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Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021 jon

Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

MEN’S INTERNATIONALS – 6-7 FEBRUARY, 2021

SIX NATIONS 2021

ITALY v – , – KO 15:15 (14:15 GMT)

Head to head Played: 44* – France leads 41-3 Points for: France 1,341 / 508 (avg. score: France 30-11 Italy) Highest score: Italy 40 (40-32 on 22 March, 1997) / France 60 (60-13 on 26 March, 1967) Biggest winning margin: Italy 8 (40-32 on 22 March, 1997) / France 47 (60-13 on 26 March, 1967) * Only capped matches for both teams

First met: 22 April, 1935 – France 44-6 Italy – Rome (non- match for France) Last met: 28 November, 2020 – France 36-5 Italy –

Referee: (RFU) Test debut: 14 March, 2015 – Portugal 8-19 Tests: 19

• The two sides were drawn in Pool A for 2023 last December • France have won their last 10 meetings with Italy, dating back to a 23-18 loss in February 2013 • The smallest margin in these 10 meetings was two points in 2016 (23-21), the largest 31 points (36-5) in 2020 • France have won 24 of their last 26 meetings with Italy, losing in 2011 and 2013 in Rome • France won seven of nine tests played in 2020, losing to in the Six Nations and after extra-time in the final • Italy lost all eight tests played in 2020 under new coach • Italy have lost their last 27 Six Nations matches, dating back to a 22-19 defeat of Scotland at Murrayfield on 28 February, 2015 • Italy’s last Six Nations win on home soil was 22-15 against on 16 March, 2013 • Since 2004, Italy have only won once on the opening Six Nations weekend, 23-18 over France in 2013 • Italy become the only side not to score in a Six Nations match on the opening weekend in 2020 with a 42-0 loss to • France need six penalties to bring up 100 against Italy in test matches • became the first Frenchman to be named Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2020 • France had the top point (, 57) and try (, 4) scorers in the 2020 Six Nations • France have not won the Six Nations since 2010 – their last • France’s record for most tries in a match against Italy is 11 (60-13 win in Toulon, March 1967) • That match is also France’s highest tally and biggest winning margin (47) against Italy • Italy’s best is four tries against France in 1997, 2000 and 2003 but only one was a victory – 40-32 in Grenoble in March 1997 • That victory is Italy’s highest tally against France and their biggest winning margin (8) • Italy kicked two drop goals in their last victory v France, 23-18 in Rome on 3 February, 2013 • Three players from France’s last outing in December will start against Italy – , and Gabin Villière • Italy hand Juan Ignacio Brex, a former Argentina U20 player, his debut at centre – the 11th new player capped since Smith took charge

1 Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

ENGLAND v SCOTLAND – – KO 16:45 GMT

Head to head Played: 138 – England leads 76-43 with 19 draws Points for: England 1,687 / Scotland 1,231 (avg. score: England 12-8 Scotland) Highest score: England 61 (61-21 on 11 March, 2017) / Scotland 38 (38-38 on 16 March, 2019) Biggest winning margin: England 40 (43-3 on 3 March, 2001 / 61-21 on 11 March, 2017) / Scotland 27 (33-6 on 15 February, 1986)

First met: 27 March, 1871 – Scotland* 0-0 England – , Last met: 8 February, 2020 – England 13-6 Scotland – Murrayfield, Edinburgh * Scotland won by one goal

