Berliner Boersenzeitung - France the favourites for exciting Six Nations

EUR -
AED 3.866955
AFN 72.068071
ALL 97.96268
AMD 410.784813
ANG 1.912938
AOA 960.166791
ARS 1050.977028
AUD 1.628194
AWG 1.895066
AZN 1.800113
BAM 1.951452
BBD 2.143046
BDT 126.837419
BGN 1.957984
BHD 0.396768
BIF 3134.302207
BMD 1.052814
BND 1.418533
BOB 7.334659
BRL 6.108712
BSD 1.061445
BTN 89.497258
BWP 14.401914
BYN 3.473644
BYR 20635.162949
BZD 2.139048
CAD 1.474709
CDF 3016.313099
CHF 0.936552
CLF 0.037221
CLP 1027.051998
CNY 7.626693
CNH 7.636047
COP 4722.441266
CRC 541.992496
CUC 1.052814
CUP 27.899583
CVE 110.019887
CZK 25.285451
DJF 189.010699
DKK 7.458232
DOP 63.927576
DZD 140.602323
EGP 51.954531
ERN 15.792217
ETB 129.54359
FJD 2.396153
FKP 0.831004
GBP 0.831932
GEL 2.874049
GGP 0.831004
GHS 17.14181
GIP 0.831004
GMD 74.749535
GNF 9147.446645
GTQ 8.201727
GYD 222.065261
HKD 8.193407
HNL 26.797298
HRK 7.509998
HTG 139.558415
HUF 407.071782
IDR 16789.442377
ILS 3.937437
IMP 0.831004
INR 88.927393
IQD 1390.422091
IRR 44315.590814
ISK 146.320304
JEP 0.831004
JMD 168.035634
JOD 0.746657
JPY 164.155901
KES 136.076314
KGS 90.938425
KHR 4300.398724
KMF 490.980229
KPW 947.532593
KRW 1478.583067
KWD 0.323877
KYD 0.884542
KZT 523.161902
LAK 23310.28845
LBP 95050.394414
LKR 310.231782
LRD 200.038234
LSL 19.067501
LTL 3.108687
LVL 0.636837
LYD 5.142592
MAD 10.553787
MDL 19.12657
MGA 4952.965296
MKD 61.587323
MMK 3419.500221
MNT 3577.463398
MOP 8.504175
MRU 42.253863
MUR 49.682017
MVR 16.265744
MWK 1840.499554
MXN 21.732343
MYR 4.717137
MZN 67.225692
NAD 19.067591
NGN 1773.445042
NIO 39.062787
NOK 11.757716
NPR 143.221916
NZD 1.79557
OMR 0.405343
PAB 1.061435
PEN 4.022838
PGK 4.266414
PHP 61.952874
PKR 294.912167
PLN 4.338674
PYG 8283.623607
QAR 3.869779
RON 4.976547
RSD 116.989756
RUB 105.284944
RWF 1456.854276
SAR 3.954354
SBD 8.826328
SCR 14.338018
SDG 633.269213
SEK 11.615333
SGD 1.41702
SHP 0.831004
SLE 24.019979
SLL 22076.997306
SOS 606.548671
SRD 37.143033
STD 21791.133205
SVC 9.287441
SYP 2645.227706
SZL 19.073506
THB 36.88328
TJS 11.309365
TMT 3.695379
TND 3.340757
TOP 2.465795
TRY 36.162891
TTD 7.213033
TWD 34.312064
TZS 2805.750792
UAH 43.849907
UGX 3895.321618
USD 1.052814
UYU 44.750301
UZS 13578.747927
VES 48.129878
VND 26741.486679
VUV 124.992245
WST 2.939027
XAF 654.498843
XAG 0.035116
XAU 0.000412
XCD 2.845283
XDR 0.799619
XOF 654.505046
XPF 119.331742
YER 262.98619
ZAR 19.314955
ZMK 9476.595013
ZMW 29.03459
ZWL 339.005819
  • RBGPF

