six Nations honors, the fact it hosts favorites England and France in Dublin, means Ireland cannot be ruled out as contenders.

Italy

Coach Giancarlo Dondi sums up Italy's tournament chances perfectly: "My hope is that Italy plays hard and doesn't lose by wide margins."

Italy entered the Six Nations in 2000 on a high by beating Scotland. Since then, however, Italy has lost 14 consecutive matches in the tournament.

"There is lots of pressure here in Italy to get a result," Italy's coach and former New Zealand star John Kirwin said. "I think, to be honest, we probably all feel that."

Kirwin inherited the side after last year's championship. In his first test in charge, aptly against New Zealand, Italy was thrashed 64-10.

Kirwin's next game produced a wholly different result, Italy beating Spain 50-3 in a World Cup qualifier. Italy also beat Romania before going down 36-6 and 34-3 to Argentina and Australia respectively.

Goal-kicker Diego Dominguez was the architect of Italy's solitary Six Nations victory to date but now, far from being a one-man show, Kirwin is encouraging his players to have the confidence to run with the ball and play a more expansive game.

Italy certainly has the players capable of doing that. The Bergamasco brothers, Mirco and Mauro, are keen to attack with the ball in hand and tall lock Marco Bortolami anchors the scrum and the line-out. Kirwan can still call upon the invaluable experience of the halfback pairing of Alessandro Troncon and Dominguez. Italy has promised a younger, super-fit and more aggressive team for 2003 and has a favorable match calendar with three home games.

 

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