Referee: (IRFU) Debut as referee: 10 June, 2017 – Canada 0-13 Georgia Tests: 12

• England are the defending Six Nations champions after taking the title on points difference from France in October 2020 • England became the first team to lose first match and win the title since Wales in 2013 • England have only lost their opening Six Nations fixture on four occasions (2005 and 2008 v Wales, 2014 and 2020 v France) • Scotland by contrast have only won three of their 21 opening matches in the Six Nations, the last a 33-20 defeat of Italy in 2019) • England have the best record for the opening round – an 81 per cent win rate (17/21), Scotland and Italy have the worst at 14 per cent (3/21) • England are on an eight-match winning run since that 24-17 loss to France in February 2020 • The oldest fixture in international rugby, it celebrates its 150th anniversary on 27 March • England need two tries to bring up 250 in tests against Scotland • Scotland’s first try will be their 175th in tests against England • England need 20 points to bring up 7,000 in the history of the Championship • England beat Scotland 15-9 in Eddie Jones’ first match as head coach in 2016 – the last time the was at stake in round one • The sides last met at Twickenham on 16 March, 2019 in an incredible 38-38 draw. England led 31-0 after as many minutes, but needed a last-gasp George Ford converted try to salvage a draw • Stuart McInally, (2), , and Sam Johnson scored Scotland’s six tries in a 38-point unanswered run • Scotland last beat England at Twickenham on 5 March, 1983 by 22-12 – in the 18 matches at the venue since, Scotland have drawn two and lost 16 • England have twice scored seven tries v Scotland – in 2005 (43-22) and March 2017 (61-21) • Scotland have twice scored six tries v England – in 1931 (28-19 win) and 2019 (38-38 draw) • They have twice suffered 40-point defeats v England at Twickenham, in 2001 and 2017 • needs four points to bring up a century against Scotland. He ranks second for England behind (114) • Farrell needs six penalties to match Wilkinson’s England record of 23 against Scotland • Farrell is also 31 points away from becoming the second player to score 1,000 test points for England after Jonny Wilkinson (1,179) … with his Lions points he is on exactly 1,000 • faces Scotland for the 11th time – three shy of Jason Leonard’s England record • played for England at U20 level but will make his debut for Scotland • David Cherry could also make his debut off the bench, taking Scotland’s U20 Championship graduate tally to 60 • England have named the uncapped on the bench • Richie Gray could make his first appearance for Scotland since 17 March, 2018 v Italy

2 Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

WALES v IRELAND – PRINCIPALITY STADIUM, - KO 15:00 GMT

Head to head Played: 131 – Wales leads 69-55 with seven draws Points for: Wales 1,601 / Ireland 1,528 (avg. score: Wales 12-11 Ireland) Highest score: Wales 34 (34-9 on 21 March, 1976) / Ireland 54 (54-10 on 3 February, 2002) Biggest winning margin: Wales 29 (29-0 on 9 March, 1907) / Ireland 44 (54-10 on 3 February, 2002)

First met: 28 January, 1882 – Ireland 0-0 Wales* – , Dublin Last met: 13 November, 2020 – Ireland 32-9 Wales – Stadium, Dublin * Wales won by two goals

Referee: (England) Debut as referee: 24 June, 2006 – Fiji 23-20 Samoa Tests: 93

• Referee Wayne Barnes will equal ’ record of most Six Nations matches refereed (21) • Wales last played at the Principality Stadium on 22 February, 2020, losing 27-23 to France • The stadium was transformed into the Dragon’s Heart field hospital to support the COVID- 19 response in Wales, before decommissioning began in December • Ireland won their last meeting on Welsh soil, 22-17 in a RWC 2019 warm-up match • Ireland’s last Six Nations victory in Wales was a 30-22 success on 2 February, 2013 • Try-scorer , Peter O’Mahony, , Johnny Sexton and all played in that opening day victory in 2013 and start in the 2021 meeting • Wales have six players from that loss in , , , , and try-scorer • Ireland need three tries to bring up 200 against Wales in test matches • Wales’ first try will be their 230th against Ireland in test rugby • Wales won only one match in the 2020 Six Nations, 42-0 against Italy in round one – this was the first time a team has failed to score on a Six Nations opening weekend • Wales won three of their nine matches in 2020, against Italy (twice) and Georgia • Ireland and Wales drew 16-16 in 2016 – the first time a round one match has ended in a draw in Six Nations history • Ireland’s 54-10 defeat of Wales in 2002 is the biggest win on the opening weekend of the Six Nations • Ireland haven’t won their opening match in successive Six Nations since 2014 and 2015 • Defeat for Wales would be their 200th loss in the history of the Championship • Alun has made the most Six Nations appearances of any current player with 58 – 11 behind record-holder • Johnny Sexton will face Wales for the 16th time – second only to (18) • is also set for his 16th test against Ireland – a Welsh record • Sexton is Ireland’s leading point scorer against Wales with 108, having moved ahead of Ronan O’Gara during their Autumn Nations Cup victory in Dublin • and are named on the bench, having both last played for Ireland against England on 23 February, 2020 • wears the Welsh jersey for the first time since a 9-6 defeat of on 10 November, 2018 • Lydiate last played in the Six Nations in March 2016, in a 67-14 defeat of Italy • Hooker Ken Owens and scrum-half also return, having last played for Wales against England on 7 March, 2020

3 Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

RUGBY EUROPE CHAMPIONSHIP 2020

Romania v Belgium match has been cancelled after the Belgian government would not permit the team to travel to Romania to play. Rugby Europe have awarded Romania a 28-0, bonus point win. Belgium therefore finish bottom and must play-off against the Rugby Europe 2020 winners the Netherlands to determine who will play in the 2021 Championship.