    -0.9400

    59.25

    -1.59%

  • CMSC

    0.0150

    24.625

    +0.06%

  • RYCEF

    -0.1400

    6.97

    -2.01%

  • BCC

    0.7200

    143.27

    +0.5%

  • NGG

    0.2200

    62.34

    +0.35%

  • BCE

    0.0900

    27.3

    +0.33%

  • SCS

    0.0350

    13.405

    +0.26%

  • RIO

    -0.1310

    60.489

    -0.22%

  • GSK

    0.0800

    35.19

    +0.23%

  • RELX

    0.1780

    46.298

    +0.38%

  • JRI

    0.0000

    13.24

    0%

  • CMSD

    0.0350

    24.765

    +0.14%

  • BTI

    0.1450

    35.565

    +0.41%

  • BP

    0.3000

    28.87

    +1.04%

  • AZN

    0.0850

    65.375

    +0.13%

  • VOD

    0.0250

    8.775

    +0.28%

France the favourites for exciting Six Nations
France the favourites for exciting Six Nations

France the favourites for exciting Six Nations

France may be "red-hot favourites" to win the Six Nations according to England coach Eddie Jones, but several sides will fancy their title chances when spectators return for a 2022 edition that starts this weekend.

Text size:

Several European teams enjoyed a successful November campaign, none more so than the French who thrashed New Zealand 40-25 to round off an unbeaten month.

Les Bleus have blended the traditional virtues of forward strength and inventive back play with a defence bolstered by the coaching of former Wales guru Shaun Edwards.

France last won the Six Nations in 2010 but next year's World Cup hosts have enjoyed two second-placed finishes in the Six Nations since former scrum-half Fabien Galthie took over as coach.

A first win over the All Blacks in 15 attempts in November was masterminded by the outstanding half-back duo of world player of the year Antoine Dupont, fit following knee and Covid-19 problems, and Romain Ntamack.

"Some people want to put that (favourites) label on us," France team manager Raphael Ibanez told AFP. "When I saw that, I thought, 'Another hit from the Brits!'

- 'Northern hemisphere in great shape' -

But with England and Ireland also enjoying November wins over the All Blacks that owed much to quick-witted passing, Ibanez added: "The November internationals revealed that teams from the northern hemisphere are in great shape.

"Scotland put 30 points on Australia, England beat the world champions (South Africa), Ireland beat New Zealand a week before we did... All these teams are lined up and in a position to win."

England, having finished a lowly fifth in last season's Six Nations, are set to have their squad depth tested after suffering a series of injuries.

Captain Owen Farrell has been ruled out of the whole tournament, with wings Jonny May and Anthony Watson sidelined as well.

Meanwhile Courtney Lawes, widely tipped to replace Farrell as skipper, is one of several pack members who will miss Saturday's opener away to Scotland as he recovers from a concussion.

Farrell's absence will intensify the spotlight on fly-half Marcus Smith, one of England's rising stars.

Jones, typically, tried to deflect the pressure by saying: "As you know, France are red-hot favourites. They are expected to win."

Ireland, with veteran fly-half Jonathan Sexton still at the helm, also have grounds for optimism.

"We want to deliver a trophy every single time we enter a competition and this year is certainly no different," said Ireland coach Andy Farrell."

Amid all the speculation it is easy to forget that Wales, away to Ireland this weekend, are the reigning champions.

But they have been hard hit by injuries, with captain Alun Wyn Jones one of several high-profile absentees, together with fellow British and Irish Lions players George North, Leigh Halfpenny, Taulupe Faletau, Justin Tipuric, Josh Navidi and Ken Owens all sidelined.

Fly-half Dan Biggar has taken over the captaincy, with Wales coach Wayne Pivac saying: "We've lost 680 caps (to injury) and that's a lot of experience gone. Dan brings a wealth of experience."

Scotland enjoyed behind closed doors wins away to England and France in the 2021 Six Nations yet still only finished fourth.

But coach Gregor Townsend has no doubt playing in front of a 67,000 capacity crowd at Murrayfield against England this weekend will benefit his side.

"Logic would say that it helped us (playing without crowds) because we won in London and Paris but we lost two games at home last year," said Townsend.

"But Murrayfield helps us...the reception the players get when they run out onto the field, the anthems, the noise when they are playing well, you don't get that in any other walk of life."

Amid the generally buoyant mood, worries remain over Italy's woeful record.

The Azzurri have not won a Six Nations match since 2015 and a youthful side face a tough start this season away to France.

Italy coach Kieran Crowley, was in defiant mood when asked about the team's place in the tournament.

"I would welcome a promotion and relegation system," he said. "Who is to say that anyone else would be any better than Italy in the Six Nations?"

(F.Schuster--BBZ)