Sam Warburton predicts each Six Nations team's fate as he says 'Irish players will hate me'
Wales legend Sam Warburton has predicted the outcome of the upcoming Six Nations.
The two-time British and Irish Lions captain says autumn form won't count for anything in terms of being selected for Andy Farrell's touring side in the summer, putting it simply that if you have a great Six Nations, you're going to Australia.
But how does the legendary flanker think the tour will play out? Writing in his Times column, Warburton revealed exactly that.
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With his home country, Warburton believes the game against Italy in round two will be pivotal, and Wales "have to be smelling blood for that one". He also refers to the importance of Warren Gatland's squad staying out in France ahead of that second match, ensuring they don't lose an entire day travelling when they could be preparing and training.
Warburton says he was baffled by Max Llewellyn's omission, like many other ex-players, and is concerned about the amount of size in the backline. Despite this, he says senior players will prove hugely important in their quest for a win. "Josh Adams and Liam Williams will be able to guide the youngsters, and Jac Morgan has been playing exceptionally well for Ospreys," he wrote. "Wales will be better than they have been, but will that be good enough?"
He is confident that Ireland are strong enough to beat Wales, Italy and Scotland away from home, but England and France at home will present a totally different challenge. "I know that the Irish players will hate me for saying this, but it is always the same question mark with them: do they have the physicality up front against the biggest sides?," he wrote.
As well as questioning the pace in their back three, he says it'll be intriguing to see how Simon Easterby fares in the head coach role, and reckons this could be a stepping stone to greater things for the former Scarlets man. "Easterby is an excellent coach and you would think the next natural step for him is to be a head coach somewhere, so this will be a good audition for him too."
In the absence of star centre Sione Tuipulotu, who is injured, Warburton doesn't think Scotland will challenge the top three this year. "It is an enormous blow. I never like to talk about a team missing one individual so much, but this is a rare occasion," he declared. He also thinks that going to France and England without him will be a very tough task.
Despite England's inconsistent form in recent years, Warburton says "they have that ability to rise to the occasion" and suggests they could win the tournament. He also noted that making Maro Itoje captain was a great move, with the lock bringing a wealth of Test match experience to the team. "He turns up on the big occasions too. He has had all the experience of Lions tours, World Cup finals and Six Nations deciders and he is an exceptional professional," he says.
Warburton has branded Italy v Wales as "the wooden spoon decider" and reckons Italy are slight favourites at home and that game is their best chance of victory. "Italy were a little bit underwhelming in the autumn but you look at Benetton’s win over La Rochelle in the Champions Cup and it bodes well," he wrote, alluding to the fact there isn't a Welsh team in that competition, which is the highest level of European club rugby.
France are Warburton's favourites for the tournament this year, citing the size of their pack as the reason for this call. Noting the importance of their backline as well, namely Romain Ntamack and Antoine Dupont, Warburton thinks France are in a league of their own. "They have four or five genuine game-breakers capable of those X-factor moments that coaches so desire and crowds so enjoy. No other team have that many players capable of such brilliance," he writes.
Despite his call for them to seize the Six Nations trophy, Warburton says England and Ireland away from home could present a "banana skin" scenario, so he doesn't expect a grand slam for them in 2025.