GEORGIA v – MIKHEIL MESKHI STADIUM, TBILISI – KO 15:00 (11:00 GMT)

Head to head Played: 23 – Georgia leads 21-1 with one draw Points for: Georgia 579 / Russia 260 (avg. score: Georgia 25--11 Russia) Highest score: Georgia 46 (46-19 on 4 February, 2006 / 46-0 on 17 March, 2012) / Russia 23 (25-23 on 4 March, 2001) Biggest winning margin: Georgia 46 (46-0 on 17 March, 2012) / Russia 6 (15-9 on 26 May, 1993)

First met: 25 May, 1993 – Russia 15-9 Georgia – Ogniwo, Sopot, Poland Last met: 17 March, 2019 – Georgia 22-6 Russia – Kuban Stadium, Krasnodar

Referee: Paulo Duarte (Portugal)

• This will be Paulo Duarte’s first time as a referee in the Rugby Europe Championship • Georgia were confirmed as Rugby Europe Championship 2020 title winners last March, after recording 19 points from four victories • The Lelos won their first four matches of 2020 in the Rugby Europe Championship, but lost their next five to Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and Fiji • Georgia’s last match was a 38-24 defeat by Fiji in the Autumn Nations Cup on 5 December • Russia’s last match was a 32-25 defeat of Romania in the Rugby Europe Championship on 7 March, 2020 • Georgia have won their last 18 matches against Russia, dating back to a 12-12 draw in March 2002 • Russia’s only win was their inaugural meeting on 25 May, 1993 in a RWC 1995 qualifier (15-9 in Poland) • Georgia’s biggest win in the fixture is 46-0 in March 2012, their smallest margin of victory being six points in 1998, 2004 and 2011 • Zurab Zhvania returns to the Georgia squad for the first time since 17 March, 2019 – when the Lelos beat Russia 22-6 in the Rugby Europe Championship • Winger Mirian Modebadze returns after a year’s absence from test rugby, last playing against Romania on 1 February, 2020 • and will start a test at half-back together for the 16th time in what is only fly-half Abzhandadze’s 20th match for the Lelos • Georgia have named uncapped prop Giorgi Nutsubsidze on the bench • Russia hand debuts to German Silenko, winger Andrey Karzanov and centre Luc Brocas in the starting line-up • Vladislav Perestyak, Alexey Skoboiola and Alexander Belosludtsev could also make their debuts after being named on the bench

4 Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

SPAIN v PORTUGAL – ESTADIO NACIONAL UNIVERSIDAD COMPLUTENSE, MADRID – KO 12:45 (11:45 GMT)

Head to head Played: 36 – Spain leads 24-18 with two draws Points for: Spain 769 / Portugal 524 (avg. score: Spain 21--14 Portugal) Highest score: Spain 50 (50-15 on 22 April, 1995) / Portugal 35 (35-19 on 21 March, 2004 / 35-16 on 23 March, 2003) Biggest winning margin: Spain 35 (50-15 on 22 April, 1995) / Portugal 19 (35-16 on 23 March, 2003)

First met: 13 April, 1935 – Spain 6-5 Portugal – Campos das Amoreiras, Lisbon Last met: 12 March, 2016 – Spain 39-7 Portugal – Estadio Nacional Universidad Complutense, Madrid

Referee: Chris Busby (Ireland)

• Spain last played in November 2020, splitting a test series with Uruguay in Montevideo • Spain won the first test 32-20 but lost the second 19-10 • Portugal also last played in November 2020, winning a test series with Brazil 2-0 in Lisbon after 30-10 and 33-13 victories • The sides last met in March 2016, when Spain won 39-7 in Madrid • Only two players in Portugal’s squad played in that loss, Tomás Appleton and Jose Vareta • Spain also have two returning from that 2016 match in Fernando Lopez and Julien Goia • Portugal’s last victory over Spain was on 10 March, 2012 – 23-17 in Coimbra • Both sides have nine points in the Rugby Europe Championship 2020, Portugal sitting above Spain due to a slightly better point differential (+5) • Whoever wins will finish as runner-up to champions Georgia • Second place would be Portugal’s best finish in the Rugby Europe Championship or European Nations Cup since 2004 • Spain have named three uncapped players on the bench in Bastien Dedieu, Facundo Dominguez and Manuel Ordas • They are joined on the bench by Guillermo Dominguez, who returns after a long injury lay- off, having last played on 22 June, 2019

