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FOREWORD BY LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW XXXXX DECO FOREWORD by Lawrence Dallaglio Welcome to my guide to the 2009 Six Nations Championship. I can’t play any more, but I can enjoy basking in the reflective glory of what is the greatest rugby tournament on earth. I don’t see anyone winning a Grand Slam this year as there are tricky games everywhere and the looming prospect of a Lions tour has a huge part to play. The opening few rounds promise to be explosive, Wales travel to Edinburgh as favourites and Ireland host France in a huge match early on. Momentum is key, as we saw from Wales last year, they were awful in the first half against England, but the confidence they gained from the second half gave them the momentum to go on and win a Grand Slam. It is not often, in recent times, that the tournament can boast the IRB Player of the Year but, in Shane Williams, Wales have a match winner. Their squad is mature and settled, with exciting youngsters like the fantastic Leigh Halfpenny and Lee Bryne who will be looking to further enhance their reputations. The rhetoric about having a young, inexperienced side is over for England, they must harness the criticism and start winning. Mark Cueto, Mike Tindall and Phil Vickery are all returning, which will be a great boost. I am excited about seeing more of Armitage, and I think Flutey will have much more to offer when we get on the front foot. No disrespect to Italy, but England have the ideal chance to get their campaign off to a winning start and gain that sense of purpose for the rest of the tournament. Playing Wales in Cardiff will be really tough, as will going over to Croke Park. These two games will make or break England. We are under pressure: Martin Johnson and his team have it all to do and they are fully aware of that. Every four years, France have an interesting role to play because their players are not distracted by a Lions tour. Les Bleus have been an enigma over recent years, their conveyer belt of talent leaves no explanation as to why they often blow cold. Now is the time for Lievremont to put experimentation behind him and reveal his best cards. If Ireland can replicate the consistency of Munster and the brilliance of Leinster then they will start to translate their potential into solid victories. They have an experienced group of players headed by talismanic figures like Paul O’Connell and Brian O’Driscoll. While the stalwarts of the side are returning to their best, exciting talents in the shape of Rob Kearney and Tommy Bowe, among others, look promising. Scotland were impressive in the Autumn and they are definitely a threat. Ben Blair, Euan Murray and Simon Taylor are consistently outstanding for them, but for the team to compete, more players must step up and be counted. Italy have that perennial problem of constantly having to field untried players but in Nick Mallet they have a very shrewd operator. Sergio Parisse is the stand out player in the team, he is by far the best No.8 in the Northern Hemisphere. I really hope that Martin and the boys can once again experience the great feeling of lifting the prestigious trophy. Or maybe Wales will retain the crown? Either way, it’s going to be fascinating. n Above Dallaglio poses with the Six Nations trophy in Paris CLASSIC SPORTS SERIES / 7 |