The Six Nations Predictions From The British & Irish Media

Can England retain their title?

The northern hemisphere’s finest will battle it out over the next two months in a bid to be crowned the 2017 RBS Six Nations champions. Ireland and England are the frontrunners for the competition, with both sides heading into the tournament in excellent form.

This promises to be one of the most exciting tournaments in years. Scotland’s players come into the tournament on the back of some excellent club form with Glasgow reaching the knockout stages of the Champions Cup for the first time.

Italy will enter rejuvinated by Conor O’Shea and on the back of a famous win over the Springboks, while Wales will be hoping to find form under new leadership in the shape of recently appointed captain Alun Wyn Jones.

Ireland and England enter as the two best teams in the world outside of the All Blacks, and then there’s the small matter of the British & Irish Lions tour this summer looming for the players. How does the rugby world think it will go?

Here’s the British & Irish predictions:

Gerry Thornley: England edging it due to the bonus-point system and their three home game advantage.

Gavin Cummiskey: Ireland Grand Slam

Peter O’Reilly: Ireland to win

Stephen Jones: Ireland to win with Scotland edging France into 3rd.

Stuart Barnes: England to win

Shane Horgan: Ireland to win

The general consensus seem to be that England and Ireland are inseparable, and it will all come down to their clash in the final round. It won’t however be for a Grand Slam with competition set to be fierce from all teams this year.