5 Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

WORLD RUGBY MEN’S RANKINGS STATS

• England cannot improve their rating with victory over Scotland • England will surrender second place to if they fail to win at Twickenham • A victorious Scotland can climb above a beaten Ireland if they win by more than 15 points. A smaller margin of victory would be enough if Ireland lose by more than 15 points • If Ireland and France both win, Scotland must win by more than 15 points to gain a place at Australia’s expense • Wales will climb above Argentina into eighth place with victory • They must win by more than 15 points to also climb above a losing Scotland side • Ireland will return to fourth if they beat Wales – even if France are also victorious over Italy as Les Bleus cannot improve their rating • Ireland can climb to fourth if beaten by Wales, in the event that France also lose to Italy • If both sides draw their matches, Ireland will climb above France into fourth place • Ireland could fall as low as seventh with a heavy defeat if France and Scotland both win • Wales will drop below – equalling their lowest position of 10th – if lose to Ireland • Italy will climb two places to 12th if they beat France, even if Georgia also beat Russia • France could fall as low as seventh if they lose by more than 15 points and Wales and Scotland win by the same margin • Georgia cannot improve their rating with victory over Russia due to the 10.06 rating point difference before home weighting is factored in and will drop one place if Italy beat France • The Lelos will fall three places to 15th if they lose at home to Russia • A victorious Russia will return to the top 20 at Portugal’s expense if they fail to beat Spain • If Portugal win, Russia must win by more than 15 points to take over 20th place • Spain cannot improve their position of 17th even with an emphatic win against Portugal • Spain will drop one place – below Uruguay – if they fail to beat their Iberian neighbours and three places if the margin is by more than 15 points • Portugal will be the higher ranked of the two nations in this scenario – the only result that would enable Os Lobos to improve on 20th position • Los Leones will drop out of the top 20 for the first time since February 2019 if they lose by more than 15 points and Russia beat Georgia by the same margin

ITALY (14) 70.88 v FRANCE (4) 85.30

Italy win by 15 points or less – Italy 72.88, France 83.30 Italy win by more than 15 points – Italy 73.88, France 82.30 Draw – Italy 71.88, France 84.30 France win by 15 points or less – Italy 70.88, France 85.30 (No change) France win by more than 15 points – Italy 70.88, France 85.30 (No change)

ENGLAND (2) 89.49 v SCOTLAND (7) 80.82

England win by 15 points or less – England 89.49, Scotland 80.82 (No change) England win by more than 15 points – England 89.49, Scotland 80.82 (No change) Draw – England 88.49, Scotland 81.82 Scotland win by 15 points or less – England 87.49, Scotland 82.82 Scotland win by more than 15 points – England 86.49, Scotland 83.82

6 Men’s preview – 6-7 February, 2021

WALES (9) 79.36 v IRELAND (5) 84.65

Wales win by 15 points or less – Wales 80.59, Ireland 83.42 Wales win by more than 15 points – Wales 81.21, Ireland 82.81 Draw – Wales 79.59, Ireland 84.42 Ireland win by 15 points or less – Wales 78.59, Ireland 85.42 Ireland win by more than 15 points – Wales 78.21, Ireland 85.81

GEORGIA (12) 72.18 v RUSSIA (21) 62.12

Georgia win by 15 points or less – Georgia 72.18, Russia 62.12 (No change) Georgia win by more than 15 points – Georgia 72.18, Russia 62.12 (No change) Draw – Georgia 71.18, Russia 63.12 Russia win by 15 points or less – Georgia 70.18, Russia 64.12 Russia win by more than 15 points – Georgia 69.18, Russia 65.12

SPAIN (17) 67.51 v PORTUGAL (20) 62.44

Spain win by 15 points or less – Spain 67.71, Portugal 62.25 Spain win by more than 15 points – Spain 67.80, Portugal 62.16 Draw – Spain 66.71, Portugal 63.25 Portugal win by 15 points or less – Spain 65.71, Portugal 64.25 Portugal win by more than 15 points – Spain 64.80, Portugal 65.16

The World Rugby Men’s Rankings update every Monday at 12:00 GMT.

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